lmodesitt wrote:As in most of life, the decision by the Whites to kill Cerryl's aunt and uncle wan't based on a single reason. First, according to White policy and practice, they were supposed to turn Cerryl over to the Whites for training [or worse] when they became aware he was a mage. Second, his aunt and uncle violated this policy knowingly because they knew what had happened to Cerryl's father. Third, certain of the Whites would want to make sure Cerryl had no family ties left to bind him to the Whites and/or to destroy anyone who could tell the real story about Cerryl and his father. while others would want the same to turn him against Anya and Jeslek, assuming he did survive to become a white mage.
L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
But would he have turned into the same person if the circumstances had been slightly changed? Him taken to Fairhaven for training, his aunt and uncle still alive, him taken, his aunt and uncle slain, and etc.
Myself, whether he worked/lived at the wood mill or went directly to Fairhaven...I think he would have been the same--or close to it. He would still remember his past...
Another question: is it nature or nurture?
I lean towards nature.
I now have two nephews. One is hyper, running around everywhere (though I hear from everyone in the family that I was ten times as bad) and not easily deterred by physical injury. The newest one eats waaay more, cries a lots, doesn't move around as much, isn't scrawny--he's his own person even though he has the same parents, grandparents, uncles, cousins, granfparents, great-grandparents, and etc. The newests, youngest (Brody) is entirely different than his older brother, Wiley--both with the same mom and dad.
Personally, I think everyone is born with certain traits and grow up, learning from parents and mentors, becoming the person they will be, but their interactions with others don't mean spit to who they were already born as...
I see two kids, a year and a week apart in age and totally different. They'll only grow more different as they age--but they'll have the same parents.
So is it predestination or free will?
Personally I think it's a little bit of both. (The "predestination" being the genetic combo we all end up with. The rest is left to mom, dad, and the world....
"A writer's chosen task is to write well and professionally. If you can't keep doing it, then you're no longer a professional, but a gifted amateur." L. E. Modessit, jr.
