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Post by Señor Goose on Apr 3, 2015 19:40:34 GMT
What did Anthony eat for breakfast, Carnation Instant Bitch?
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quark
Full Member
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Post by quark on Apr 3, 2015 20:18:24 GMT
oh, man. Tom can really make me hate a fictional character; Anthony's special brand of authority/strictness and emotional cruelty is designed to make me angry.
This comic made me re-read the previous ones, and what I think is that Anthony's been keeping tabs on Antimony way longer than just the days he's (presumably) been back. He's had time to review her complete schoolwork, ask around how long this has been going on and knows everything else, too. (The Forest, Kat...). He's had time to make arrangements, convince/blackmail people and so on, all without Antimony noticing he was there (or any of her friends - Mrs. and Mr. Donlan, Eglamore and Jones might have kept that information from her, but Reinardine, Kat, Shadow or Robot or most of her classmates would have told her, or at least asked if there was any family connection).
Back to Anthony's cruelty: These are clearly abusive patterns - isolating her, trying to alienate her from her friends, keeping her from the things that are important to her, even taking away her job... Adding to the discussion of whether he hates her or loves her and thinks that he's doing the right thing - maybe he thinks she's dangerous. I don't think he knows of Zimmy's actions and thinks Antimony herself fought back, which would make her very powerful and capable of resisting him (which may be the reason why he came back).
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Post by Gotolei on Apr 3, 2015 20:27:55 GMT
I wonder if Ysengrin is looking to adopt? That you seriously propose this as an alternative to her being Anthony's daughter is very, very telling. After all, Ysengrin physically attacked her. But he's been more of a father to her than anyone else in the cast, even more than Reynardine, who has been more like a mother than anyone else, if you ask me. To be frank, Ysengrin has yet to put her into a coma. Let alone the whole mad science bone lasers thing that came packaged with that. |
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Post by stef1987 on Apr 3, 2015 20:33:52 GMT
well, this sure can't keep going like this, I wonder what's it all building up too.
I mean, the way Anthony keeps going, I feel like he's doing it on purpose for some reason, but I have no clue why.
Testing Annie? (to see if she will meltdown? or to see if she can stand up against him?)
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Post by imaginaryfriend on Apr 3, 2015 20:38:38 GMT
That you seriously propose this as an alternative to her being Anthony's daughter is very, very telling. After all, Ysengrin physically attacked her. But he's been more of a father to her than anyone else in the cast, even more than Reynardine, who has been more like a mother than anyone else, if you ask me. To be frank, Ysengrin has yet to put her into a coma. Let alone the whole mad science bone lasers thing that came packaged with that. That always bothered me because Anthony didn't seem to be doing anything to Antimony's fire. Eventually I supposed that he was just going to leave her in an induced coma and see if she was able to come out of it and live without her fire or not, but then recently I developed an alternate theory wherein Anthony actually was not doing anything to her whatsoever (except being an absentee dad). |
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Post by aline on Apr 3, 2015 20:54:52 GMT
That you seriously propose this as an alternative to her being Anthony's daughter is very, very telling. After all, Ysengrin physically attacked her. But he's been more of a father to her than anyone else in the cast, even more than Reynardine, who has been more like a mother than anyone else, if you ask me. To be frank, Ysengrin has yet to put her into a coma. Let alone the whole mad science bone lasers thing that came packaged with that. Yeah, well, he did try to kill her. Twice.
But he promised not to do it again.
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Post by psybershadow on Apr 3, 2015 20:57:40 GMT
To be frank, Ysengrin has yet to put her into a coma. Let alone the whole mad science bone lasers thing that came packaged with that. Yeah, well, he did try to kill her. Twice.
But he promised not to do it again.
And then promptly forgot as if promises were going out of style. |
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Post by speedwell on Apr 3, 2015 21:04:07 GMT
Yeah, well, he did try to kill her. Twice.
But he promised not to do it again.
And then promptly forgot as if promises were going out of style. Yes, well, when your designer is House of Coyote.... |
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Post by matoyak on Apr 3, 2015 21:23:29 GMT
To be frank, Ysengrin has yet to put her into a coma. Let alone the whole mad science bone lasers thing that came packaged with that. That always bothered me because Anthony didn't seem to be doing anything to Antimony's fire. Eventually I supposed that he was just going to leave her in an induced coma and see if she was able to come out of it and live without her fire or not, but then recently I developed an alternate theory wherein Anthony actually was not doing anything to her whatsoever (except being an absentee dad). That was my thought until I joined the forums. I just assumed it was a metaphor for her being psychologically trapped by the very thought of her father. I didn't think it was at all literal or that Anthony himself was doing anything to her directly until I came to the forums here. I still think that's the most likely interpretation: Antimony's just psychologically screwed up because of her father, and that chapter is showing us that fact. |
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Post by psybershadow on Apr 3, 2015 21:34:21 GMT
And then promptly forgot as if promises were going out of style. Yes, well, when your designer is House of Coyote.... He enjoys crazy-looking wallpaper and rugs. Which is why Ysengrin is losing his mind. |
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Post by SilverbackRon on Apr 3, 2015 21:50:11 GMT
He could still be trying to save her but not from the Court or the Forest or some other organisation that hasn't been introduced or hinted at in the comic. There is a very real threat to Annie's life that has been presented to us in the comic and we've been given enough insight into Tony's personality to know what happens when Tony's presented with a riddle that he can't solve. I'm still subscribing to the theory that he's still at least partially motivated by the desire to cure Annie. Afterall, if she's completely isolated with no contact what so ever to the outside world with only her education to occupy her attention then she has no chance of finding a nice boy and dying prematurely due to a fire elemental death baby and he will have successfully have stopped the thing that killed his wife from killing again. Tony is great hero and a total smarty pants for overcoming the thing bested all his efforts to save his wife. It's preventative medicine and in no way a giant over reaction to being unable to "cure" fire elementisim. That doesn't justify his actions, however, and he is in need of some serious help if I'm right. The man's in the middle of a mental break if he truly thinks that doing all this without Annie's consent is in fact helping. First, I have to say I love your wording here: "Fire Elemental Death Baby". When I read this, the first thing that popped into my mind is Monday's possible update: "Also Antimony, I have scheduled you for an appointment in the infirmary this afternoon. We will be performing a surgical sterilization process which will render you incapable of future pregnancy. A simple procedure that will have you back at your classwork tomorrow". EDIT TO ADD - Before writing this I actually had to go have another look at Divine to see where on her body the Bonelasers were aimed. Too high up for a tubal litigation, it seemed aimed at her heart, which is sad enough as is. |
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Post by Aurelia Verity on Apr 3, 2015 21:52:14 GMT
But the space, the bright planet in the chapter image, how does that fit in? I just don't understand.
It just doesn't seem to be in style of Tom for this to be a simple dream like that one season of that show whatever it was called.
Also, realistically, unless all the next chapters are just going to be "a 13 year old kid is alone in her room studying 16 hrs a day and getting suicidally depressed from the isolation" we know not all of this will happen. some of it might, but not all. because then there will just be no more plot.
Interestingly Anthony feels no blame in his daughter's misconduct. it's one thing for him to disapprove of her becoming a medium but the academic misconduct is, in part, often the fault of a parent or a teacher. in this case, Anthony presumably failed to provide his daughter with a good base of education while in the hospital and then his abandonment made Annie clam up when she was falling behind. she couldn't admit her father failed to properly educate her, not when everyone is already assuming he's a complete ass.
So now he shows up and has no qualms about blaming her, and of course Annie screwed up big, no doubt about it. But it's unlikely this would have happened if she had a family to go and ask for help. Annie is a kid and she made due with the best available to her. and now Anthony shows up and insists she's a complete screw up? well why didn't you stay and make sure wasn't one? she's a kid, it is literally your job to educate and provide for your child.
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Post by Deepbluediver on Apr 3, 2015 21:53:01 GMT
I'm really rooting for Antimony to grow a spine at some point here and tell off her father, but I know how hard it can be for a kid to talk back to their parents. Facing down giant gorilla-monsters in the forest? No problem- the worst they can do is kill you. But dad? That's a whole 'nother story.
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Post by aline on Apr 3, 2015 21:54:47 GMT
That was my thought until I joined the forums. I just assumed it was a metaphor for her being psychologically trapped by the very thought of her father. I didn't think it was at all literal or that Anthony himself was doing anything to her directly until I came to the forums here. I still think that's the most likely interpretation: Antimony's just psychologically screwed up because of her father, and that chapter is showing us that fact. Zimmy didn't talk about it like there was anything metaphorical about it ("I can't see where he is, but I can try to stop whatever he's doing"). She knew the difference with earlier when Annie was dreaming / remembering stuff. She was convinced he was actively putting her in that state. That chapter also happened right after "Microsat 5" where Anthony gave a call to request medical supplies. Those scalpels weren't metaphorical at all. |
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Post by antiyonder on Apr 3, 2015 22:01:59 GMT
So now he shows up and has no qualms about blaming her, and of course Annie screwed up big, no doubt about it. But it's unlikely this would have happened if she had a family to go and ask for help. Annie is a kid and she made due with the best available to her. and now Anthony shows up and insists she's a complete screw up? well why didn't you stay and make sure wasn't one? she's a kid, it is literally your job to educate and provide for your child. I don't know about that. I mean there's always the option of asking a friend to tutor her on the subjects she has a harder time with. And as much as Anthony screwed up as a father, she's still done legitimately well in several courses in spite of that. He's definitely to blame for things like her fear of abandonment as shown in Thread, but the cheating is something I think Annie could have found more ethical alternatives. Especially as she has grown out of her shell in prior chapters. |
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Post by Daedalus on Apr 3, 2015 22:18:39 GMT
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree? We're yet to see how. Perhaps just showing the tree to Annie's apple, who appears quite different in personality from our beloved protagonist? The famous statement you refer to is likely the reference he intended, though we can't be certain yet. Tony can't actually forbid her from being a fire elemental with etheric powers Want to bet? Antimony's ability to get along with people is much higher than most folk, which is why she's a Medium. Thus she isn't in a position to look down at Anthony if she won't at anyone else too. Anthony's ability to get along with people is much lower than typical human She didn't start that way though. She started out much more like Anthony, and evolved to be more like Surma. Possibly giving meaning to the title: the apple moved away from the tree after it fell. |
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Post by SilverbackRon on Apr 3, 2015 22:29:54 GMT
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree? We're yet to see how. Perhaps just showing the tree to Annie's apple, who appears quite different in personality from our beloved protagonist? The famous statement you refer to is likely the reference he intended, though we can't be certain yet. And Tom may yet have another tree in mind entirely. Perhaps it is not to show how similar Annie is to her father, but rather "like mother like daughter" when we see Annie's fiery temper get the better of her.  |
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unrequited
Junior Member
Tormentor of the Heart, close friend of the Spleen
Posts: 74
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Post by unrequited on Apr 3, 2015 23:21:28 GMT
Last page I was all  And then with this page I'm like  |
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Sadie
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I eat food and sleep in a horizontal position.
Posts: 146
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Post by Sadie on Apr 3, 2015 23:23:37 GMT
So now he shows up and has no qualms about blaming her, and of course Annie screwed up big, no doubt about it. But it's unlikely this would have happened if she had a family to go and ask for help. Annie is a kid and she made due with the best available to her. and now Anthony shows up and insists she's a complete screw up? well why didn't you stay and make sure wasn't one? she's a kid, it is literally your job to educate and provide for your child. I don't know about that. I mean there's always the option of asking a friend to tutor her on the subjects she has a harder time with. And as much as Anthony screwed up as a father, she's still done legitimately well in several courses in spite of that. He's definitely to blame for things like her fear of abandonment as shown in Thread, but the cheating is something I think Annie could have found more ethical alternatives. Especially as she has grown out of her shell in prior chapters. Honestly, Annie's cheating always struck me as kinda... odd. Like, Annie's never been someone to strictly follow the rules, but while her motives for rule-breaking are occasionally selfish (re: back in the beginning when she sought out Reynardine to learn more about her mother), they're never out-right unethical or amoral. (I always remember that one gag page where Kat showed her Grand Theft Auto and how fun it was to steal and break things, and Annie was so disturbed she couldn't fall asleep that night.) Annie knew cheating was the wrong thing to do, which is why she hid it, even from Rey initially. The big unanswered question is why? Why didn't she seek out help? I get why she wouldn't trust any of the teachers outside of Jones, but Kat would've tutored her in a heartbeat. And outside of Kat, there is Andrew and Parley, who are friends and upperclassmen. Someone with a strong sense of right and wrong doesn't just start cheating out of laziness, rebellion, or impulse. Usually it's because it seems the 'safer' option than some terrifying alternative. What possible outcome of failing her classes or admitting to needing help was so big and terrifying in Annie's mind that cheating was the less risky course of action? |
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Post by brilliantgrey on Apr 3, 2015 23:51:15 GMT
I can't help but be reminded of Coyote and Ysengrin's relationship-both include absentee mentors/parental figures who are absorbed in their various preferred tasks rather than taking care of their wards. Both Annie and Ys revere them, but are slowly being pushed to the breaking point. Which makes the fact that Ysengrin is paired with Annie on the treatise interesting, while Kat is paired with Rey. The neglected children on on side, the favorites on the other? (of course, I doubt that Anthony has any more interest in Kat than he does in Annie) Could this mean that Anthony will actually take an interest in Kat's work? As a biological scientist, I can definitely see him taking on the role of mentor for Kat (or trying to), while continuing to neglect Annie.
This chapter is definitely making me think that Anthony is the one who made the Tic-tocs, though. He seems to have specific knowledge of Annie's time at the Court that by all rights he shouldn't have, and with his position as a sort of observer (with his satellites, watching Surma die helplessly, etc), I could certainly see our resident bastard winding up (ha) to be their creator. Don't ask me how that timeline works, though. (Time travel?) It would also make the infection that spread from the Tic-toc into the ravine wall more interesting. Maybe Ys immediately assumed that it was Anthony's doing because it was one of Tony's pet bird-monsters? It sounded like there had been some sort of altercation between Tony and the Forest previously, possibly of a similar nature, so when he found the sweater next to the abomination-bird he put two and two together and decided Tony was back at his old tricks.
The whole medium thing is ominous, and I can definitely see this as the catalyst for a full out war between the Court and the Forest. Now more than ever I am curious about the Court's refusal to make Annie medium, because I have absolutely no idea what their motives are for that move and I suspect it might have something to do with Tony's motives for isolating her.
Really though right now I'm just hoping for a "You're not my father. You never were" moment. It's been a long time coming. No tolerance for abusive fathers.
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Post by aline on Apr 4, 2015 0:26:58 GMT
Honestly, Annie's cheating always struck me as kinda... odd. Like, Annie's never been someone to strictly follow the rules, but while her motives for rule-breaking are occasionally selfish (re: back in the beginning when she sought out Reynardine to learn more about her mother), they're never out-right unethical or amoral. (I always remember that one gag page where Kat showed her Grand Theft Auto and how fun it was to steal and break things, and Annie was so disturbed she couldn't fall asleep that night.) Annie knew cheating was the wrong thing to do, which is why she hid it, even from Rey initially. The big unanswered question is why? Why didn't she seek out help? I get why she wouldn't trust any of the teachers outside of Jones, but Kat would've tutored her in a heartbeat. And outside of Kat, there is Andrew and Parley, who are friends and upperclassmen. I think there are two aspects to this. One is that Annie prefers to hide her weaknesses. She's not very big on asking people for help or admitting she can't manage on her own. Remember that one: gunnerkrigg.com/?p=291 (As if she couldn't have asked for the bloody picture. As if the Donlans wouldn't give it to her. Yeah, but if she did ask, she might look like she's having some kind of emotions, ya know. Like something totally unexpected such as missing her parents.) And this one: gunnerkrigg.com/?p=132 ("How are you?" "Oh, I was just thrown off a bridge, I'm about to spend the night on the border of dangerous forest and I'm wet and probably quite cold. I'M PERFECTLY FINE. Go away and don't help me.") Another aspect is that she'd just spent the summer alone waiting for her dad to call. So I guess there could be a "Who cares?" sentiment there. |
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Post by todd on Apr 4, 2015 0:28:46 GMT
Also, realistically, unless all the next chapters are just going to be "a 13 year old kid is alone in her room studying 16 hrs a day and getting suicidally depressed from the isolation" we know not all of this will happen. some of it might, but not all. because then there will just be no more plot. My thoughts. The only way to keep the story going if Annie remains under Anthony/'s new set of strictures would be if Tom were to shift to a new protagonist with Annie temporarily written out. Promoting Kat to the lead would be one possibility - but at present, Kat's unlikely to be able to focus on anything but Annie's plight. Tom could make the rabbit-turned-boy and his classmates the new major characters, but that would have its own obvious problems. There's always the possibility of a long series of "whole flashback" chapters like "Ties", but eventually Tom's going to have to come back to the present to continue the story threads. The challenge (and I'm grateful it's Tom who has to face it and not me) is to find a convincing way to repeal Anthony's regime (and I suspect that the Headmaster and other people in charge of the Court will be in favor of the aforesaid new regime - even if Annie's forest medium status being suspended without Coyote's consent could cause them some problems in how to negotiate conflicts with Gilltie Wood - since an Annie constantly studying with Anthony watching over her to make certain that she doesn't do anything else is an Annie who can't cause them any more trouble with her adventures). |
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Post by AnUpliftedCuttlefish on Apr 4, 2015 2:16:08 GMT
Tony can't actually forbid her from being a fire elemental with etheric powers, which is basically what he wants to do.
He also can't forbid the forest and ether from existing, even though he certainly wants to do that too. He seems pretty incapable of accepting anything outside his narrow world view though, so I think this will be a painful lesson for him as it already has been before. Also he is rapidly eroding his power over Annie here. She will fight back once pushed too far. This may be it, but more likely it will be the next step - no Rey and/or no Kat. Heh, "Go to your room, and don't come out until you're ready to reject reality and change the fundamental nature of your being." |
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Post by Jelly Jellybean on Apr 4, 2015 2:24:01 GMT
... Someone with a strong sense of right and wrong doesn't just start cheating out of laziness, rebellion, or impulse. Usually it's because it seems the 'safer' option than some terrifying alternative. What possible outcome of failing her classes or admitting to needing help was so big and terrifying in Annie's mind that cheating was the less risky course of action? I'll suggest again that Annie may have cheated to stay in the advanced classes with Kat. We already saw Annie run away when she thought that Kat might leave her one day. Fear of being left behind and losing the most special (and really only) person in her world can be big and terrifying. |
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Post by thelaurent on Apr 4, 2015 2:35:30 GMT
Also, I don't agree with zimmyzims, even within the Epic Story context. Even there, they seem to be trying to portray Anthony as the hero, and haven't even once criticized anything he's doing for the last six pages. I read the discussion. Not even a 'this is ill-advised.' They're clearly his biggest fan. The way I see it, he is being set up as part of the Epic Storyline...as the antagonist. Rationalist, cold, distant, judgmental when he's not, he's every negative stereotype about the Court rolled up in one ball, and with far fewer of the bits of nepotism, corruption, and niceness that had softened Antimony's way and allowed her to get this far (she's clearly a bright girl, and I think I agree with Jelly as far as 'there's more to her cheating' since it fits very little of her overall personality). There are worse people than him, sure, of course. The robot-maker, for instance. But he represents the harsh reality of the Court in the same way that Yse in 'angry mode' represents the rather brutal aspect of the Forest.
He's there to try to take away everything that means anything to her, and in doing so catalyze her to finally have to actually try to pick a side. The Medium's an important job, maybe even more important than picking a side, but both sides have done plenty that is outright reprehensible, and we can guess that Anthony's completely on the Court's side, maybe even to the disdainful levels of the Headmaster.
Far from the perfect, flawless hero trying to save her from her fate, he's the straw that breaks the camels back and leads to her alienation, isolation, and the blooming of a larger conflict. Because when he was away, Antimony could pretend a lot of things about how he was that she can't now that she's talking to him as he step by step strips her of everything. She's moving dorms away from her friends, she's gotten the only real future she's imagined stripped away if she accepts it...I don't want to get into the argument of whether or not he has the right to do so, but I don't think he's right to do so. A difference of more than semantics.
She can no longer pretend she has a father who is something other than what he is. Which is a jerk and an asshole (which isn't to say 'Worst human being ever' and I'm sure it's all for her 'own good' which doesn't stop him from being an asshole.)
And in that emotional turmoil, he'll have caused another step of the epic story, and might eventually show up again as an antagonist. AFter all, in the serial so far, the number of antagonists that have just been 'rawr fight' have been rare, so even an unpowered man, if apparently endowed with enough power to personally ram through massive changes like that and completely upend her life, is more than a match for Antimony, and equal in terms of impact to such as Coyote and the other major antagonists/allies/enemies/complicated...
Also, first post.
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Post by psybershadow on Apr 4, 2015 3:50:23 GMT
Welcome thelaurent!  I have to say, whenever I see the split part of his lip, Anthony always almost looks like he's grinning. |
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Post by Chancellor on Apr 4, 2015 3:55:19 GMT
oh, man. Tom can really make me hate a fictional character; Anthony's special brand of authority/strictness and emotional cruelty is designed to make me angry. This comic made me re-read the previous ones, and what I think is that Anthony's been keeping tabs on Antimony way longer than just the days he's (presumably) been back. He's had time to review her complete schoolwork, ask around how long this has been going on and knows everything else, too. (The Forest, Kat...). He's had time to make arrangements, convince/blackmail people and so on, all without Antimony noticing he was there (or any of her friends - Mrs. and Mr. Donlan, Eglamore and Jones might have kept that information from her, but Reinardine, Kat, Shadow or Robot or most of her classmates would have told her, or at least asked if there was any family connection). Back to Anthony's cruelty: These are clearly abusive patterns - isolating her, trying to alienate her from her friends, keeping her from the things that are important to her, even taking away her job... Adding to the discussion of whether he hates her or loves her and thinks that he's doing the right thing - maybe he thinks she's dangerous. I don't think he knows of Zimmy's actions and thinks Antimony herself fought back, which would make her very powerful and capable of resisting him (which may be the reason why he came back). It's been said before; yeah, Annie's cheating was a serious issue and being called out on it is surely on the right direction of the majority of persons here's moral compasses. Yeah, he is bound to have reasons for leaving her without sight or word for years, and yeah, he may care for Annie in his obtuse, incomprehensible way. But he's stepped past the boundaries of authority figure AND rightfully involved father. The coldness of his demeanor during the class is understandable as a teacher; his no makeup rule for all visible purposes seems to come completely out of left field, but it's not impossible to grit your teeth regarding harsh rules- dura lex sed lex; and intervening regarding Annie's academic malpractice was in my opinion necessary. Making her repeat the courses that she may well have no concrete understanding of is an extreme action, but stands as a way to better secure her understanding and hopefully break the habit of cheating. The belittling receives no such exoneration. A man as clinical in demeanor as Anthony would find no great challenge in expressing his disapproval of Annie's makeup in the same impersonal manner; Anthony is free to feel how he will about cosmetics, and voice that to just about any degree. However, what he says in the end is equally free to be interpreted as entirely rotten. It is not merely that the way Annie personalizes, individualizes her appearance is unsuitable for class; Anthony's words indicate that he considers it utterly wrong, and must be changed. Such self expression is simply wasteful, unnecessary, and it is the sole and rightful duty of Anthony Carver to dictate how his daughter may look. The invalidation is equally horrible. Does Anthony have his secrets? I am quite sure he does, and would not doubt he has a hundred reasons why he'd not explain the circumstances of his dismemberment. But does he present any indication that he understands how his daughter would be rightfully concerned after his condition, but at the present is not situationally or emotionally prepared to explain? Nay, another simple, ice cold rebuff. No, Antimony, Anthony does not want your familial worry, nor does he care about how you feel about that mystery or if it's paining you in any way-your feelings and concerns are not important enough to address with even paltry assurances, much less active and mutually open communication. Now he tears Annie from the company of her peers, encouraging solitude. Pay no heed to the strife she's endured since she arrived, and the near life-saver that her friendship with Kat must have been; the friendship she treasures to the highest level is irrelevant-a distraction to what's really important. A growing sense of sociability and confidence is not to be encouraged with pride, but rather stamped out through ever increasing enforced isolation. Her father knows what's best and is all she really needs! He now belittles and invalidates her interests and possible ambitions in the forest and position of medium as "nonsense"; no regard to the challenges and successes that came along the way to her appointment, nor to the happiness it brings her or the potentially fulfilling future it could provide-it doesn't matter how Annie feels, Anthony says that her feelings, interests, and happiness are nonsense and are to be disregarded fully to make way for what he sees fit. Said in short, I'm still not particularly fond of this man, or his perceptibly noxious actions. |
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Post by Aurelia Verity on Apr 4, 2015 4:08:38 GMT
I don't know about that. I mean there's always the option of asking a friend to tutor her on the subjects she has a harder time with. And as much as Anthony screwed up as a father, she's still done legitimately well in several courses in spite of that. He's definitely to blame for things like her fear of abandonment as shown in Thread, but the cheating is something I think Annie could have found more ethical alternatives. Especially as she has grown out of her shell in prior chapters. Honestly, Annie's cheating always struck me as kinda... odd. Like, Annie's never been someone to strictly follow the rules, but while her motives for rule-breaking are occasionally selfish (re: back in the beginning when she sought out Reynardine to learn more about her mother), they're never out-right unethical or amoral. (I always remember that one gag page where Kat showed her Grand Theft Auto and how fun it was to steal and break things, and Annie was so disturbed she couldn't fall asleep that night.) Annie knew cheating was the wrong thing to do, which is why she hid it, even from Rey initially. The big unanswered question is why? Why didn't she seek out help? I get why she wouldn't trust any of the teachers outside of Jones, but Kat would've tutored her in a heartbeat. And outside of Kat, there is Andrew and Parley, who are friends and upperclassmen. Someone with a strong sense of right and wrong doesn't just start cheating out of laziness, rebellion, or impulse. Usually it's because it seems the 'safer' option than some terrifying alternative. What possible outcome of failing her classes or admitting to needing help was so big and terrifying in Annie's mind that cheating was the less risky course of action? My theory has always been that Annie did not seek help because her lack of education would be (correctly) interpreted by others as lack of good parenting. Annie from the beginning always worshiped her parents, she always tried her best to make her mother and especially her father seem in the best light possible against some pretty good evidence to the contrary. loads of people have been critical of Anthony openly in front of her. Eglamore, Rey, the court has it on record that her dad "ditched her". in light of this Annie tries hard to excuse his behavior. He has important work, he's busy, etc. Now realistically look at the situation, Annie grew up in a hospital with a sick and bedridden woman who taught her some things, mostly relating to mythologies and languages (which is why she does ok in history) and a surgeon dad (which is why she does ok in bio) but one person is dying and the other is employed full time at a demanding job AND presumably is doing independent research to cure his spouse. how much can they really teach her? not a whole lot. They can try, and they did, but school doesn't just make you memorize stuff. ideally, school teaches you how to learn. learn anything. how to seek help and advise, how to manage time, practice, seek out the information you need. And Annie never got that. She fundamentally does not know how to learn. On top of that, because she has a hero worship of her father and keeps hearing criticism of him she is unwilling to admit that the education she received prior to GC was poor. she is a concealer by nature, so she takes an almost natural escape. her and Kat study together. initially looking at her answers to check them with Kat's is a normal thing kids do. but as time goes on her answers are always wrong and Kat's are always right and gradually she slips into just copying them. from that point on admitting complicity is even more difficult. and like so many things it escalates. and once you fall behind it's harder and harder to catch up with the material. so she just keeps doing it. It's natural. Yes, Annie should be held accountable for her screw-ups like any kid. But in the case of cheating it's important to get to the route of it. Why did the kid cheat? is it only laziness? or is it because their home life or expectations placed on them by their parents forced them to? because they are afraid of their parents? because their parents are absent or uncaring? Parents are not off the hook, in such cases they too are complicit. they failed to provide a safe and healthy environment for the child. And parents do this often, and often unintentionally, but they must work together with the child to correct it, instead of piling on the guilt and blame, which will only case the child more stress, more anxiety and long term damage. if Anthony thinks Annie is in any sort of state of mind to learn anything right now he's wrong. |
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Post by gunnerwf on Apr 4, 2015 5:10:12 GMT
Wonder when we're going to see the planet thingy
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Post by warrl on Apr 4, 2015 5:51:45 GMT
It occurs to me that while Anthony can maybe stop Annie from walking over to the Forest, he probably can't stop her from etherically flying over to the Forest while her body's lying in bed at night.
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I have to say, whenever I see the split part of his lip, Anthony always almost looks like he's grinning.
