Posted by Terry on July 09, 1999 at 11:04:23:
In Reply to: Re: Parents and Children posted by Nick on July 08, 1999 at 13:08:07:
:: Equality is the equality of opportunity instead of abstract equality of from birth regardless of merit.
: I don't understand the last sentance m8 ("Equality is the equality ..."), could you elaborate please, thanks in advance.
Sorry, no Vancian clarity in that first sentence. Let me expand.
Equality of opportunity is surely a common Vance theme. Everyone deserves an equal chance to make a go of life. Most Vance heroes spend time overcoming difficult early circumstances (Durdane, Emphyrio, eg.)
In fact inheritance in Vance novels seems to be something that is a) a plot device used to gain our sympathy for heroes who are never born on the right side of the track or b)an attitude or incident that really got Jack's goat when he was growing up. Probably both.
Equality of birth says that everyone is equal, deserves equal share in society, wealth, education, priveledge, power, etc. Regardless of how greedy, lazy, stupid or incompetent you are, you get an equal share in society. But with Vance, you gotta earn your stripes, earn your way in life and deserve what you get and not merely be born into it.
Isn't it Wyst where everyone gets the same food (bonter), appartments, etc. except that the villains actively subverted the system of vaguely socialistic nature? That's a clear demonstration of Vance's true feelings toward socialism, one suspects.