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You can choose to act on a feeling or not, but you usually can’t choose to feel. But the corollary of that is that you also can’t force someone to fall in love — to bend them to your will in that way. In this, love is “autonomous” from the subject. Which brings up Authorial authority in relation to romances in the show. And I will leave that thought open-ended…
And I’ll close it up a bit with something that is relevant. One of the laws of magic is that you can’t make anyone fall in love with anyone else, as explained on WL. Jafar broke that law when he did his little Sorcerer spell and forced Ana to fall in love with him. Only Will’s TL freed Ana. The Author, so far as we know, hasn’t broken the laws of magic–he hasn’t raised the dead, forced people to fall in love or changed time. He’s writing a better story–in his head–but with the understanding that he still has to play by certain rules.
The idea is similar to the saying that if you can’t seem to find the story you’d want to read, you need to write it. Which makes me think that you’re right that he’s writing for himself. And presumably, if before that the stories were self-telling, in a sense, and Author(s) were in fact Archivists or maybe Translators, then this one is the first “genuine” author of the bunch (arguably. Depending on whether you think of art/creativity as generating something “new”)
That’s interesting. It makes me wonder what sort of fairy tales the Author knows before he was the author. While it’s not true to say that all fairy tales begin, progress and end the same way, our 21st mind set (and A and E’s mindset growing up when they did and working, literally, for the Great Mouse) is that they fairy tales do take on a one-note flavor. Hero meets Heroine. There is a conflict from an outside (usually magical) source: a wicked witch, a sea witch, an evil queen, a malevolent imp. There is a separation. The evil is defeated and “they lived happily ever after.” That’s why A and E started ONCE in the first place: to tell a story that hadn’t been told before because we all know these classic stories to the point where there is very little surprise. Might the Author not also have a similar mind set? He knows how stories end, because all stories end the same, so he’s changing it so that they never end, which necessitates a constant stream of drama, twists, and often OOC moment in order to keep the story going.
[adrotate group="5"]"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"I agree. Plus, if the Author was trapped in the book the entire time in Storybrooke, then he wouldn’t be able to write or manipulate stuff anyway.
True. But is there a new author? There are things in the book that are post-Author-sucking. Emma’s birth and being put in the wardrobe, for one. So was that *recorded* or was that *manipulated*?
Hmm…Blue Fairy maybe? Maybe she’s the current author.
Plus, if the Author was trapped in the book the entire time in Storybrooke, then he wouldn’t be able to write or manipulate stuff anyway.
I’m not really sure he can’t manipulate from intside the book.
<ul>
<li>Someone gave August the page with the door</li>
<li>The book appeared to Mary Margaret (when there was no magic in Storybrooke)</li>
<li>Someone gave Robin page 23</li>
<li>The light leading to the key was projected from the page with the door</li>
</ul>
SOMEONE is leading everyone around by their noses. It might not be the Peddler, but some manipulation is taking place in Storybrooke.There are things in the book that are post-Author-sucking. Emma’s birth and being put in the wardrobe, for one. So was that *recorded* or was that *manipulated*?
Also this. I can understand how the Author can continue to write from inside the book. Maybe losing some of his creative license. But I don’t understand how he can influence the bullet list from above.
I think the Sorcerer is responsible for the actions in the bullet list, but the Author is responsible for the manipulation of the story.
I think the Sorcerer is responsible for the actions in the bullet list, but the Author is responsible for the manipulation of the story.
I like this!
I’m not really sure he can’t manipulate from intside the book.
<ul>
<li>Someone gave August the page with the door</li>
<li>The book appeared to Mary Margaret (when there was no magic in Storybrooke)</li>
<li>Someone gave Robin page 23</li>
<li>The light leading to the key was projected from the page with the door</li>
</ul>
SOMEONE is leading everyone around by their noses. It might not be the Peddler, but some manipulation is taking place in Storybrooke.I agree. Although A&E do like their red herrings (ex with Lost, and the assumption early on that the Smoke Monster is actually a sentient entity). It appears that we have someone working in cahoots with the Author… or maybe against him, depending on how we’re viewing the results of these discoveries. Incidentally, do we know or have any inkling as to the relationship between the Author and the quill? What happens if the quill is Authorless?
On a different note, if “Author” is technically a job title, is “Sorcerer” also a job, occupied by many different people at different times? If so, what’s the job description? And if not, then… who or what is it?
Incidentally, do we know or have any inkling as to the relationship between the Author and the quill? What happens if the quill is Authorless? On a different note, if “Author” is technically a job title, is “Sorcerer” also a job, occupied by many different people at different times? If so, what’s the job description? And if not, then… who or what is it?
All very good questions.
Also, if the Author’s job is just to record, you’d think that the quill would recognize that something is not right and fight back somehow.
Also, if the Author’s job is just to record, you’d think that the quill would recognize that something is not right and fight back somehow.
I would watch this….
A thought I just had. It seems apparent to me that the story of Snow and Charming stealing Mal’s baby was not in the final version of the book. Should we assume the Apprentice removed it?
Also, if the Author’s job is just to record, you’d think that the quill would recognize that something is not right and fight back somehow.
I would watch this…. A thought I just had. It seems apparent to me that the story of Snow and Charming stealing Mal’s baby was not in the final version of the book. Should we assume the Apprentice removed it?
I don’t think we know that. Just because we don’t hear about it being in the book, doesn’t mean it’s not there.
The problem of freewill vs. destiny is a classic, unsolved (and some might say unsolvable) problem of philosophy. Are we truly free (libertarianism) or is everything determined (either by laws of physics or God)? Could we be free to choose our actions without necessarily being free to choose our wills (compatibalism)? I don’t think we’re going to get any totally clear answers (seeing how philosophers have been talking about it for centuries), but it’s an interesting discussion nonetheless.
If I had to venture where A&E stand on the matter, I’d say it’s exactly what Glenda said to Zelena in 3×20.
Glinda: Fate is a funny thing. You don’t actually know if that’s what the prophesy actually means. Remember what I said? Only you can shape your destiny. But if you believe you are evil, that is what you will become.
In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if Glinda herself is an Author. As the keeper of the Book of Records, it’s probably her primary responsibility to record what happens in Oz.
Prior to the Author reveal, we’ve had many conversations about fate and free will on this site before. Most of us assumed that while there was an element of fate at play, most of the choices we’ve seen our characters make were because they…chose it, not because of an Authorial insert of manipulation. For example, there was no way that Rumple (the master manipulator prior to the Author reveal) could manipulate Neal and Emma meeting and conceiving Henry, without whom Emma could not have broken the Curse with TLK in 122. There was a bit of a consensus (generally speaking) that Neal was perhaps right that “fate, destiny, whatever you want to call it…” had a hand in ensuring Henry’s conception but that it still came down to certain choices the characters made: Emma choosing to steal that particular car, choosing to get a drink with Neal…ect ect ect.
When it came to Neal and Emma meeting because of destiny, it would seem like it. But then there’s something that never made sense to me. Why did Peter Pan have a picture of Henry centuries before he was ever born? Did the Author give it to Peter Pan? And let’s not forget what Peter Pan said to Henry in S3. “What? You think it was a coincidence that the spawn of the dark one fell in love with the product of True Love?” (paraphrase) Those two things make me wonder if (1) Peter Pan knew the Author (2) much like Rumple manipulated Snow and Charming’s meeting in (1×3), Peter Pan manipulated events so that Henry would be born because Pan wanted the heart of the Truest Believer (3) That is why the Shadow kidnapped Baelfire (to preserve his life). That naturally leads me to wonder if one of the playwrights that August mentioned being an Author was J.M. Barrie–an obvious favorite of Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. Did J.M. Barrie accurately record the tale of Peter Pan? It would seem not, since the Peter Pan of OUAT is much darker than the boy of the play or Disney cartoon. Did Peter Pan somehow manipulate information about of J.M. Barrie about Henry in exchange for being depicted more favorably in the children’s play by Barrie?
On a different note, if “Author” is technically a job title, is “Sorcerer” also a job, occupied by many different people at different times? If so, what’s the job description? And if not, then… who or what is it?
Yes, A&E already hinted that the title of “Sorcerer” can be passed on, probably depending on who has the hat. Maybe the Apprentice simply took the title of Sorcerer from the previous sorcerer, but hasn’t let on yet. I’m also questioning if Lily is going to be tasked as being the next Sorcerer (or if she is in fact the daughter of the Sorcerer). Her being branded by the Apprentice with the star mark, almost makes me think the Apprentice MEANT to do that and meant to send Lily to A Land Without Magic. I’m not so sure that the Author “made” the Sorcerer do anything. Why are we so sure that what the Apprentice says is so trustworthy? He reminds me a lot of the Sneaky Blue Fairy, whom I believe the Apprentice may be in cahoots with. What if the Apprentice meant to send Lily to this world the way (I suspect) the Blue Fairy meant to send Baelfire to ALWM?
Also, if the Author’s job is just to record, you’d think that the quill would recognize that something is not right and fight back somehow.
I think whoever made that quill is a lot sneakier than we might suspect. August said the Sorcerer made that quill. What kind of person would create such an all-powerful magical object–one that’s capable of literally rewriting history? Or is it simply a quill that doesn’t actually have any power (see my above theory about the Apprentice merely placing the blame on the Author).
That’s why A and E started ONCE in the first place: to tell a story that hadn’t been told before because we all know these classic stories to the point where there is very little surprise. Might the Author not also have a similar mind set? He knows how stories end, because all stories end the same, so he’s changing it so that they never end, which necessitates a constant stream of drama, twists, and often OOC moment in order to keep the story going.
This makes me think of the The Never Ending Story (1984), which I’m guessing is a big influence on A&E, much like Back to the Future was for the S3 finale. Does that mean Henry, the primary reader of the book, is like Bastian, and eventually will become the next Author? I’d put money on it.
"That’s how you know you’ve really got a home. When you leave it, there’s this feeling that you can’t shake. You just miss it." Neal Cassidy
What kind of person would create such an all-powerful magical object–one that’s capable of literally rewriting history? Or is it simply a quill that doesn’t actually have any power (see my above theory about the Apprentice merely placing the blame on the Author).
One quill rule them all. Not a fan of The Lord of the Rings, but I couldn’t help it.
That’s why A and E started ONCE in the first place: to tell a story that hadn’t been told before because we all know these classic stories to the point where there is very little surprise. Might the Author not also have a similar mind set? He knows how stories end, because all stories end the same, so he’s changing it so that they never end, which necessitates a constant stream of drama, twists, and often OOC moment in order to keep the story going.
This makes me think of the The Never Ending Story (1984), which I’m guessing is a big influence on A&E, much like Back to the Future was for the S3 finale. Does that mean Henry, the primary reader of the book, is like Bastian, and eventually will become the next Author? I’d put money on it.
I think I probably still have the VHS of this movie somewhere. It’s definitely on youtube though.
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