Re: Does she die?

[rhend@caen.engin.umich.edu (Robert Henderson)]

In article <8903241945.AA04183@GAFFA.MIT.EDU> Love-Hounds@GAFFA.MIT.EDU writes:
>Really-From: Doug Alan <nessus@athena.mit.edu>
>
>No, I'm, refering to the end of "Hello Earth".  We hear the german
>voice say "Deeper, deeper.  Somewhere in the darkness there is a
>light."  We also hear sonar sounds.  So, this leaves us with an
>unanswered question -- what is it that is lurking hidden in the
>depths?  Both sonar and German, especially in combination, conjure up
>the image of U-boats.  Well, what is this U-boat doing there?  And why
>is it the "light"?  It's there to rescue Kate, of course!
>
>|>oug
>
Okay, I listened to _The_Ninth_Wave_ again, and the sonar
sounds do indeed show up in _Hello,_Earth_ and _Under_Ice_.
My mistake.  But why on Earth would a U-Boat be there to rescue
her?  Sounds more to me like it's there to represent something
being underwater, like a body.  The light refers to the light
mentioned right at the beginning of _The_Morning_Fog_, which
I'd take to be the light of Heaven, or whatever equivalent
somebody who believes in reincarnation would think of.
Speaking of which, "better for the experience" could refer
to being reborn in a better form, or some such.  (I'm
thinking of _All_the_Love_ here.)

I played it for my roommate (hello Peter) this afternoon,
and asked him what he thought.  He can't believe she could
possibly be alive at the end.  Anybody else have an opinion?
(Of course you do, you're Love Hounds.)

(This also ties in well with my theory that side one of
_Hounds_of_Love_ is about life, and side two is about death,
for what it's worth.)
-- 
RobH (or Rob Henderson, if you prefer)
We let the weirdness in.