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Post by Dante on Jan 19, 2009 13:27:11 GMT -5
The question is whether you take the Great Unknown as literally standing for death within the universe of aSoUE, which would seem to be a detour into outright fantasy territory, or whether the symbolism is for readers only. I'm not decided on which I'd prefer, although for fanfic purposes I'd make it a little of both. While I don't know if Lemony ever read HP, it's possible it's a case of great minds think alike. Handler's said he read the first book; I forget his specific comments, but I think he appreciated it. I don't know if he ever read any more, although he has confessed to a desire to kidnap JKR and spirit her away to a bar. |
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murakami
Reptile Researcher
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Post by murakami on Jan 30, 2009 17:52:18 GMT -5
I like the idea of it representing mystery, like the characters are being dragged away from the periphery of the book, whether it is actual death, a sea monster, fate etc. I suppose when the narration is meant to be the research of Lemony Snicket, it’s almost as if he’s saying that his knowledge has limits, that he doesn’t know what happens to them either, that they’ve been pulled outside the boundaries of this particular story. Fits in with the whole theme that what happens to the Baudelaires is only one story in a world of many. That’s the great thing about having the storyteller as a character, even if it is just the author not knowing how to tie up the loose ends you can just say it was something Snicket couldn’t find out.
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Post by cwm on Feb 1, 2009 9:42:43 GMT -5
The Grim Grotto states that he "will not state" the nature of the question mark, implying that he knows what it is but simply finds it too terrifying to describe (which fits with his own previous descriptions of himself).
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t
Catastrophic Captain
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Post by t on May 29, 2009 23:10:48 GMT -5
They must have died! ? is just symbolic of the mysteries of death and the afterlife. I agree with Tragedy. I was re-reading TE and Kit mentioned something about the Quagmires having an aerial dilemma which they were unsuccessful. In this case, however, we can presume that they end up landing in the water (because Kit asked them to join her in the boat she created using the books she liked - even tossing the boring ones on the sea.) In a vast sea like that, it is unlikely they would survive without any nourishment and Decision Day (high tide?) came - still no help for them. |
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Panderrz
Reptile Researcher
Always look on the bad side. You'll never be disappointed.
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Post by Panderrz on Jun 7, 2009 11:47:25 GMT -5
I think it's rather a symbol for being unable to know everything. Nobody can ever have all the answers. The Quagmires were sucked into this void of un-knowing, so we can never be sure of what happened to them. I agree.  |
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asoue13
Reptile Researcher
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Post by asoue13 on Jul 26, 2009 17:32:28 GMT -5
i think its where the baudelaires went after leaving the island with beatrice
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Post by fionalazaro on Aug 15, 2009 7:20:42 GMT -5
even though the end is really more dramatic than harry potter i still wouldve liked to know every detail of every mystery that ever happened  lol i just can't stop thinking about all the unexplained. wish there'd be a fourteenth book so it 's not the unlucky number 13th |
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Post by Kount Kelsey on Aug 16, 2009 12:06:52 GMT -5
maybe thats what he wanted ... that it would endwith 13 the unlucky number meaning that the baudelaires are going to be unlucky and in a year or so daniel handler will make a whole newshortseries that is about there life now
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Post by Sophie-Senpi on Sept 2, 2009 21:08:02 GMT -5
well, i think it's something like the sub in '20,00,00 leagues under the sea', a big sub OR maybe it's the loch ness monster,lol btw u know in LSUA he brings a bit of 'ramona quimbly age 8' into VFD? (i have it all planed out and everything ) |
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Post by JTB on Sept 2, 2009 21:13:50 GMT -5
I love how random the last part of the above comment was.  (and to discuss it, yes, I have often wondered that.) The Great Unknown to me has always signified the simple fact that, in life, you never really can understand and/or know all the facts of one story, and that you have to accept that sometimes things happen that you cannot or are unable to comprehend. So, the Great Unknown really just symbolizes that not everything is meant to be understood or known, and it's something that humans have to deal with as a part of life. |
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Post by bitterapples on Sept 5, 2009 20:47:42 GMT -5
I agree with the theory of it being a submarine, or something of that sort. If I remember correctly, Olaf said something about showing up "on their sonar". Had it been an animal, he could have said something about it sensing movement, or sniffing them out. If it was in fact a submarine, we can hope for either the best, or the worst. The submarine could have been captained by members who would have brought him to justice, or by people even more scheming and despicable than he.
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Post by Vadron on Oct 4, 2009 20:53:50 GMT -5
I doubt it is a submarine, they just seem too... un-sinister. I don't think it's a beast of the sea, either. I think it's just... a living mystery.
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Post by Dante on Oct 5, 2009 2:19:35 GMT -5
That's a good way of putting it.
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Post by Sophie-Senpi on Oct 5, 2009 17:54:29 GMT -5
interesting.................... but i still think its a sinister sub  |
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Post by Jessica Snicket on Oct 5, 2009 20:19:43 GMT -5
It seemed to me that in TGG, they were acting as if the "?" was a submarine, but I don't think it's just a sub.
I would also think it's just a metaphor for the actual great unknown, death. No one really knows what it is or what it's like, and no one knows what happens to you when you meet it.
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While I don't know if Lemony ever read HP, it's possible it's a case of great minds think alike.
lol i just can't stop thinking about all the unexplained. wish there'd be a fourteenth book so it 's not the unlucky number 13th
(and to discuss it, yes, I have often wondered that.)
