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Last edited by razz; 07-18-2020 at 12:27 PM.
I imagine a vast , green field filled with people that you met during your lifetime.
That's the same thing I pictured Feve, just the way they describe it. Maybe even something like another world, but different from all the others [Rolands, ours, etc.] beacuse in this one there is no dying it's a peaceful place i guess amost like someone would picture heaven.
The words written upon this paper, are none compared to the words written upon my heart
I just considered it a euphemism for whatever might exist after death. I guess it's comparable to a heaven or hell, but IMO those probably don't exist either.
The clearing is the BIG something after death. But it's a good word for it. I love it.
Roland would have understood.
It's quite interesting when you consider that, if death is the clearing at the end of the path, where, metaphorically, is the path itself located? Life is a forrest, dense woodland with all the darkness (yet possibly wonder too) that symbol pertains? A place of mystery where all the trees block ones vision (which seems pretty apt, after all what is around the corner?) until we reach the clearing and everything is open and clear.
Using that analogy, death certainly seems a positive place.
what if roland is ON the path leading to clearing and he just doesn't know it?
serious question, no bullshit.
"It's his eyes, Roland thought. They were wide and terrible, the eyes of a dragon in human form" - Roland seeing the Crimson King for the first time.
"When the King comes and the Tower falls, sai, all such pretty things as yours will be broken. Then there will be darkness and nothing but the howl of Discordia and the cries of the can toi" - From Song of Susannah
Ask not what bears can do for you, but what you can do for bears. (razz)
When one is in agreement with bears one is always correct. (mae)
bears are back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The fact that it's an obvious euphemism does not deter me from 'seeing' it literally though.
It's a vast green clearing, though still surrounded by light woods, with the dark forest now at your back, and a clear path (more than one I think) leading forward. The clearing for me is just a gathering-place where you'll meet your own who have gone before you, and you'll travel on together.
We're all on the path (that's life), death is the clearing at the end. Or did you mean is he already at the clearing? Are you asking if his journey is part of his afterlife?
Thanks. I was worried it might come across a bit corny.Originally Posted by CK
I like that.Originally Posted by Jean
I know exactly what you mean. I wouldn't be surprised if the folk of Mid-World, when they die, actually see a green field with all the lovely imagery they imagine. Those who live well anyway.Originally Posted by ManofWesternesse
Spoiler:
no, he's not at the clearing yet because he can't get to it. what if he died after he reached the tower originally. and he just doesn't know it. what if he is simply reliving everything he's ever done in his life that he's done wrong or can't live with. and that's his path to the clearing. only he can't get to the clearing until he makes amends to himself or fixes them or . . . .
maybe i'm mixing up my own beliefs in this. i don't believe in hell (obviously, i'm jewish.) i do believe that we end up with whatever we've done in our lives that we can't live with. our unresolved regrets. whatever you want to call them. maybe this is roland's version of it. and he'll just keep going through this until he resolves it in his mind. he can't ever really actually fix anything because he can't change the past. but he can make peace with himself.
i don't know what i'm trying to articulate here. and i think i'm doing a bad job of it. so i'm done unless someone can actually make sense of this idea and help me get it across.
No, I understand what you're saying. I don't think it's the case, as it would suggest everyone else is part of his memory too (at least beyond theSpoiler:) and since we get lots of point-of-view from other characters (often more even than Roland himself, how often do we see things through Eddie's eyes for example) I don't think this is the case. Unless they're pulled into the world of his 'death dream' (for want of a better word) which I guess is possible since they're ka-tetSpoiler:
A very interesting idea though.
Ask not what bears can do for you, but what you can do for bears. (razz)
When one is in agreement with bears one is always correct. (mae)
bears are back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What do I see? Basically, a clearing, at the end of a path. But mine is a little different from what I'm reading here (which is fascinating - I'm sure this says something about us psychologically). To me, the clearing is a small alcove surrounded by forest. There's a spring there, and a pleasant place to sit and rest. And here's the thing that's really different: there are no people in my clearing. I know how it's been described there maybe should be, but when I close my eyes and picture that clearing it is empty. Maybe I'm antisocial?
I don't know if anyone here reads Terry Pratchett, but if you have, you may know his character Death (who is literally humanity's anthropomorphism of the force of death, or the Grim Reaper). He shows up periodically when characters...well...die. A lot of times, they look at him, expecting that he knows all the answers, and ask hopefully, "so what comes next?" He always just says, "that is up to you," or some variation thereof (although he says it in all caps - just read them to see what I mean). And that's how I think of the clearing. It's not the end reward to me, it's just kind of a way station where you can think about what you did, get some rest, and get ready to move on.
Thats how I feel.
I always had quite a downbeat image of "the clearing", or more specifically, a dirt path swiftly speading out like a tailfin into a kind of barren cul-de-sac edged by gradual "nothingness" (darkness or light.. take your pick).
As images go it's a tad depressing for my tastes but still, thats what I "saw".
I think that sai king clearly stated with susanas' fate in DT7 what the clearing at the end of the path is,Spoiler:
Last edited by Letti; 11-29-2008 at 10:47 PM. Reason: adding spoiler tag
if the worlds gonna end then let's get it over with, i got shit to do
I don't see Suze's ending as The Clearing at all. I see it as the consolation prize.
DT-7
well yeah but reincarnation happened to jake when he died so whose to say susanaSpoiler:, death would appear to be a transfer to another level of the tower and i think she ended up in a clearing at the end of the path which i think sai king used as a nod towards tolkiens grey havens
if the worlds gonna end then let's get it over with, i got shit to do
I don't think that that tells us exactly what the clearing must be, but it does give a few clues about it.Even when you're in the wood, you sometimes catch some glimpses of the sky. 1.From The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
"...Now it is such a bizarrely improbable coincidence that anything so mind-bogglingly useful could have evolved purely by chance that some thinkers have chosen to see this as a final and clinching proof of the non-existence of God. The argument goes like this : 'I refuse to prove that I exist,' says God, 'for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing.'
'But,' says Man, 'the Babel fish is a dead giveaway isn't it? It could not have evolved by chance. it proves you exist, and so therefore, by your own arguments, you don't. QED.'
'Oh dear,' says God, 'I hadn't thought of that,' and promptly vanishes in a puff of logic.
'Oh that was easy,' says Man, and for an encore goes on to prove that black is white and gets himself killed on the next zebra crossing. "
-- Douglas AdamsSpoiler:
2.Spoiler:
Possible spoilers here for anyone who has not read Lisey's Story!
Spoiler:
Maybe the book is connected to the Tower series in a way, maybe King is showing us what the Clearing really is!
BEEP BEEP Richie! They ALL float down here. When you're down here with us, you'll float too!