Black, White....and Yellow?

As I was reading the book and getting caught up in the story it suddenly occured to me the lack of color throughout this section.  After the Lady visits Lissar and gives her the white dress that is the last we hear about color.  Throughout the rest of the section the main colors mentioned are black and white.  When she meets the man on page 167 she is described as wearing "a dress so white it almost hurt the eyes" and "her eyes, black as her dress was white."  No other mention of his clothes or colors is heard.  Another mention of black and white is made on page 168 when the farmer is telling Lissar how to get to the house.  "'Ware the black and white hen; she's a devil."  This one particularly made me pause.  Lissar wears a white dress, has white hair and black eyes but she was given these but the Lady, who we assume is kind and gentle.  This reference to black and white being similar to the devil is an interesting comparison.  While Lissar's depiction of black and white is calming, wonderous and inspiring, another depiction of something black and white is that of the devil and something to be avoided.  I just find that very interesting and am anxious to see if it leads anywhere.

Now, black and white are not the only colors mentioned, yellow is also mentioned on page 176 - 177 when Barley and Ammy are talking about the yellow city.  The yellow city is called this because the great house is made with yellow brick as are most of the other buildings.  I find the sudden introduction of the color yellow intriguing.  I can't help but wonder how yellow fits in with black and white.  Yellow is usually the color of gold so perhaps the importance of the color yellow is that of royalty and prestige.  However, I do not think that entirely answers the question of the yellow.  I think that yellow stands for  hope and faith as Lissar decides that this is where she must go, the yellow city.  There, she hopes to find the end of her journey and answers to why she is there.  The end of the journey only signifies the beginning of another.  So perhaps yellow stands for this hope and new beginning while black and white signify a blankness that can be filled with whatever the seer chooses to fill it with. 

I found further evidence of the lack of color on page 197 when Lissar is describing the greeting room and royal family.  She makes reference to color when she is describing the room but does not give any specific details as if she is seeing them but not really seeing them.  She just knows they are there.  When she is describing the royal family on page 198 she states, "both of them were quietly dressed" but makes no reference to what kind of colors they are wearing.  Again, this lack of color gives me sense of blankness, nothingness, as if there is no meaning in things.  I feel this is how Lissar must feel, she has no meaning, no direction, she is lost and looking for a purpose.  At the end of the section there is suddenly a great reference to color when she says, "she remembered him as if he dressed in bright colors: red and green and yellow and blue." (228)  For me, this signifies a great turning point in Lissar.  She has found a sense of meaning and purpose to her life.  She is in charge of 6 little lives and will do whatever it takes to keep those pups alive.  It also signifies a change in the way Lissar sees Ossin.  She is beginning to see the world in a new way and that is why I believe the introduction of other colors is important.  The world is no longer as big a mystery as it first was to her.  Lissar has much to figure out and learn but she now sees hope.

Not a "Charmed" life

   As I was reading the article for this weeks class, Kent A. Ono's "To Be a Vampire on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I couldn't help but think of the television series Charmed.  For those of you who have not heard of this show it has many similarities to Buffy.  Three sisters find out they are witches and not just any witches but powerful witches because they possess the "power of three" which makes them Charmed.  In the show they fight demons, warlocks, misquided individuals and even face the ultimate evil, "The Source."  Just as in Buffy the three sisters are white and come from a middle class family (all the girls in the family are witches).  The sisters were raised by their grandmother (a witch) because their father had left them at an early age and their mother had been killed by a demon.  However, they were raised without their powers (grandma put a binding spell on them) and only gained them when she died.  They did not seem to be denied any luxuries as they were growing up but yet feel like they have nmissed out on things.  So, just as in Buffy, they are still learning about who they are and what they are to become.
     Also, as in Buffy, the demons they face come from the underground, and when I think back on the show, are generally of a different race.  The Sorceress, who works for the dark side, is of African-American descent and much of the other demons and never-do-wells are of other minority groups.  Most of the "innocents" the sisters save appear to be Caucasian.  The evil characters are all classified as being "dark" just as in Buffy, they have black eyes and wear dark clothing and live underground or in dark alleys and woods, etc.  Another similarity to Buffy is the addition of the character Cole, which is very similar to the character Angel in Buffy.  Cole is a demon who wishes to shed his powers and work with the sisters.  He becomes romantically involved with one of the sisters, Pheobe.  He is also white and middle class.  Yet, another similarity is how the sisters are always complaining about wanting a "normal life" and being able to date, get married and have children.  They sometimes lament their charmed witch status and wish that they could give it up in order to lead a safe, normal, secure life.  But in the end they always accept their fate and continue to fight the demons and other bad creatures. 
     I had never thought of all these implications before reading the article but now can see that even though the Charmed ones are ass-kicking good doers, there are flaws with the way culture, gender and society is repesented in the show.