Protagonismos
Jan. 12th, 2012 03:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
minutia_rOver on her tumblr, tacroy has been posting bits from Diana Wynne Jones' original manuscripts for her novels. The other day, she posted this:
Now look at how it goes in the final, published draft:
See how much better that is? Cat knows what he's done, he did it on purpose, and he's not sorry.
(He will be sorry in a minute, because that is the nature of Cat. But that doesn't take away from this moment, which I really do think is a crowning one of awesome for Cat, however understated.)
Throughout most of Charmed Life, Cat is acted upon, or at the very most reacts impulsively, without intending or really understanding what he's doing. His character growth comes when he chooses to act, even if what he does isn't very nice or very smart.
The first version of events here would have been a step backwards for Cat. Which, you know, will happen in real life--character growth is not a straight line--and I'm often happy enough to see that acknowledged in fiction. But here, at the climax of the book, Cat really deserved his agency. I'm glad DWJ gave it to him, in the end.
I don’t think I helped her,’ said Cat, though he was not at all sure. Cat stood on his own near the ruins with the dragon looking enquiringly up at him from the grass. Janet had been happy in her world. She had missed her mother and father. Now she was probably here for good, and Cat wished he knew if it was his fault or not.
Now look at how it goes in the final, published draft:
"What did the child do?" said the old lady with mittens, very shaken.
"Sealed herself in that world," said Chrestomanci. He was even more shaken. "Isn't that so, Cat?" he said.
Cat nodded mulishly. It had seemed worth it. He was not sure he wanted to see Gwendolen again.
See how much better that is? Cat knows what he's done, he did it on purpose, and he's not sorry.
(He will be sorry in a minute, because that is the nature of Cat. But that doesn't take away from this moment, which I really do think is a crowning one of awesome for Cat, however understated.)
Throughout most of Charmed Life, Cat is acted upon, or at the very most reacts impulsively, without intending or really understanding what he's doing. His character growth comes when he chooses to act, even if what he does isn't very nice or very smart.
The first version of events here would have been a step backwards for Cat. Which, you know, will happen in real life--character growth is not a straight line--and I'm often happy enough to see that acknowledged in fiction. But here, at the climax of the book, Cat really deserved his agency. I'm glad DWJ gave it to him, in the end.
