There's something more going on here, though. I don't think the "care vs. don't care" dichotomy is as clear as Bathory's Daughter suggests.Mark N wrote:Bathorys Daughter wrote:Yes, it's all very nice to get Phix to see the error of her ways, but is it best for Phix herself? I mean, she still has to deal with all those Apos (and who knows what other threats there are out there). None of them have Phix's pacifist POV about things, nor the benefit of Nudge's shock theraphy. That can be really dangerous for Phix. It's one thing to hold out a facade of civilized behavior for the benefit of the lesser beings like Monica, but quite another to take it to heart. She said any sphinx who doesn't watch their back deserves whatever they get. If she begins believing her pacifist/caring attitude in her heart of hearts she will be showing true weakness to the Apos, not just an apparent weakness that caused whats-her-name to lose her head (among other things). Sphinxes can't afford to have real feelings for others because that becomes an opening for another one to take her out. And they will because she will begin to doubt herself, hesitating at a crucial moment. Self doubt and real, heartfelt out-in-the-open caring is death to a sphinx among sphinxes.
I agree with you on this. but there is one thing that will stop any self interested Sphinx from trying to harm Phix, the fact that her granddaughter is a Titan and very protective of those she loves. But simply, harming Phix would lead to a nasty vendetta on the Apos.
As I see it, it's clear that Phix does care - a lot! If that were not the case,
- She would not have broken into tears when Shelly raged at her.
- She would not have punched Bia out through the wall.
- She would not have been so tense and angry that Medeia's comment would trigger her into striking out with a sudden killing blow.
- She would not have gone into a furious blood-rage at the very first verbal prod from Nudge.
What Nudge is doing, I think, is going to force Phix to see that she has a serious choice to make. She can either
- Pull back into her shell, be a "real sphinx", and try to continue to play the enigmatic master manipulator. In effect, she would have to become exactly the monster that Nudge is accusing her of being: heartless and mechanical, avoiding all true contact and intimacy with others. The price: she'll lose Monica, she may lose Shelly, and she could end up being seen as the enemy of all of the Wapsi players who can no longer trust her words or motives. Or,
- Face up to Monica and Shelly and the others with real integrity: deal with them as peers, tell the truth, and work to regain their trust. Prove Nudge wrong, and reject "the monster". The price: she'll have to be even more careful about watching her back around the apos.