Discussion Literature / Deryni

Fantastic Racism: Perhaps this exchange (part of a larger argument between Jehana and Nigel in Deryni Rising) is one reason some observers think the prejudice against Deryni is analogous to homophobia:

"I loved him too," Jehana said defensively.

"You choose strange ways to show it."

"I can love the man, yet hate his deeds, can't I?"

"Can you?" Nigel questioned. "I think we may have rather different definitions of the word love, Jehana. To my way of thinking, it's a bit more than mere profession of some nebulous feeling for another human being. It's also accepting—accepting everything about that person even if you don't approve of all of it."

Jehana appears to be using the "love the sinner, hate the sin" argument from St. Augustine (His Letter 211 of circa 424CE contains the phrase Cum dilectione hominum et odio vitiorum, which translates roughly to "With love for mankind and hatred of sins."). She's claiming to have loved Brion while hating his powers.

In some circles, homosexuality is considered sinful: its presence may be attributed to insanity, sexual abuse, demonic possession, or as simply one of many ills (like physical illnesses and addictions) resulting from the Fall of Man. Some Christians invoke this distinction, claiming to love gay people while hating what they do.

Notice Nigel disputes the distinction and disagrees with her definition of "love". He also seems to be implying that Brion's powers were an intrinsic part of his being, and he goes on to say so more explicitly "Brion's powers were his own!"

Do all forms of prejudice function in similar ways?

• Will: Cinhil's will is tampered with, to allow one faction amongst the regents to seize power. His son Rhys Michael alters his will to give legal cover to a move against the evil regents.

Will is a disambiguation. A list of tropes about wills can be found on Will and Inheritance Tropes.

Fantastic Racism: I've moved this exchange from the main page. It addresses the comparisons between Deryni and Jewish people.

In fact, there is actually a group in The Harrowing of Gwynedd that claims to 'cure' Deryni by removing their powers! Also, the Deryni are as Christian as anyone else, and there are actual, non-disguised Jews in Kurtz's world.

• There are? They're being very, very invisible Jews then. A handful of Muslims appear in the later books (mostly exotic visitors from outside Gwynedd), but there don't seem to be many Jews around at all.
• There have got to be Jews because there is an Old Testament and a 'Holy Land'. As for being effectively invisible - well we've always been good at keeping our heads down.
• Word Of Kurtz is that there are Jews present. In Deryni Magic a short story collection of both fan fiction and a canonical piece by Kurtz herself, Kurtz writes: "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." She also says that when a story calls for their mention, they will be mentioned.