Explication of Rivalry of superior and inferior in WolfMoon by Charles De Lint - Process work

Description
Elements

* The Superior Rival
* The Inferior Rival
* The Object of Rivalry

Summary

The Superior Rival is set against an Inferior Rival, both vying for the Object of Rivalry.

Variants

A

1. Rivalry of a mortal and an immortal
2. Rivalry of two divinities of unequal power
3. Rivalry of a magician and an ordinary man
4. Rivalry of conqueror and conquered
5. Rivalry of victor and vanquished
6. Rivalry of a master and a banished man
7. Rivalry of suzerain king and vassal king
8. Rivalry of a king and a noble
9. Rivalry of a powerful person and an upstart
10. Rivalry of rich and poor
11. Rivalry of an honored man and a suspected one
12. Rivalry of two who are almost equal
13. Rivalry of equals, one of whom has in the past been guilty of adultery
14. Rivalry of a man who is loved and one who has not the right to love

The key variants to match the story are 1,2,3,6,9 and 14 -

The story WolfMoon revolves mainly around the life of Kern who is human, but posseses a trait to turn into a werewolf whenever he wants.



Tuiloch(magician) is the Superior Rival, whereas Kern(human-werewolf) is the inferior Rival.


The clash between these two occur from the early stages of the book, right until the final stage.

"The feragh came first, agile and supple-limbed for all its bulk, soft-stepping a path through the underbrush so that not one autumnal leaf seemed disturbed."[Wolfmoon, 5]

- the feragh represents a powerful beast in while Tuiloch(the Superior Rival) unleashes on Kern(the Inferior Rival)

"There was magic afoot here, the wolf knew. Powerful magic against which he had no dfense. Heavy though the feragh's scent was, smothering the man, the wolf could smell the sorcery. It burned in the music. It burned in the harper's features. highlighting his thin straight nose, planed brow, and gaunt cheek. It burnedd, too, in the feragh's eyes." [WolfMoon, 4]

- proof that Tuiloch (superior rival) which is also noted as the harper is a very powerful sorceror. Not only does Kern(inferior rival) feel his powers, but so does the beast in which Tuiloch unleashes (feragh.

"He was no longer sure how long or how far the hunt had gone. The harping dulled his senses, weakened his limbs, and he could not find the strength to overcome it. He needed to strike out at his tormentor, to still the hateful music forever, but to reach the harper he must first face the feragh and in that acton lay only death. He was unwilling to throw away his life. First the harper must be made to pay. That need sustained him more than simple survival."[WolfMoon, 5]

“The feragh was hellishly close. Its reek clogged the wolf’s nostrils. The music fired his mind with scalding flames, numbing him.” [WolfMoon, 5]

- Tuiloch's powers affect Kern greatly, and there is nothing he can do to defend himself. Not only does kern need to have the strength to defeat the powerful sorceror, but he faces the beast in which Tuiloch unleashed. His fate is sealed when dealing with either of them as they are too much of a match.

These two rivals are on completely different spectrums. Tuiloch is a powerful Sorceror that has great influence with his magic and the ability to unleash a foul creature, whereas Kern is only a man with the ability to change into a strong Werewolf.

After the beginning, Kern barely escapes his fate. “Then he saw something red bobbing downstream, watched it strike a boulder before the current dragged it under once more.”

Description of Kern's wound: "His left shoulder was gashed as though some wild animal had clawed him and he was streaked with mud"

The two Rivals set apart from then, and only meet up about at the halfway mark.

"Listen, and I will tell you the tale of Tascar, the Wuhr-wulf. Now his eyes were for Kern alone. They impaled him with their strength of will, stripped the manflesh to bare the wolf inside. I know you, they said. I remember you. Echoes of that hateful music that called forth the feragh hung in the air. The hunt is not yet done, the harper's eyes appeared to say. Then he looked away and began the tale.[WolfMoon, 112]

"A last time he looked at Kern, his dark eyes promising terrors to come, and he smiled."[WolfMoon, 112]

- The lines prove that Tuiloch is an unmatched Rival. He pierces Kern with such powers to "strip the manflesh", only through determination could Kern stand toe-to-toe which such a Magician.

“Kern please, she said. Hear me out. I’ve come here on my own. Stram led me. I know what Tuiloch’s done to us, to you.”[205]

“he came in at a run, snow spraying underfoot. He saw the bulky shape of the feragh come quicksilvering toward him, trying to cut him off, but he had too great a lead. Choosing a window, he leaped at it, curling himself into a ball as he struck it. His thick shoulder hair prevented the glass from penetrating deep enough to pierce his skin. He could sense the feragh at the window.” [226]

“he fell back, nursing his hand, trying to concentrate on Tuiloch, on the harper’s next move. But that move never came. The blade thrust up from Tuiloch’s chest and his face was so contorted that it seemed a stranger’s.

- Through the end passages, Kern summons the strength to return to the inn by Fion, he is the only hope, and it will be through his sacrifice that lives would be spared if he can defeat Tuiloch. He has lost all sense of fear, and is willing to sacrifice his life for the survival of those that are taken hostage by Tuiloch. A man reborn, Kern becomes as he is unopposed by the feragh, and with the aid of Fion, defeats the Superior Rival. A match through determination and willingness to sacrifice himself proclaimed Kern the victor.