Received: from dfw-ix2.ix.netcom.com (dfw-ix2.ix.netcom.com [206.214.98.2]) by mail.frontiernet.net (8.8.8a/8.8.8) with ESMTP id PAA376298 for ; Sun, 9 May 1999 15:02:03 -0400 Received: (from smap@localhost) by dfw-ix2.ix.netcom.com (8.8.4/8.8.4) id OAA09675; Sun, 9 May 1999 14:01:22 -0500 (CDT) Received: from slc-ut4-20.ix.netcom.com(204.31.112.148) by dfw-ix2.ix.netcom.com via smap (V1.3) id rma009605; Sun May 9 14:00:21 1999 Message-ID: <3735DDB8.4C54782@ix.netcom.com> Date: Sun, 09 May 1999 13:10:49 -0600 From: IF X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.04 [en] (Win95; I) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: John Bailey CC: carl@wurb.com, nwdave@cyborganic.com Subject: Regarding MAZE Part Two References: <3732034F.4B4673A3@ix.netcom.com> <373227B2.718591A8@frontiernet.net> <373466EC.FD167346@ix.netcom.com> <3734A18C.FB84FF41@frontiernet.net> Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="------------8A13B54D1F3F1686197985B5" X-UIDL: 42ffe1941728e5e01e222e19a3515440 --------------8A13B54D1F3F1686197985B5 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit CLUE LIST PART TWO Room 26 "'What the devil is this supposed to be?'" A reference to the numerous devils in the room, underscoring the hell theme. Also, the planet hanging in the picture is Saturn, Zeus' father (I'm switching freely between Roman and Greek nomenclature here, so sue me), another reference to the gods or at least the Greek mythos. Room 27 Nothing Obvious Room 28 See notes for Room 12 Room 29 "I snatched the paper from his hand and tore it to pieces." Reveals that The Narrator is truly working hard to prevent the group from reaching the center, as this is the vital clue to the secret door. What is he trying to hide? Or is he simply being malicious due to his nature? Room 30 "No matter how many times I've been through this I'm always fascinated." Another reference not only to the considerable length of time he's been showing groups through the House, but also to his malicious nature in enjoying their folly. Since the nature of the House is parallel to the nature of The Narrator, the question arises, what could the maze be that it has been around so long and seen so many visitors. The hell theme again suggests itself. Room 31 Nothing in the text, but the tree made of bones central in the picture is highly reminiscent of the wood of suicides in Dante's Inferno. Room 32 "People can be so arrogant... in a very real way we are all of us animals, at least in part." The single most obvious and compelling argument that The Narrator is the Minotaur. It hardly requires further comment. Room 33 Nothing Obvious Room 34 Nothing Obvious Room 35 Nothing Obvious Room 36 "'It's not bad,' I said stiffly. "The viol brings the right sense of warmth to the piece, but the guitarist is overplaying his part. Still, he adds a certain plangent brio to an otherwise introspective composition...'" Obviously, The Narrator is well versed in musical terminology and critisicm. Unless the Minotaur has been refining his tastes over the ages, I think this might be an argument against him. Something tells me, considering the length he goes on here, that this may be a valuable clue. Room 37 Nothing Obvious Room 38 Nothing Obvious Room 39 "None of them heard the faint jingling that came from behind the wall." This, along with the picture, is an obvious reference to Edgar Allen Poe's The Cask of Amantadillo (spelling?). The face that The Narrator would try to distract the guests from the poor prisoner's plight is another sign of his devilshness, but could there be more? I may need to read that story again to see if there are any further clues. Room 40 Nothing Obvious Room 41 Nothing Obvious Room 42 "I assured them I would help them return." A bold faced like on his part. While the shortest path through the maze does go through this room, it does not pass through again on the return trip. Room 43 Nothing Obvious Room 44 Nothing Obvious Room 45 The center of the maze, the goal which The Narrator seemed to be trying so hard to keep the guests from. Besides the riddle (perhaps the most contrived rebus I've yet encountered), is there perhaps more here, some hint to his identity? According to the hint list John recived when he sent away for the solution, "You will find two names on the table, and they go together like doughnut and hole." This refers to Woodrow Willson and the proper name (or verb) Will, which fits into the middle of Woodrow Willson like the hole fits into the doghnut. Moreover, "Will" is the part of the phrase on the banner "...iam Shakespere" that is left out, like the hole in the doughnut. Fairly clear so far, but if you look at the banner in it's entirety we see another name. The phrase "IAM Shake spear sun" appears on the banner, possibly reading "I am Shakespere son." Hamnet Shakespere would seem to be exactly who this is pointing too. Moreover, he fits several of the clues in an awkward away. While his mother was comparatively low-born, it could be said that his father was greater than most kings. It's not my favorite theory, but there does appear to be some support. That completes this list, but realize this is only a list of the clearly obvious statements in the text. I am sure there are many more obscure clues, many no doubt hidden in the illustrations. But this should be a good starting point. Ian Finley --------------8A13B54D1F3F1686197985B5 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit CLUE LIST PART TWO

Room 26

    "'What the devil is this supposed to be?'"
        A reference to the numerous devils in the room, underscoring the hell theme.  Also, the planet hanging in the picture is Saturn, Zeus' father (I'm switching freely between Roman and Greek nomenclature here, so sue me), another reference to the gods or at least the Greek mythos.

Room 27

    Nothing Obvious

Room 28

    See notes for Room 12

Room 29

    "I snatched the paper from his hand and tore it to pieces."
        Reveals that The Narrator is truly working hard to prevent the group from reaching the center, as this is the vital clue to the secret door.  What is he trying to hide?  Or is he simply being malicious due to his nature?

Room 30
 
    "No matter how many times I've been through this I'm always fascinated."
        Another reference not only to the considerable length of time he's been showing groups through the House, but also to his malicious nature in enjoying their folly.  Since the nature of the House is parallel to the nature of The Narrator, the question arises, what could the maze be that it has been around so long and seen so many visitors.  The hell theme again suggests itself.

Room 31

    Nothing in the text, but the tree made of bones central in the picture is highly reminiscent of the wood of suicides in Dante's Inferno.

Room 32

    "People can be so arrogant... in a very real way we are all of us animals, at least in part."
        The single most obvious and compelling argument that The Narrator is the Minotaur.  It hardly requires further comment.

Room 33
 
    Nothing Obvious

Room 34

    Nothing Obvious

Room 35

    Nothing Obvious

Room 36

    "'It's not bad,' I said stiffly.  "The viol brings the right sense of warmth to the piece, but the guitarist is overplaying his part.  Still, he adds a certain plangent brio to an otherwise introspective composition...'"
        Obviously, The Narrator is well versed in musical terminology and critisicm.  Unless the Minotaur has been refining his tastes over the ages, I think this might be an argument against him.  Something tells me, considering the length he goes on here, that this may be a valuable clue.

Room 37

    Nothing Obvious

Room 38

    Nothing Obvious

Room 39

    "None of them heard the faint jingling that came from behind the wall."
        This, along with the picture, is an obvious reference to Edgar Allen Poe's The Cask of Amantadillo (spelling?).  The face that The Narrator would try to distract the guests from the poor prisoner's plight is another sign of his devilshness, but could there be more?  I may need to read that story again to see if there are any further clues.

Room 40

    Nothing Obvious

Room 41

    Nothing Obvious

Room 42

    "I assured them I would help them return."
        A bold faced like on his part.  While the shortest path through the maze does go through this room, it does not  pass through again on the return trip.

Room 43

    Nothing Obvious

Room 44

    Nothing Obvious

Room 45
 
    The center of the maze, the goal which The Narrator seemed to be trying so hard to keep the guests from.  Besides the riddle (perhaps the most contrived rebus I've yet encountered), is there perhaps more here, some hint to his identity?  According to the hint list John recived when he sent away for the solution, "You will find two names on the table, and they go together like
doughnut and hole."  This refers to Woodrow Willson  and the proper name (or verb) Will, which fits into the middle of Woodrow Willson like the hole fits into the doghnut.  Moreover, "Will" is the part of the phrase on the banner "...iam Shakespere" that is left out, like the hole in the doughnut.  Fairly clear so far, but if you look at the banner in it's entirety we see another name.  The phrase "IAM Shake spear sun" appears on the banner, possibly reading "I am Shakespere son."  Hamnet Shakespere would seem to be exactly who this is pointing too.  Moreover, he fits several of the clues in an awkward away.  While his mother was comparatively low-born, it could be said that his father was greater than most kings.  It's not my favorite theory, but there does appear to be some support.
 

    That completes this list, but realize this is only a list of the clearly obvious statements in the text.  I am sure there are many more obscure clues, many no doubt hidden in the illustrations.  But this should be a good starting point.

Ian Finley --------------8A13B54D1F3F1686197985B5--