Seriously depressing. Though that totally makes sense, that these guys just wouldn't see certain people as even fully human.
For Brian, I don't think the difference in religion is what negates equality; he's pretty much established in canon as just using Christianity and the Templar Order for his own ends. I think at one point he actually describes religion as superstitious nonsense. But I think he would see Europeans (Normans, specifically) as a class above everyone else. So he's just, um, a racist? :/
But then again, he's more than willing to say to hell with it and go after Rebecca. I feel like he probably pays lip service to societal prejudices (also uses them to manipulate people -- like when he calls Rebecca a godless harlot, I thought it was more because he wanted to shock/belittle her than because he actually cared). While in his head it's every man for himself, and the strongest is the strongest, no matter their race or religion. So when he uses people, men or women, it's because he's the one in power and he can do what he likes. ...Which really doesn't make him sound any better!
I always got the feeling with Brian (at least in the book, though it's been ages since I read it all the way through, but my copy has a handy index so's I can just go straight to the Rebecca parts) that he sort of saw her as a generic woman, attractive but not an individual in her own right (except for maybe the extra bit of illicitness from her being Jewish) until the moment when she threatens to jump, and he realizes she would do it. I doubt many people had ever had the courage to stand up to him, and especially for a woman to do it? That would make him see her differently.
For Brian, I don't think the difference in religion is what negates equality; he's pretty much established in canon as just using Christianity and the Templar Order for his own ends. I think at one point he actually describes religion as superstitious nonsense. But I think he would see Europeans (Normans, specifically) as a class above everyone else. So he's just, um, a racist? :/
But then again, he's more than willing to say to hell with it and go after Rebecca. I feel like he probably pays lip service to societal prejudices (also uses them to manipulate people -- like when he calls Rebecca a godless harlot, I thought it was more because he wanted to shock/belittle her than because he actually cared). While in his head it's every man for himself, and the strongest is the strongest, no matter their race or religion. So when he uses people, men or women, it's because he's the one in power and he can do what he likes. ...Which really doesn't make him sound any better!
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I always got the feeling with Brian (at least in the book, though it's been ages since I read it all the way through, but my copy has a handy index so's I can just go straight to the Rebecca parts) that he sort of saw her as a generic woman, attractive but not an individual in her own right (except for maybe the extra bit of illicitness from her being Jewish) until the moment when she threatens to jump, and he realizes she would do it. I doubt many people had ever had the courage to stand up to him, and especially for a woman to do it? That would make him see her differently.
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