Week 9: Impact on Babylon III
What is it that most people find so disturbing about Gemmy’s presence? Does Malouf think such a disturbance is a good thing in humanity?
I think that one of the most disturbing things about Gemmy’s presence to most people is that he is a white person presumably acting like a black. If Gemmy had turned up wearing a pair of tatty trousers and maybe a ripped shirt, the town’s people might have classed him as a civilized young man who needed urgent help, and it would have been a different story.
The reality is that Gemmy’s presence was disturbing to most because they didn’t understand him and they were not interested in being patient with him. The people wanted to know things immediately. (Compare Jesus Christ being questioned by the Pharisees and Sadducees.)
Because the majority of the rural town's people lacked accurate knowledge and understanding about Gemmy they made up their own rules that they felt comfortable with concerning him. (Compare that between Christians, the bible and True Christians),
The disturbance that Malouf has is a reality. I don’t think he thinks it’s good, but I think he knows its part of human culture in all societies. Why? Because we have all inherited sin.
(Show me there is no such thing as sin, and I'll show you a pig that can fly!) lol-sorry.