The Arrangement: An Essay

[hekateras]

This is just a quick gander into the way the relationship between Aziraphale and Crowley progresses in Good Omens throughout the book, probably in not too eloquent a format.

What strikes me is that at the beginning, it is portrayed as very much a matter of necessity/convenience rather than emotional fulfillment: "they wouldn't have chosen each other

Comments

[ladymouse2]

Excellent, thoughtful analysis, both of you!

Enjoyed this essay immensely. Lucid and persuasive; even though I'm not of the physical love aspect school I do think these two would die for each other and, as Gaiman blithely quipped, would also live quite comfortably together on the South Downs. And you both marshal a convincing progression of example.

[hekateras]

Thanks! I know what you mean about the physical aspect. I tend to prefer fascinatingly close platonic relationships in my stories, instead (think Conan Doyle's Holmes and Watson), and I think it makes even more sense for two immortals to whom sex doesn't mean the same thing as it does to us, anyway. Still, the book does pile the hints pretty high for those who want slash as their headcanon, so I thought I'd be remiss not to mention that.

[ladymouse2]

Oh, I don't mind and read plenty of GO that does go there as far as human-style sex and human-style lovers; it's just not where I see them myself. Mostly for the reasons you cited and my own conviction that no matter how "native" either one goes, their unique perspective makes them very much NOT apt to behave as ordinary humans.

I appreciate your specifying "Doyle's" Holmes and Watson since, of course, writers both fannish AND pro have been exploring the slash possibilities since the 70s! I prefer my Holmes and Watson "straight" in all sense of the word--but I'm a traditionalist.

I too enjoy the greater complexity of the close friendship and the nicely balanced tension. In GO I see the "teases" more as metaphor since Gaiman and Pratchett are attempting to explore a relationship that has few reference points for a human reader.

[hekateras]

Yeah, I often get the impression that subtle friendships are often neglected in stories in favour of more dramatic, simpler-to-understand (not to mention easier to depict on the wide screen) romances, and it really is a shame. I think friendship really has something fascinating going for it - I'd even call it one of those things that make humans relatively unique among other animals: the capacity to develop that kind of undying, self-sacrificing devotion to another while potentially getting very little in return: When you're romantically together with someone, there is an implicit promise of them being with you, and only with you, for the rest of your lives - but there's nothing uncommon about a devoted friendship between two people who will eventually have to go their separate ways and might never see each other again. It's a completely different kind of selflessness involved, IMO, when you risk your life to say somebody you're not romantically interested in

[irisbleufic]

The first point is Crowley's consistent neediness, for lack of a better term, as opposed to Aziraphale's relative self-sufficiency and tendency for distraction [...]

(I'd like to retreat from my professionalism at this point and give Crowley a big hug. There you go, Crowley.)

Thank you so, so much for addressing this with such eloquence and at such length. Although I feel I've been dealing with Crowley's startling vulnerability for a very long time in the process of writing fic, I recently had a reader request a ficlet specifically addressing the issue of Aziraphale having a noticeable prejudice against demons. One of the most fundamental misunderstandings in characterization of Crowley that I come across in fanfiction is, in fact, how evil he actually - well, isn't. You won't convince me by writing a piece where he's genuinely devious and out to cause real harm, and you certainly won't convince me that sexuality/sensuality are things he has an easy time with (in fact, I don't think he touches that kind of thing unless he

[hekateras]

*gasp* It's you! Your fics are amazing. In fact, now that you mention it, I know what fic you're talking about, and it's where the whole dichotomy of Crowley/Az's relationship first jumped out at me and made me dig deeper, and I've been using the whole prejudice themes heavily in my own fic, as well

[irisbleufic]

No shock or deference necessary: I haunt these kinds of discussions all the time, although it's a crap-shoot as to whether I'll respond or not (but your essay, your invitation to play is so thorough and inviting, something I wish more people would do, so I couldn't resist). I'm pleased you enjoy the stories, though. They exist because, when I first started scanning the GO-fic situation that existed when I first read the novel (November 2003), I wasn't seeing the kind of stories I wanted to see; more specifically, I was seeing stories that seemed intensely problematic when I tried to match them up with their characterization as I understood it. And when I find something I perceive to be a gap or absence in a universe I've come to love, there's really nothing left for me to do but roll up my sleeves and wade in.

I think I *could* believe a fic that is set a long time before the book and probably before the Arrangement. The way Crowley treats his plants (kicking out those who don't live up to his crazy standards of perfection, or

[hekateras]

Just... Everything, all of that, yes. Especially the part about needing to comfort Crowley whenever I think of him trying to be a proper demon or, gods forbid, being put under pressure to be a proper demon. It's really kind of miraculous, really, when you consider it, that they were able to arrive at an arrangement (which, over the, became The Arrangement) roughly during the Crusades, when so much was going on for their respective sides. I imagine that, by them, they would have adopted a pretty casual attitude towards fighting each other, simply doing their jobs - but says a lot about both of them that they came to and were self-aware enough to come up with something as formalised as an "arrangement". Once again, Aziraphale's attitude would likely have been the greater hurdle, so the Crusade era makes sense - it's a very small-scale Apocalypse, in a way, a lot of suffering for a holy cause, and Aziraphale would likely have already started feeling the isolation and disconnect he has to come to terms with later on

[knacc]

Hi! This is knaccfornerdiness's LJ and I'm honored that you included my little additions to your already excellent essay when you posted it here. Thank you so much, and I think I'll friend you on here if that is alright?

'...of the devil's party..."

[mizstorge]

I enjoyed reading your perceptive essay! ♥ ♥ ♥
Just want to add a few comments and, since it appears that the last person to whom I loaned the book kept it, I apologise in advance as I'm quoting the novel from internet sources.

In a very blunt nutshell, Aziraphale thinks Crowley is evil.
This is one of Aziraphale's humanizing characteristics: he feels morally superior (holier-than-thou, actually) about not not having Fallen himself. The description of Crowley's Fall as a "vaguely downward saunter" is not only mitigation by the authors of his demonic status but reveals the essential fragility of Aziraphale's simplistic view of things. While it appears that Crowley was a less than enthusiastic participant in the Rebellion of Lucifer's Angels, Aziraphale's conduct as Angel of the Eastern Gate indicates an attitude toward his Fallen brethren as rather more piously disapproving than vengeful.

The reader is treated to a more rounded view of Crowley and demons in general.I am fascinated both as a writer and as a reader in those techniques

[solo]

That's a really cool essay, I enjoyed reading it and it makes total sense. The thing about Aziraphale and his prejudices is... yeah. Poor Crowley. He does deserve hugs.

Thank you for putting it together.