Talk:Steerpike

Steerpike's alleged albinism

As there seems to be some difference in opinion over this, let me quote from Wikipedia's own page on albinism:

Individuals with full albinism (called albinos) generally have pale yellow to white hair, and pinkish-white skin. In many organisms, the eyes of an albino appear red due to the underlying blood vessels showing through where there is not enough pigment to cover them. In humans this is generally not the case, as a human eye is quite large and thus produces enough pigment to lend opacity to the eye. Despite this, completely red eyes resulting from a lack of melanin to cover the underlying blood vessels are not unknown in humans.

So there you have it. It's not completely impossible. Besides since Peake was probably not "too" well read on medical details he could have still used it as it occurs with most animals. But please feel free to discuss this. --Steerpike 20:03, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

Wonderful to discuss it, but I simply do not think it to be true. Peake was the type, if he had an albino character, to call the character an albino. He had a wonderful way with words, but sometimes his plain statements are the most effective. Peake also researched his work, and the fact that so few albinos have red eyes would have been noted by him. I think it is purely one of Peake's fantasy aspects, such as Titus' violet eyes. Steerpike also has 'straw' coloured hair, which it actually much darker than the norm for albinos. Also, his eyes were not the blood red caused by a lack of melanin would be pink, not "dark red, the colour of dried blood", as Peake suggests. Albinos are ALWAYS visually impaired, while Steerpike seems the very opposite. He always notices detail, and can spot figures formt he other side of a mountain lake, as well as being able to find his ways about in dark or shadowy areas, such as the Stone Lanes. I just don't think there is any evidence for the theory, and thus does not need to be noted. I could, of course, be wrong, but I really don't think Steerpike was an albino.

Ok. Fair enough. --Steerpike 22:52, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

Why is the paragraph about the albino theory gone? I don't think it was entirely useless.Andral 08:19, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Well I reread it recently and I have to say it didn't sound encyclopedic at all. It looked more like a discussion transplanted from the talkpage. Perhaps we can paste it in on this page. Of course you can add it back to the article if you want. I don't really mind. --Steerpike 09:37, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Fictional albinos are not often realistically portrayed (e.g. Griffin, a.k.a the Invisible Man, does not have poor sight either), and they practically always have pink or red eyes. Maybe Peake slipped up on his research this time? As for the hair: depends what colour you think 'straw' means. Steerpike is also described as having 'tow-coloured' hair = very light. It's true Steerpike's albinism (if that's what it is) has no real significance in the book, and that the other characters don't even notice, but then Gormenghast IS pretty much freaksville. A lot of the inhabitants have a strange, even grotesque appearance (let alone behaviour!), often for no apparent reason. It's just one more throwaway Gothic touch.

(Actually, this is the same argument somebody used above with Titus' eyes, but with an opposite spin.)

I certainly think Steerpike has more claim to be an 'evil albino' character than most who are mentioned on the page regarding this type of stock villain. Go have a look– they've listed every single slightly fair-ish bad guy ever! Somebody sure has an axe to grind.

I don't mean Steerpike's really a stock villain, but when you think about it he OUGHT to be a walking cliché anyway– hideously scarred, wears a cape, slain by hero in climactic showdown... Well! Somehow the author gets away with it.

My take on this is: character with light hair, very pale skin and red eyes = albino. I think that's just common sense. Maybe Peake didn't feel the need to spell it out.

So I think the question of Steerpike being an albino does deserve a line or two on the main page. What was wrong with the original version was that it got expanded much too far and turned into a discussion on the wrong page. Why don't we agree to leave a BRIEF, non-committal reference permenently in the article and do any further talking over here?Dawnfire 13:33, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

While we're on the subject of interpretation...

What about the theory that Swelter molests the kitchen boys?

Flay's banishment

This page (and others concerning the Trilogy) appears to be in error when it implies that Steerpike DELIBERATELY arranged Flay's banishment. The text makes it plain he does not anticipate Flay's reaction and describes the incident as "one of his [steerpike's] few mistakes". That Gertrude walks in just as Flay is throwing one of her cats at Steerpike seems to be just dumb luck, as is the fact that Flay reacts in precisely that way instead of, for example, attacking Steerpike with the poker.

Steerpike notes immediately afterwards that "the old man has been very quick", which may foreshadow the scene in GORMENGHAST when, discovered by Flay, Titus, and Prunesquallor, it's Flay he chooses to attack.

Fair use rationale for Image:Stpike.jpg

Image:Stpike.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 06:29, 24 January 2008 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Costumes steerpike 02 big.jpg

Image:Costumes steerpike 02 big.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 21:06, 13 February 2008 (UTC)