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Rubel, 14 years old at the story's opening, was born in the Sleeping Wood under mysterious circumstances, though I guarantee he is of no royal lineage whatsoever. -I mention this only because the 'misplaced heir to the throne' story, while clearly an important enough part of human mythology to pop up time and again as it does regardless of country and cultural origin, seems to lack relevance these days. The story just doesn't hold much interest for me. There are goals everybody must strive for in their lives, and while Rubel's is rather symbolic, I think that the symbols have changed. Today's world, particularly in the west, is not made up of the same class structure as in times only 200 years ago, where rich landowners, 'royalty', ruled everything and people strove to marry and mingle in such circles. Influence and self determination are found in different places now; through education, earning power and creativity. And while birth still has a great deal to do with it, so do the kinds of people and environments we grow up with and around. Rubel is a character who starts, literally, with nothing and must make his way through the world towards the lights he happens to see. Luckily, he has good friends who love him, and he learns that it is possible to turn rules on their sides and to make strong decisions which are frowned upon by society, and yet retain his dignity and internal nobility. He is the antithesis of structure. The alternative. He doesn't fit, and yet still manages to be a good and valuable person. I'm interested in exploring these sorts of things with Rubel. Though, as well, --and this is always far more important to me when I write and draw for him; he's the sort of person I'd like to be friends with. His expressions of innocent surprise when the ground falls out from beneath him always make me laugh, and wish I could be there to fall with him, or at least dust him off afterwards. (Rubel is one of those characters made from rubber). |
