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Made by SparkleyEdward for Dallas (of the blog):
OK.. Disclaimer, first of all: This is *so* not mine! Both posts are from one of my favorite posters from Charlaine Harris's forum, j9lives. She's a huge Eric/Sookie shipper and has read (practically studied) the books and the forum threads so many times, she can quote anything and find any little bit of information in seconds. :) So, here's part of a discussion she started (or tried to start) a while ago about Bill and Sookie. It's long, but most definitely worth the read. :)
3941 j9lives
Yesterday a poster mentioned on the Suitor thread that she favors Bill because he understands Sookie better than the other suitors do. While I don’t doubt that Bill loves her and wishes he had done things differently, I think it’s clear that he fails to understand her in many ways. So, to keep things factual and as objective as possible, I went to the books and found instances of Bill’s *lack* of understanding. I understand that some people will still prefer Bill, so I’m not trying to change anyone’s viewpoint…just explore the issue.
Before I begin…I saw a comment from Sookie in DD that I found particularly interesting: '“I get that a lot with vampires," I said, remembering all the times in the past when Bill had explained things by saying he couldn't help himself. I'd believed him at the time, but I wasn't so sure any more.’ So my questions for all of you are:
• Do you believe Bill should be forgiven for this lack of understanding because he’s a vampire?
• What about his subsequent actions? Are they always excusable because vampires aren’t always in control?
• Or, do you think vampires are as varied in their understanding and responses as humans are, and they should be judged against the highest standards/achievements of their kind?
• How do his understanding and subsequent actions compare to Eric's?
• Finally, is Bill making any progress in his understanding of Sookie?
On with the list… Bill didn’t understand that:
• she didn’t like being manhandled. [DUD, Chapter 4, ‘He turned my head to him as though I were a puppet.’]
• she didn’t enjoy being treated like a doll or a possession. [DUD, Chapters 3 & 8, ‘"Sookie. Do me proud." Do him proud indeed.’]
• she would prefer flowers and candy, rather than credit at his strip mall stores. [DUD, Chapter 11, ‘“Does he send you flowers?" Lisa asked romantically. “No, not yet. Maybe you can kind of hint I'd like some?”’ & LDID, Chapter 2, ‘”Why can't you just send me some d@#n flowers, like anyone else's boyfriend? Or some candy. I like candy.”’]
• the store credit made her feel like a kept woman. [LDID, Chapter 2, ‘”And you've certainly given the people who work at those businesses the impression I am."…Bill looked like he was trying to figure out the difference.’]
• she might be annoyed about his bringing a blood donor to their hotel room. [LDID, Chapter 4, ‘He might have to feed off someone else…but I didn't have to watch it or like it.’]
• she expected him to check on her before chasing after the FOTS for vengeance. [LDID, Chapter 8, ‘He seemed nonplussed. “You didn't even wait to see if I was okay," I said.’]
• she would have enjoyed going to cultural events, such as a symphony. [LDID, Chapter 9, ‘Tears prickled at my eyes. I would have gone to a symphony with Bill, if he'd ever asked me.’]
• he should have explained the Lorena situation to her in person before he left. [CD, Chapter 12, ‘“Of course I'm hurting," I whispered, and burst into tears. “And to have the others tell me, to hear that you were just going to pension me off and go live with her without even having the courage to talk to me about it yourself!”’]
• she has financial problems, and that he should have attempted to help her in an acceptable way. [CD, Chapter 13, ‘“He never thinks about giving me money. And how could I take it?”’]
• he had no right to be angry with and physically abusive to Sookie when she kissed Sam, since she and Bill were no longer a couple. [DAAD, Chapter 9, ‘Bill reached behind him to catch my wrists in his hands, and he began twisting. I choked with pain.’]
• she is clever and can think for herself, and he’s often surprised by it [One Word Answer, ‘Bill couldn't seem to grasp this. Maybe he didn't think I'd learned anything since I'd met him.’]
• she would suffer tremendous hurt and embarrassment if she found out about his secret mission from Sophie-Anne in front of her entourage, and he was willing to risk that to save himself discomfort. [DD, Chapter 15, ‘“Sookie, you would find out when you saw the queen… Maybe I could have kept it from you, because you won't understand…”’]
• he should have told her about his hidden agenda *before* he slept with her. [DD, Chapter 15, ‘I'd been blindsided with the most painful knowledge: the first man to ever say he loved me had never loved me at all. His passion had been artificial. His pursuit of me had been choreographed.’]
• parading Selah in Sookie's face hurt her immeasurably and wouldn’t gain her forgiveness. [DAAD, Chapter 11, ‘“Are you jealous?” “Yes.”…“Good,” said Bill. “That’s good to hear.”’]
• her ability to read Selah’s thoughts hurt her even more. [DD, Chapter 10, ‘She couldn't believe that a discerning and sophisticated man like Bill could ever have dated a barmaid.’]
• she doesn’t have to tell him about her life when they aren’t in a relationship. [DD, Chapter 13, ‘“So this is your punishment for my dating someone else, keeping something so serious from me?"’]
• saying “I love you” can’t erase the damage he inflicted. [DD, Chapter 22, ‘“I love you," he said stubbornly, as if that fact were so amazing and such an undeniable truth that I should believe him.’]
• it’s disrespectful to walk in on someone while she’s changing clothes. [FDTW, Chapter 1, ‘“Trying to change here,” I said tartly.’]
• it's insensitive to refer to your previous relationship sexually rather than emotionally. [FDTW, Chapter 1, ‘“I would give anything to lie with you again,” he said.’]
• his dramatic statement of love before Victor only served to put them more at risk. [FDTW, Chapter 12, ‘At the moment, that wasn’t so relevant.’]
• saying Selah was meaningless didn’t make his relationship with her more acceptable or forgivable. [FDTW, Chapter 17, ‘I wondered if he dreamed I could love him again.’]
AND:
4194 j9lives Edited 2009-01-31 20:44 2009-01-31 18:06
I would like to respond to some posters and offer some additional thoughts relating to my post yesterday. For those who did not see it and want to understand what started the heated debate, follow the link at the bottom of my post. First of all, I composed my original post in about four hours. I did not consider it excessive for making my point, nor was it particularly difficult. I cited passages that showed Sookie’s hurt, anger or annoyance towards Bill…a clear indication to me that he hadn’t considered her point of view. While it’s true some of her grievances were minor, considered in total, Bill’s actions toward Sookie showed an overall lack of understanding. As I said, I do believe that he loves her, and that he is capable of change.
Second, as I stated, I began compiling the list as a rebuttal to an opinion a poster expressed that was clearly not supported by the text. As I created the list, I anticipated that, posted alone, it would serve no purpose but to inflame and cause dissension. So, instead I decided to use it as a vehicle to analyze Bill…in order to allow for discussion and debate. I knew some people would be upset, but I believe if you express an opinion, others have the right to try to disprove it, in a civil manner, if they disagree or feel it is wrong (on a neutral thread, anyway). Still, I have *absolutely* no problem with that poster’s preference. Everyone is free to have preferences and opinions. But if you’re going to express your opinion, you need to be able to defend it.
Third, I did not create the list to “bash” Bill. I do not think Bill is a bad guy or “the devil”…I *know* his lack of understanding is not intentional. But people (and vampires) are accountable for their actions, deliberate or not. Sookie may choose to forgive him…I have no problem if she does…. In fact, I think she should, so that she can move on. But she doesn’t *owe* him forgiveness.
Fourth, I did not make the list to prove who *is* or is *not* “The One.” Eric was introduced into my questions because he is the only other vampire suitor, and subsequently, the only one we can compare “apples to apples.” I chose to put my post on the Bill and Eric thread because the scope of my questions was limited to Bill and Eric, not the other suitors.
Fifth, I take issue with the implication that, because I make a list to support my opinions, I am not romantic. Or that my preference for Eric makes me less than romantic. My heart led me to Eric from LDID. I did not take notes or make lists the first few times I read through the books. I am merely using clear and obvious points from the books to validate my own opinions.
Oh, one more thing… Thank you, cadd, for your wonderful post. I appreciate your support. Thanks, too, to everyone else who appreciated and supported my post. I have tried to be as thoughtful and considerate in my posts as possible.
So, to answer my own questions:
• Do you believe Bill should be forgiven for this lack of understanding because he’s a vampire?
I don’t believe a lack of understanding is an inherent vampire characteristic. I believe vampires have the same range of emotions as do humans, but, for the most part, those emotions are only now being applied to other species, because of their changing relationships post-Revelation.
I believe Bill’s personality is a carryover from his human experience, as well as his long separation from “normal” human interaction. The vampires seem to have diverse personalities that reflect, in part, who they were as humans. So, is this simply an inherent character flaw or is he a product of his time? Possibly both? He has always attributed his actions to being a vampire, and has expected Sookie to understand and adapt to *his* world. Regardless, he needs to be willing to change and become less self-absorbed...and I think he *is* improving.
So, while I understand *why* Bill is sometimes oblivious to Sookie’s needs, I don’t think he should be forgiven for it, just because he’s not human.
• What about his subsequent actions? Are they always excusable because vampires aren’t always in control?
I think the issue of control is somewhat ambiguous. We are told that Bill *had* to accede to Lorena’s demands. Yet he was able to withhold Sookie’s name, even though he was tortured as a result. So it seems feasible that vampires can regain *some* control if they are willing to pay the, admittedly, steep price. I’m not suggesting that Bill should have been willing to die for Sookie…oh, but wait…he *is* willing to die for Sookie. Never mind... While Bill may have had orders from Sophie-Anne to acquire Sookie and seduce her if necessary, I believe Bill was free to use his own judgment in achieving that goal. If, as we are led to believe, he fell in love with her early in their relationship, he should have trusted her enough to know that she would adjust to that revelation, forgive him for keeping it from her, and agree to work with him to find a solution.
In all other regards, Bill was in control of his own actions, and he frequently chose to act in a manner hurtful to Sookie. In forming a relationship with Selah, he *intentionally* chose to hurt her (and Selah, although she was not blameless either), believing that would get him what he wanted.
I believe it's possible to forgive Bill any actions that were truly out of his control due to the sire/child relationship. Unfortunately, we cannot be certain to what extent Bill had free will in the Lorena situation. He made statements that indicate to me that he did, in fact, have some choices. The fact remains that most of Bill’s actions were in his control and are not inherently excusable.
• Or, do you think vampires are as varied in their understanding and responses as humans are, and they should be judged against the highest standards/achievements of their kind?
As I stated earlier, I do believe that vampires are diverse…we have seen examples of both good and evil, although most are shades of gray. Seeing a vampire exhibit a certain behavior indicates that behavior is attainable by all vampires, although their personalities, experience and control make it easier for some than others. Therefore, I think they *can* be judged against the highest achievements of their kind. Are all vampires capable of achieving that standard? No…but that doesn’t mean they aren’t accountable.
• How do his understanding and subsequent actions compare to Eric's?
Despite their age difference, I consider both Bill and Eric “experienced” vampires. I don’t believe that 900 additional years as a vampire has enabled Eric to deal more ably with Sookie, or humans in general. If anything, one could argue that he is even more removed from relating to humans. I believe their ability to understand Sookie is driven, in large part, by their personalities…Bill seems more old-fashioned in his outlook, while Eric appears more open-minded and adaptable.
Bill seems to want to control Sookie’s responses, whereas Eric seems better able to tolerate and appreciate her independence. Bill seems to withhold information, whereas Eric is usually straightforward, sometimes brutally so…but I think that Sookie prefers that. The realities may not always be palatable, but she appreciates the inclusion. In Bill’s defense, his paternalistic approach does comfort her at times…he can be sweet and caring. Eric does seem to have a better understanding of Sookie’s needs, both material and emotional. I like how Eric takes care of things for her. It’s not that he replaced her door, it’s that he *thought* to do so…and *he* wasn’t the one who damaged it. I see Eric as a man of action, and Bill as a man of words. His words may be romantic and sweet, but they’re still words…and I believe “actions speak louder than words.” Even when Sookie and Eric were having issues, he praised her ability to think outside the box. During their relationship, Bill seemed more apt to be proud of her appearance…he seemed to enjoy showing her off. Sookie has commented that Eric “gets her” and I agree.
Some argue that Eric has an advantage over Bill because he is more in control of his life. That may be true, but we don’t yet know Eric’s background. Even if his maker is gone, Eric is still under the sovereignty of others. And I still believe many of Bill’s mistakes were actions he took of his own volition.
• Finally, is Bill making any progress in his understanding of Sookie?
I think Bill is scrambling for a way, any way, to get Sookie back. I see a really strong desire in him to “win” her with words…and even though Selah ended their relationship (officially anyway), the fact that she is gone is a step in the right direction. I don’t think we can fully assess his growth unless they do regain some kind of relationship. I definitely believe he is capable of growth and could become more understanding, but I feel it is too late for him to regain Sookie’s trust and love.
Link to Original Post
OK.. Disclaimer, first of all: This is *so* not mine! Both posts are from one of my favorite posters from Charlaine Harris's forum, j9lives. She's a huge Eric/Sookie shipper and has read (practically studied) the books and the forum threads so many times, she can quote anything and find any little bit of information in seconds. :) So, here's part of a discussion she started (or tried to start) a while ago about Bill and Sookie. It's long, but most definitely worth the read. :)
*~*~*~*~*
3941 j9lives
Yesterday a poster mentioned on the Suitor thread that she favors Bill because he understands Sookie better than the other suitors do. While I don’t doubt that Bill loves her and wishes he had done things differently, I think it’s clear that he fails to understand her in many ways. So, to keep things factual and as objective as possible, I went to the books and found instances of Bill’s *lack* of understanding. I understand that some people will still prefer Bill, so I’m not trying to change anyone’s viewpoint…just explore the issue.
Before I begin…I saw a comment from Sookie in DD that I found particularly interesting: '“I get that a lot with vampires," I said, remembering all the times in the past when Bill had explained things by saying he couldn't help himself. I'd believed him at the time, but I wasn't so sure any more.’ So my questions for all of you are:
• Do you believe Bill should be forgiven for this lack of understanding because he’s a vampire?
• What about his subsequent actions? Are they always excusable because vampires aren’t always in control?
• Or, do you think vampires are as varied in their understanding and responses as humans are, and they should be judged against the highest standards/achievements of their kind?
• How do his understanding and subsequent actions compare to Eric's?
• Finally, is Bill making any progress in his understanding of Sookie?
On with the list… Bill didn’t understand that:
• she didn’t like being manhandled. [DUD, Chapter 4, ‘He turned my head to him as though I were a puppet.’]
• she didn’t enjoy being treated like a doll or a possession. [DUD, Chapters 3 & 8, ‘"Sookie. Do me proud." Do him proud indeed.’]
• she would prefer flowers and candy, rather than credit at his strip mall stores. [DUD, Chapter 11, ‘“Does he send you flowers?" Lisa asked romantically. “No, not yet. Maybe you can kind of hint I'd like some?”’ & LDID, Chapter 2, ‘”Why can't you just send me some d@#n flowers, like anyone else's boyfriend? Or some candy. I like candy.”’]
• the store credit made her feel like a kept woman. [LDID, Chapter 2, ‘”And you've certainly given the people who work at those businesses the impression I am."…Bill looked like he was trying to figure out the difference.’]
• she might be annoyed about his bringing a blood donor to their hotel room. [LDID, Chapter 4, ‘He might have to feed off someone else…but I didn't have to watch it or like it.’]
• she expected him to check on her before chasing after the FOTS for vengeance. [LDID, Chapter 8, ‘He seemed nonplussed. “You didn't even wait to see if I was okay," I said.’]
• she would have enjoyed going to cultural events, such as a symphony. [LDID, Chapter 9, ‘Tears prickled at my eyes. I would have gone to a symphony with Bill, if he'd ever asked me.’]
• he should have explained the Lorena situation to her in person before he left. [CD, Chapter 12, ‘“Of course I'm hurting," I whispered, and burst into tears. “And to have the others tell me, to hear that you were just going to pension me off and go live with her without even having the courage to talk to me about it yourself!”’]
• she has financial problems, and that he should have attempted to help her in an acceptable way. [CD, Chapter 13, ‘“He never thinks about giving me money. And how could I take it?”’]
• he had no right to be angry with and physically abusive to Sookie when she kissed Sam, since she and Bill were no longer a couple. [DAAD, Chapter 9, ‘Bill reached behind him to catch my wrists in his hands, and he began twisting. I choked with pain.’]
• she is clever and can think for herself, and he’s often surprised by it [One Word Answer, ‘Bill couldn't seem to grasp this. Maybe he didn't think I'd learned anything since I'd met him.’]
• she would suffer tremendous hurt and embarrassment if she found out about his secret mission from Sophie-Anne in front of her entourage, and he was willing to risk that to save himself discomfort. [DD, Chapter 15, ‘“Sookie, you would find out when you saw the queen… Maybe I could have kept it from you, because you won't understand…”’]
• he should have told her about his hidden agenda *before* he slept with her. [DD, Chapter 15, ‘I'd been blindsided with the most painful knowledge: the first man to ever say he loved me had never loved me at all. His passion had been artificial. His pursuit of me had been choreographed.’]
• parading Selah in Sookie's face hurt her immeasurably and wouldn’t gain her forgiveness. [DAAD, Chapter 11, ‘“Are you jealous?” “Yes.”…“Good,” said Bill. “That’s good to hear.”’]
• her ability to read Selah’s thoughts hurt her even more. [DD, Chapter 10, ‘She couldn't believe that a discerning and sophisticated man like Bill could ever have dated a barmaid.’]
• she doesn’t have to tell him about her life when they aren’t in a relationship. [DD, Chapter 13, ‘“So this is your punishment for my dating someone else, keeping something so serious from me?"’]
• saying “I love you” can’t erase the damage he inflicted. [DD, Chapter 22, ‘“I love you," he said stubbornly, as if that fact were so amazing and such an undeniable truth that I should believe him.’]
• it’s disrespectful to walk in on someone while she’s changing clothes. [FDTW, Chapter 1, ‘“Trying to change here,” I said tartly.’]
• it's insensitive to refer to your previous relationship sexually rather than emotionally. [FDTW, Chapter 1, ‘“I would give anything to lie with you again,” he said.’]
• his dramatic statement of love before Victor only served to put them more at risk. [FDTW, Chapter 12, ‘At the moment, that wasn’t so relevant.’]
• saying Selah was meaningless didn’t make his relationship with her more acceptable or forgivable. [FDTW, Chapter 17, ‘I wondered if he dreamed I could love him again.’]
AND:
4194 j9lives Edited 2009-01-31 20:44 2009-01-31 18:06
I would like to respond to some posters and offer some additional thoughts relating to my post yesterday. For those who did not see it and want to understand what started the heated debate, follow the link at the bottom of my post. First of all, I composed my original post in about four hours. I did not consider it excessive for making my point, nor was it particularly difficult. I cited passages that showed Sookie’s hurt, anger or annoyance towards Bill…a clear indication to me that he hadn’t considered her point of view. While it’s true some of her grievances were minor, considered in total, Bill’s actions toward Sookie showed an overall lack of understanding. As I said, I do believe that he loves her, and that he is capable of change.
Second, as I stated, I began compiling the list as a rebuttal to an opinion a poster expressed that was clearly not supported by the text. As I created the list, I anticipated that, posted alone, it would serve no purpose but to inflame and cause dissension. So, instead I decided to use it as a vehicle to analyze Bill…in order to allow for discussion and debate. I knew some people would be upset, but I believe if you express an opinion, others have the right to try to disprove it, in a civil manner, if they disagree or feel it is wrong (on a neutral thread, anyway). Still, I have *absolutely* no problem with that poster’s preference. Everyone is free to have preferences and opinions. But if you’re going to express your opinion, you need to be able to defend it.
Third, I did not create the list to “bash” Bill. I do not think Bill is a bad guy or “the devil”…I *know* his lack of understanding is not intentional. But people (and vampires) are accountable for their actions, deliberate or not. Sookie may choose to forgive him…I have no problem if she does…. In fact, I think she should, so that she can move on. But she doesn’t *owe* him forgiveness.
Fourth, I did not make the list to prove who *is* or is *not* “The One.” Eric was introduced into my questions because he is the only other vampire suitor, and subsequently, the only one we can compare “apples to apples.” I chose to put my post on the Bill and Eric thread because the scope of my questions was limited to Bill and Eric, not the other suitors.
Fifth, I take issue with the implication that, because I make a list to support my opinions, I am not romantic. Or that my preference for Eric makes me less than romantic. My heart led me to Eric from LDID. I did not take notes or make lists the first few times I read through the books. I am merely using clear and obvious points from the books to validate my own opinions.
Oh, one more thing… Thank you, cadd, for your wonderful post. I appreciate your support. Thanks, too, to everyone else who appreciated and supported my post. I have tried to be as thoughtful and considerate in my posts as possible.
So, to answer my own questions:
• Do you believe Bill should be forgiven for this lack of understanding because he’s a vampire?
I don’t believe a lack of understanding is an inherent vampire characteristic. I believe vampires have the same range of emotions as do humans, but, for the most part, those emotions are only now being applied to other species, because of their changing relationships post-Revelation.
I believe Bill’s personality is a carryover from his human experience, as well as his long separation from “normal” human interaction. The vampires seem to have diverse personalities that reflect, in part, who they were as humans. So, is this simply an inherent character flaw or is he a product of his time? Possibly both? He has always attributed his actions to being a vampire, and has expected Sookie to understand and adapt to *his* world. Regardless, he needs to be willing to change and become less self-absorbed...and I think he *is* improving.
So, while I understand *why* Bill is sometimes oblivious to Sookie’s needs, I don’t think he should be forgiven for it, just because he’s not human.
• What about his subsequent actions? Are they always excusable because vampires aren’t always in control?
I think the issue of control is somewhat ambiguous. We are told that Bill *had* to accede to Lorena’s demands. Yet he was able to withhold Sookie’s name, even though he was tortured as a result. So it seems feasible that vampires can regain *some* control if they are willing to pay the, admittedly, steep price. I’m not suggesting that Bill should have been willing to die for Sookie…oh, but wait…he *is* willing to die for Sookie. Never mind... While Bill may have had orders from Sophie-Anne to acquire Sookie and seduce her if necessary, I believe Bill was free to use his own judgment in achieving that goal. If, as we are led to believe, he fell in love with her early in their relationship, he should have trusted her enough to know that she would adjust to that revelation, forgive him for keeping it from her, and agree to work with him to find a solution.
In all other regards, Bill was in control of his own actions, and he frequently chose to act in a manner hurtful to Sookie. In forming a relationship with Selah, he *intentionally* chose to hurt her (and Selah, although she was not blameless either), believing that would get him what he wanted.
I believe it's possible to forgive Bill any actions that were truly out of his control due to the sire/child relationship. Unfortunately, we cannot be certain to what extent Bill had free will in the Lorena situation. He made statements that indicate to me that he did, in fact, have some choices. The fact remains that most of Bill’s actions were in his control and are not inherently excusable.
• Or, do you think vampires are as varied in their understanding and responses as humans are, and they should be judged against the highest standards/achievements of their kind?
As I stated earlier, I do believe that vampires are diverse…we have seen examples of both good and evil, although most are shades of gray. Seeing a vampire exhibit a certain behavior indicates that behavior is attainable by all vampires, although their personalities, experience and control make it easier for some than others. Therefore, I think they *can* be judged against the highest achievements of their kind. Are all vampires capable of achieving that standard? No…but that doesn’t mean they aren’t accountable.
• How do his understanding and subsequent actions compare to Eric's?
Despite their age difference, I consider both Bill and Eric “experienced” vampires. I don’t believe that 900 additional years as a vampire has enabled Eric to deal more ably with Sookie, or humans in general. If anything, one could argue that he is even more removed from relating to humans. I believe their ability to understand Sookie is driven, in large part, by their personalities…Bill seems more old-fashioned in his outlook, while Eric appears more open-minded and adaptable.
Bill seems to want to control Sookie’s responses, whereas Eric seems better able to tolerate and appreciate her independence. Bill seems to withhold information, whereas Eric is usually straightforward, sometimes brutally so…but I think that Sookie prefers that. The realities may not always be palatable, but she appreciates the inclusion. In Bill’s defense, his paternalistic approach does comfort her at times…he can be sweet and caring. Eric does seem to have a better understanding of Sookie’s needs, both material and emotional. I like how Eric takes care of things for her. It’s not that he replaced her door, it’s that he *thought* to do so…and *he* wasn’t the one who damaged it. I see Eric as a man of action, and Bill as a man of words. His words may be romantic and sweet, but they’re still words…and I believe “actions speak louder than words.” Even when Sookie and Eric were having issues, he praised her ability to think outside the box. During their relationship, Bill seemed more apt to be proud of her appearance…he seemed to enjoy showing her off. Sookie has commented that Eric “gets her” and I agree.
Some argue that Eric has an advantage over Bill because he is more in control of his life. That may be true, but we don’t yet know Eric’s background. Even if his maker is gone, Eric is still under the sovereignty of others. And I still believe many of Bill’s mistakes were actions he took of his own volition.
• Finally, is Bill making any progress in his understanding of Sookie?
I think Bill is scrambling for a way, any way, to get Sookie back. I see a really strong desire in him to “win” her with words…and even though Selah ended their relationship (officially anyway), the fact that she is gone is a step in the right direction. I don’t think we can fully assess his growth unless they do regain some kind of relationship. I definitely believe he is capable of growth and could become more understanding, but I feel it is too late for him to regain Sookie’s trust and love.
Link to Original Post
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![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
thetragicangel, I hope this makes you feel better... It helps me a lot to reread these every on a regular basis. :D
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thetragicangel, I hope this makes you feel better... It helps me a lot to reread these every on a regular basis. :D*~*~*~*~*
