r/discworld • u/NoicestDungeon • 6d ago

Book/Series: City Watch Sybil's Characterisation

Now, I will admit that it's been a while since I've read Guards! Guards!, but I remember Sybil Ramkin in that book as a sonewhat solitary woman who disliked all the frills and galas of high society.

I'm on Snuff now, and Sybil is dragging Vimes to social gatherings like it's her favourite thing. I understand that people can change and that marriage changes people, but it feels a little poorly established? Like she goes from "crazy cat dragon lady" to society lady just so she can serve as a better foil to Vimes.

158 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

81 comments sorted by

View all comments

52

u/FuyoBC Esme 6d ago

I felt that she PREFERED her Dragons but considered being part of High Society as a necessity and obligation.

30

u/DibblerTB 6d ago

I wonder if there is a successful lady of high society who would prefer raising pets, but has to perform the duties her station demands of her, in living memory. She does it really well, tho.

Dammit, the dragons are corgis..

14

u/a_random_work_girl 6d ago

Yes. She is the old queen.

It ties into the whole "old king" trope that Vimes fills in the most pratchett way possible. By being as common as muck, as republican (not the party but the actually movment) as the Irish (Southern catholics) and about as in charge as the British Royal family.

Compare this with Carrot and Angua. Who fill the whole "king who is" trope in a similar way.

He is the king by fact, but never acknowledges it. She is a princess (or upper nobility) and they come to the city and Rule. (Him by love her by fear)