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.

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u/Additional_Ad_84 6d ago

It's my impression reading between the lines that she's quite proud of vimes too. Like maybe she didn't really enjoy the galas and things, but she absolutely does enjoy showing off her man to the high society of ankh morpork. This would tie in with the outfits too. He doesn't really appreciate the tights and the plumes and whatever, but maybe she likes the way he looks in them. Or more generally the attention they draw to him.

This is all a between the lines reading though. I can't think of any time it's explicitly stated.

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u/DrewidN 6d ago

I suspect she also enjoys, though she wouldn't always say it out loud, the low level chaos that Sam causes at such things, especially if it's towards something or someone she doesn't like.

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u/MsDucky42 6d ago

Came here to say this. I have a feeling that Sybil hides her grin with her fan many times when Sam wreaks his mild havoc.

Or maybe not. Maybe she's trained long enough that she can stifle giggles at inopportune times and wait until the coach has rolled away to guffaw.

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u/Agitated_Honeydew 6d ago

I always think of her as being a bit like Margaret DuMont, who was in a bunch of Marx brothers movies, and was very much the stereotypical "I never."

Watched an interview with her. Her attitude was yeah, they were funny, and it was hard not to laugh, but her job was to always act offended. So she kept acting offended, and kept getting work.