Theory: Outis and Food
I noticed this a while ago but I'm not sure how to expand on this and the exact mechanics of what occurs in the iliad/odysseus apart from things told by my friend as I have yet to even read either. However I noted that there are many times outis has issues or a disregard in general to id say aspects of her humanity, mostly noted with food (a few times with sleep but I associated it as a PTSD thing beforehand) I have been told that in the original texts, Outis has many traumas relating to food related events i.e
- several negative associations with food related events (lotus eaters, circes beasts, cyclops, helios cow, suitors)
- Odysseus himself commenting a lot on how he dreads base needs/desires like eating + food in general is associated with negativity in the forthcoming future.
this, along with the addition of feasts in generals in Greek mythology appear to be a sort of foreshadowing (for lack of a better word) for doom upcoming, spelling disaster in the future (i.e the suitors of Penelope and this is definitely an occurrence to me with her bloodfiend identity. They revolt against their father, gorge themselves on the humans attending (i.e a literal feast) and then suffer immensely.
Then noble long-suffering Odysseus answered: ‘I listen and hear: you speak to a man who understands you. Do you go first, and I will remain behind: I’m used to missiles and blows. My heart knows how to suffer, after the pain I’ve endured in war and at sea: just add this to all that’s gone before. But one thing no man can hide is ravening hunger, a cursed plague that brings men plenty of trouble. Oared ships are even launched because of it, bringing evil to enemies on the waves.’
As I wrote this, I remembered that Hell's Chicken in a way has similar themes of Circe's story of transforming Odysseus' soldiers into pigs, in which civilians in turn become "chickens" which is only solved by the end of the day by Outis' cooking. In general, I think many of the distortions you could read into as being similar as to curses from Gods, which made me think of what relation too Yi Sang could possibly have with Outis (as he often appears in her identities too or shares similar egos), losing his friends to multiple "god curses", but thats for another topic. In general, I could only count about 3 identities were meals are not mentioned for her from this time. Noticeably she is one of the few to not yet have a Liu identity as well, which are heavily associated with food. If it just so happens that everyone else talks about food well. thats too bad. disregarding that possibility however;
In general, Outis appears to avoid eating with the other sinners as well as her own need for food but is fine with drinking. To me, not only is she avoiding of course closer relationships with the other sinners and the relationship building between friends and colleagues, she is putting off her own human needs. She is able to share alcohol or tea with clients, even shares and provides a social drinking etiquette onto Don in her blade lineage identity story. However she avoids eating multiple times, even noticeably snapping her skewers in the final canto 3 art, making her meals smaller?
It did not escape me that Outis seems to have a sore spot with Don Quixote(and Rodya who also has her own enjoyment and association of food\*)* in general, especially with the reveal of her hidden identity as a Kindred. Her contrast of identities to me with especially Walpurgisnacht (don's identity being the meat lantern, hungry and eating anything) Her existence itself is practically hunger incarnate, a monster disguised, in all means, who is yet able to sate herself as fair as psychologically with the absence of blood of humans. (I also think the introduction of relics this blatantly is important to keep account of for future stuff if it can even keep a second kindred mostly at bay) but like she Doesnt need to eat like to survive, psychologically. it feels like punishing herself / projection of her own "humanity" in a way she hates onto don via her own discomfort with her presence and existence.
This part is a bit farfetched with Outis' smoking pipe in her Der Freischütz identity , but it reminded me of how people with disordered eating may pick up smoking or nicotine to again ward off hunger and also lose sense of their own taste, again eating is something that can be put off, but must be done from her view rather than something to enjoy. The only other time shes smoked as fair as I know is the G corp identity.
W corp identity is the only one I can notice directly involving her eating a meal.
In contrast with her own bloodfiend identity being Nicolina, who in general is a schemer and also highlights possible betrayal (with the other two) desperate for even a drop of blood but still controlling and demanding others starvation for aesthetic means signals to me again something to control rather than pure gluttony. Fitting into the clothes shes sewn and what not + it could be something muddling her own identity into Penelope's via seamstress stuff since the dress form to me appears to be a way for her to cope with suffering and being gone from someplace she considers home (or if it even exists anymore) for years etcetc) means signals to me again something to control rather than pure gluttony.
Anyway I don't really have anything else to say, but I do think its something interesting to note, as well as sort of separating her skill via cooking away from motherhood I think.....although her cooking is allegedly so good it causes a flashback in Hells Chicken. Ironically I've noticed that Meursault has so far been the only consistent cook (even if its only been twice) but the other two "successful" have both been assumed to be mothers or have a parental role. something something more caring consideration from meursault beyond something expected of family and also his relationship in general with his Maman in the original text and the way he loves to cook for others. uh i dont know this is for another entire conversation. Anyway. I lost the plot here but I'd love to hear thoughts, peace and love on planet earth.
