Just How Old Is Benedict?

[Taewakan]

Has anyone ever worked with the assumption that the unicorn might not be Oberon's mother? The idea seems almost universally accepted at this point but still it doesn't look like a lock to me. If I recall correctly, it's all based on one remark from Dworkin ("By the unicorn thy mother," or something along those lines) but that doesn't take into account that A) Dworkin is madder than a sackful of cut snacks at the time, and B) he might simply be speaking allegorically. If not the Unicorn there might be all sorts of interesting possibilities for Dworkin's special lady friend (including, it just now occurred to me, that fiery personification of the Pattern itself). In any case, if the Unicorn is the mother, then how do the mechanics of that consummation work exactly? Is Dworkin shapeshifted into a unicorn, she into a person, or something else entirely?

And Mary was a virgin when the big J was born...

As for the mechanics, all lords and ladies (gender not being as absolute to a shifter) of Chaos ARE shape shifters. Who is to say that The Unicorn started out with that shape? Still, symbols have power and it has retained this image for several millennia - at least in public.

I think it more likely that The Unicorn appeared to Dworkin and his lady-love during their courtship/mating and he took it as a blessing. Perhaps he wanted to be certain that Oberon and his progeny gave proper respect to their house patron and loved and respected her as IF she was their mother - fathers, after all, are made to be replaced/succeeded. Mothers are forever.

As for the images of The Unicorn and The Serpent of Chaos...
I've always gotten a smile from the Christian art which shows a single horned beast being tamed by a virgin. Often the artist even puts the head of the unicorn in the maid's lap.
Disingenuous is the word that comes to mind.
Then there is the one-eyed snake of chaos.
Gimme a break. How much more phallic can the symbology be?
So we have TWO males symbols. Admittedly, one slightly less subtle than the other, but PAleeze!

Which begs the question - where are the maid, mother and crone symbols and archetypes in the Zelazny multiverse?

[warp9]

Both Oberon (Deela) and Benedict (Lintra) are admitted rapists

I agree with regard to Oberon (I got the impression that he did rape Deela), but not so much with Benedict---I didn't think he raped Lintra.

[Taewakan]

I agree with regard to Oberon (I got the impression that he did rape Deela), but not so much with Benedict---I didn't think he raped Lintra.

I did some checking and it appears that you are (probably) right about Lintra. good call.
Of course, this does not make any of them 'honorable men', now does it?