Semiramis tries to rescue the area’s governor, but the man is impaled. When the square is empty, she cleans the blood from the body. Why do you suppose she takes this action? How do you think this scene set the stage for the rest of the novel?

Book Clubs Babylonia by Costanza Casati Discussion
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At the beginning of Babylonia, Semiramis tries to rescue the area’s governor (for a fee). She fails, and the man is impaled in the center of her village. When the square is empty, she approaches the body and carefully cleans the blood from its face. Why do you suppose she takes this action? How do you think this scene set the stage for the rest of the novel?

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I think it showed the audience that despite her tough exterior, she was a woman that cared for others and that was a good human being.

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When Semiramis cleaned the body of the dead governor, I believe she was showing her humanity, her humility and her reverence for human life. In this book and this time period human life was of little value and could be snuffed out for the most trivial of reasons. I think this episode provides insight into her feelings about her fellow human beings and somewhat prepares us for the brutality that follows.

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I think she was quite bravely showing her resistance to the brutality demonstrated by leaving the governor’s body not only impaled but totally disrespected. In wiping the blood from him, she did set the stage for independent thought and action which she then shows throughout the book.

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I think Semiramis showed her inner desire to help others. She may have felt guilty for her inability to save him from his fate and this was her way of expressing remorse. She tried to give the man a little dignity in death.

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So many great responses, and I won’t repeat them here. Instead, an additional thought is that by cleaning the face and the body she was preparing him for the after life. The after life was a real part of their belief system. It would be important for him to be viewed by others that have died, that he was looking his best equal to his title.

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Great thought. I don’t know much about the time period and how much the afterlife is deemed sacred.

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I thought maybe it was a foreshadowing of what she’d be up against - a reminder of what awaited her if she failed.

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When she first came upon the governor as he was dying, it said she felt his desperate desire to live. Her view of death was the “the house of dust”. She could not save him from the soldiers and maybe felt compassion after his death and that was a way to show it. This was just the first of many deaths as men and armies fought for land and riches.

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I also think she felt compassion for the way he was mistreated and wanted to physically demonstrate it. I agree with the previous responses about preparing him for death and preparing her for a life of uncertainty and possible brutality.

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It set the stage for her remarkable courage. Shown again and again throughout the novel. I would never be so brave. But she led such a brutal life, you have to wonder if courage emerges in those dire situations.

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