Luthor names
Apr. 14th, 2003 01:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rheasilviaI finally wrapped up my Smallville AU. I'd almost stopped believing in the possibility.
An Author's Note of sorts...
"Julian" is a very odd name for history-obsessed Lionel Luthor's son. Neither of the Roman emperors of that name were good role models for a corporate scion, and I don't know of any other historical Julians who might have been the intended role model - if anyone does, I'd be very happy to know!
As it is:
Marcus Didius Severus Iulianus (133-193) bought his way into power, got no respect and was assassinated by a common soldier.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus (332-363) was in power for less than two years before being killed - by a (presumably common, presumably enemy) soldier during a botched Persian campaign. According to the historians, Julian was the only Roman killed in this battle, and no reward was offered by or claimed from the Persian king, who would normally have rewarded the good aim of the responsible spear-thrower. It is even said that the Persian king later questioned the Roman peace delegation on why they seemed unconcerned about avenging their emperor.
Julian - a philosopher by passion - was evidently an excellent administrator and reformer, a competent war-leader and a courageous, just and highly educated man. However, he is best remembered as Julian Apostata because of his unsuccessful attempt to restore paganism not long after Christianity had become the Roman state religion.
Calling Lionel's second son "Julian" could be construed as a joke on the part of the show's authors: He died before he'd really started, and the changes he might have made never came to be. On the other hand, it could more simply be construed as the careless use of a vaguely Roman, vaguely imperial-sounding name.
An Author's Note of sorts...
"Julian" is a very odd name for history-obsessed Lionel Luthor's son. Neither of the Roman emperors of that name were good role models for a corporate scion, and I don't know of any other historical Julians who might have been the intended role model - if anyone does, I'd be very happy to know!
As it is:
Marcus Didius Severus Iulianus (133-193) bought his way into power, got no respect and was assassinated by a common soldier.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus (332-363) was in power for less than two years before being killed - by a (presumably common, presumably enemy) soldier during a botched Persian campaign. According to the historians, Julian was the only Roman killed in this battle, and no reward was offered by or claimed from the Persian king, who would normally have rewarded the good aim of the responsible spear-thrower. It is even said that the Persian king later questioned the Roman peace delegation on why they seemed unconcerned about avenging their emperor.
Julian - a philosopher by passion - was evidently an excellent administrator and reformer, a competent war-leader and a courageous, just and highly educated man. However, he is best remembered as Julian Apostata because of his unsuccessful attempt to restore paganism not long after Christianity had become the Roman state religion.
Calling Lionel's second son "Julian" could be construed as a joke on the part of the show's authors: He died before he'd really started, and the changes he might have made never came to be. On the other hand, it could more simply be construed as the careless use of a vaguely Roman, vaguely imperial-sounding name.
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Date: 2003-07-27 07:44 pm (UTC)This story showcases the Luthor family in a way the show only hints at, and makes them exactly the way they should have been. Clark is sixteen through and through, a Luthor through and through, and himself through and through; like I said, an entirely plausible version of himself in this life, and the different threads contrast and connect beautifully.
Lex, too, is entirely himself -- both harder and softer for having had Julian in his life, and I like the fact that maybe the one thing he never quite acknowledges is that both his father and his brother know his weaknesses exactly.
Lionel just bowled me over in the last scene, which seems to be the reason for his existence on this earth. Also wonderfully himself -- who could change Lionel Luthor?
I somehow like the idea of this as a stand alone, the ambiguity, but I still hope you'll take it up and run with it. I'd love to read more.