Ep. 109 — Chapter 4 from "Tower of Swallows"
Charli from Austria and Softie from the UK join Alyssa for our discussion of Andrzej Sapkowski’s Tower of Swallows, Chapter 4. Very important bits include: Season premiere rituals, unreliable narrators, nesting dolls of perspectives, progressive ideas in The Witcher, the literal sword of destiny, how Ciri’s weaponization complicates her victimization, and how each chapter antagonist embodies a different kind of cruelty.
This episode is available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher.
In this Episode
[0:00] Cold Open
[1:01] Introduction
[2:40] Guest Introductions
[8:16] Chapter Recap
[9:49] Overall Thoughts
[17:18] Alternate Perspectives
[22:57] Kenna’s Psionic Torture
[26:14] Progressive Ideas in The Witcher
[28:39] Swallow & Destiny
[33:49] Ciri’s Victimization v. Weaponization
[39:14] Ciri’s Attempt & Bonhart’s Cruelty
[43:32] “Would Ciri return home?”
[46:12] The Villains and Systemic Cruelty
[58:27] Closing Thoughts
[1:02:59] Outro
[1:03:26] End Credits
Relevant Links
Transcript
Cold Open
Transcript to come.
[Breakfast in Beauclair theme music by Alex Berner]
Introduction
ALYSSA: Welcome to Breakfast in Beauclair, a global Witcher Podcast. My name is Alyssa from GoodMorhen, and I’ll be your host as you, I, and our international hanza accompany Geralt of Rivia and his destiny, Cirilla of Cintra, across the Continent.
[Announcements]
Netflix’s The Witcher Season 4 is out now!: We’ll cover the show in Season 9 of the podcast, after Tower of Swallows. In the meantime, head over to the Hanza Discord for discussions with our international community.
[Patron Announcements]
Thank you to our patrons and our producer-level patrons: Katie (The Redhead of Toussaint), Jacob B., Charlotte from Vengerberg Glamarye, The Original Roach, Libby, John of Ryblia, Tom from Australia, Jill Cate, The Tabby Witch, Olle from Sweden, James Carson III, Miriam of Temeria, Softie, Lisa C., and Sydna.
If you’d like to learn more about supporting Breakfast in Beauclair, visit patreon.com/breakfastinbeauclair.
[Episode Details]
As for this episode, Charli from Austria and Softie from the UK call in for Andrzej Sapkowski’s Tower of Swallows, Chapter 4. Join us as we discuss season premiere rituals, unreliable narrators, nesting dolls of perspectives, progressive ideas in The Witcher, the literal sword of destiny, how Ciri’s weaponization complicates her victimization, and how each chapter antagonist embodies a different kind of cruelty.
Without further ado, let’s get to our discussion of Andrzej Sapkowski’s Tower of Swallows, Chapter 4.
Discussion
[Breakfast in Beauclair stinger by Alex Berner]
Transcript to come.
ALYSSA (VOICEOVER):
Chapter 4 unfolds through the perspectives of Ciri and two unlikely witnesses: Joanna Selborne, known as Kenna, a psionic in Nilfgaard’s service, and Nycklar, the coffin-maker’s son from Jealousy.
As a trial witness, Kenna recounts how Stefan Skellen—Tawny Owl—assembled a company of mercenaries at Fort Rocayne, hinting that her psychic powers would be used to track someone of importance. Soon after, Nycklar was hauled before them and confessed that four days earlier, Bonhart had slaughtered the Rats in Jealousy, beheading them for bounty and dragging away the youngest, Falka.
Bonhart brought Ciri to the swordsmith Esterhazy in Fano to prepare her for combat. To her shock, Esterhazy produced a legendary gwyhyr blade, Zireael, engraved with a tower and a swallow. He declared it was hers by destiny, though Bonhart withheld it, insisting the time was not yet right.
Ciri was then taken to Claremont, where Bonhart and the merchant Houvenaghel staged a public spectacle. Drugged and thrown into the arena, she fought for survival against armed men. The Baron of Casadei’s representative, Winsor Imbra, warned her of the endless violence that awaited her until Bonhart tired of his game. In desperation, Ciri nearly turned the sword on herself, only for Bonhart to sneer that Kaer Morhen had trained her to kill others, not herself.
The chapter closes with Ciri recounting these events to Vysogota, haunted by humiliation, pain, and the dawning recognition of the depths of Bonhart’s cruelty.
Transcript to come.
Outro & Credits
[Breakfast in Beauclair theme music by Alex Berner]
ALYSSA: Thanks for joining us at the breakfast table! For show notes, transcripts of each episode, and a complete list of our social platforms and listening services, head over to breakfastinbeauclair.com.
Breakfast in Beauclair is created by Alyssa from GoodMorhen. It’s hosted by Alyssa. The show is edited by Alyssa and Caleb Buys with music by Alex Berner.
Breakfast in Beauclair is produced by Alyssa in New York City with Katie (The Redhead of Toussaint), Jacob B., Charlotte from Vengerberg Glamarye, The Original Roach, Libby, John of Ryblia, Tom from Australia, Jill Cate, The Tabby Witch, Olle from Sweden, James Carson III, Miriam of Temeria, Softie, Lisa C., and Sydna.
Special thanks to Charli and Softie for joining us for this episode and our international hanza for their support.
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