From: orlando@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (Peter J. Orlando)
Subject: Sandman - Theory
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 92 05:34:44 GMT

Now first off.. before I state anything... if this has been theorized
before... my apologizes but I have neglected this section recently and have
only been back for a week or two.

*Sort of spoilers*

Ok.  

The big thing of this story is who is the power behind all the "killings"
of all of Destruction`s friends.  When I first started reading Brief Lives,`
I would have thought Desire the perfect suspect.  Why?  She obviously likes
to manipulate and play with the endless (as seen in her manipulative role
in Doll House.) and just by her comments about her brother in 
Seasons of the Mists where she says she doesnt even miss Destruction nor did
she care.  She even restates it when Delirium sees her in the beginning
of Brief lives.  However, if she is eliminated, the question arose, who is 
powerful enough to take on the endless?  Who is powerful enough to 
meddle in the endless affairs?  Lucifer could be one but what
or why would he want too?  He has no reason.  However, I started noticing 
every once in a while, Gaiman  makes a Destiny reference.  (eg Destiny is
blind.)  Then, that got me thinking.  Destiny was the "manipulator", so 
to speak, in the Seasons of the Mists story.  He calls the family meeting
and then tells to just go about the business when they are there.  
he just watches.  It was by him calling the family meeting which would
set off the chain of events of Desire mentioning Nada to Dream.

So.. Destiny is powerful enough to be the manipultor of the Brief lives
chain of events.  But, motive has to be establish.  Why would Destiny play`
a role in this story?  Now, try to bare with me....

1.  Destiny knows that a major even is going to happen with the endless.
He knows that something is going to happen.  And, once again, he needs
Dream to be his tool.  One of the reason that the people need to be killed`
off or out of the picture (like the Aldermann) is that it is most likely
that Dream and Del will find these people and none of them will know where
Desturction is.  However, he wants Dream to be suspicios and inquire (like
with Lucien).  he wants Dream to find Destruction.

2.  Now, the next point.  What is the major change?  There has been some 
talk about a death in the endless or even Dream stepping down or something 
big with the endless going down.  I think the change will be Destruction changing to Decision or something else.  Now... Destruction has grown very fond of 
humanity.  But, he has also realized changed would not be happening only with
his Delights realm but with his own.  In issue two of Brief Lives, he tels
Delight "Del.  Its ok. " and then later "Things are changing."  I think he 
meant not only for her but with him.        
,   As he has told Dream, he has seen other worlds and when they reach the
age of reasoning, certain conclusion are inescapable.  So, Destruction 
is apparently, disgusted with an end for humanity or anything else for that    
matter.  He talks about change to Dream.   
    When Dream talks to Orpheus in Orpheus' Song, he solution is one of reason
and decision, not of something of destruction.  he cared for Orpheus
and did not want to see him jump off the cliff.  He also tells Orpheus
of another solution to get his wife by seeing Death.
   But the BIGGEST reason is just by the way Destruction is dressed and acts
in Brief Lives.  The modern Destruction is the painter, the artist, he has
lost a lot of weight and he has not beard.  He looks like a philospher,
a scholar.  He is rationale.  He even acts it.  However, the only interesting
thing I noticed is that none of his paintings had people in it.

3.  Side notes:  Why would Desire not want Destruction back?  Cause 
destruction is a realm of instinct and emotion.  You could almost
have some similarities between Desire and Destrution.  However, if Desire
does realize the change and realize he would become Decision, the process
 of decision would definitlye be a conflict of interests with the acts of 
desires.  Desires realm might have to face changes as well and she fears
that.  And Despair, why she would play no interest in the game.
Because she likes the old Destruction because he was the only one who 
ever kissed her.  She might actually fear that a change for him mught 
change his affections for her. 

Ok.  I think I have gone on long enough.  I dont know how well my theory
is... I will only find out.  If it is right... I would be happy to know  
that I beat Gaiman to the punch but if it is not, I will be even happier
because that means Gaiman has something better instore for the endless.
And that is why I love reading his works.  I would be interested
in hearing people opinions.  

Peter
orlando@gn.ecn.purdue.edu