Alvin Maker as MF

As Marek Oziewicz states, 'one of Card's most powerful themes in the sextet [of Alvin series] is the quest for sustainable environmental ethics, a value system which may assist humans to reconnect with each other and with the natural world' (Oziewicz, One Earth, One People, p. 209). The series present a new approach to the American myth of people living 'a dream of paradise but also of wilderness' (op.cit., p. 199). The importance of Native American and Afro-American cultures is highly underlined in the books.

Prentice Alvin describes the process of acquiring the knowledge about the natural science, the rules of organising the world and the universe. Miss Larner and Alvin discuss using their own sensitivity and language such problems of modern physics as the existence and structure of atoms, the rule of Heisenberg which concerns detecting the smallest particles, and the dual nature of the light as an electromagnetic wave. The couple talks also about philospohical and ethical issues, altogether constructing a bonafide theory of the World and humanity on their own.

Alvin also learns alchemistry and turns iron into gold – even more, the gold becomes alive and moves on its own, listening to him. His commands in the act of creation are: “Become….”, “Be…..”. During his short period of learning, Alvin becomes able even to experiment succesfully on the DNA code which would be impossible in that period of history and scientific progress.

Above all, Alvin has similar tasks and experience like Jesus: he walks on water, performs wonders and heals wounded or even dead people.

Alvin's mission as the Maker is described in a prophetic book. The mission of Alvin is compared (In his own thoughts!) to the one of a Byblical hero, or Hector and Ulysses. moreover, his prenticeship in Smith's workshop resembles Herculean tasks because he works hard in order to become a more patient hero who controls his power. The history of the problems of the American society in the XIXth century, esp. the rebellion of slaves and the emancipation of women, are presented in the story among anecdotes, myths and legends in a half-humorous, half-serious way. The additional mythopeic elements of the story are the legends and myths that are told about Alvin, Artur Smith and the other characters. Even the end of the novel contains a comparison of two myths that are made about it.

A daughter who escapes her family home in spite (or because) of her father's deep love resembles a folktale motif of All-Kinds-Of-Fur and Catskin who leave home because being in danger of being an object of parental incest (Maria Tatar, Off With Their Heads!, pp. 128-141). Old Peg's jealous remarks about her husband's affection towards Peggy may prove that interpretation.

Alvin helps Arthur to regain his freedom and find his new personality, squeezing him tight and uniting with the little boy's body. The motif of an older boy uniting physically and spiritually with a younger boy who is in distress, in order to regain the boy's strength – is similar to a mythical Japanese technique described eg. in such mangas as X 1999 by Clamp, a manga that brings a mythopeic story similar to the description of Alvin's life and destiny.

