This is one question that has been plaguing my mind since I finished Ptolemy's Gate (which happens to be on May 13th). Would Barty have given his life for Nathaniel, as we see him try to do for Ptolemy? He was very reluctant to leave Ptolemy & was ready to happily die with him. All this was becoz, Ptolemy considered him an equal. Nat too did in the last few hours before his death. Also, we see Nat exchanging a lot of views & opinions with Bart from the very start, something which the other magicians seldom did. So do u think Bart, if given an option, would have left Nat?

This is kind of a hard decision. I mean, he really didn't have a choice. He was stuck in Nat's body. But if he did have more freedom of choice, he most likely would have stuck with him. But more for Kitty. He knew Kitty was already his friend.

I doubt he would have. Simple.

Dansariki wrote: I doubt he would have. Simple.

I don't think it's that simple. Nat did not go to the OP like Kitty & Ptolemy. Also, he had treated Bart quite badly in the past. True, Bart would now have a lot of respect for Nat as he changed for the good. Yet, he did nothing for Bart until the last moment.

Your question was if Bart would do for Nat the same thing he did for Ptolemy.
No, he wouldn't.
He didn't have anything close to the relationship he had with Ptolemy as he did with Nat.
He loved Ptolemy, and I doubt he had anything but a grudging respect for Nat, two totally different things.
Better?

Loads. But Bart is basically only liking ppl who follow him to the OP, is'nt he? According to him, Kitty & Ptolemy trusted him enough to enter an alien place & endanger themselves. So that probably means Bart likes Kitty more than Nat. Yet, Nat did trust him enough to allow him enter his body. So, I guess he's got more than a bit of grudging respect for Nat. Though I quite agree when u say Bart might not have readily died for Nat.

I reckon Barti would have left Nat's body if he was the one with chioce. I mean, it's between the choice of one of them dying, and both of them dying, even Nat agreed that if there was any way Barti could survive, he would make him take it, like he did. Why should Barti be condemned to die just because it would be fair to Nat because he's going to die anyway? Like Barti said, no matter how cool, stylish, composed, unflappable, manly, or defiant you are, at the end of the day, you're also dead.

Nectanebo wrote: I reckon Barti would have left Nat's body if he was the one with chioce. I mean, it's between the choice of one of them dying, and both of them dying, even Nat agreed that if there was any way Barti could survive, he would make him take it, like he did. Why should Barti be condemned to die just because it would be fair to Nat because he's going to die anyway? Like Barti said, no matter how cool, stylish, composed, unflappable, manly, or defiant you are, at the end of the day, you're also dead.

True, but Bart would surely have died for Ptolemy. He knew chances of defeating 20 djinni's would be less than nil, yet he was ready to risk it. Though Bart thinks dying is too permanent for his liking, he had no hesitation where Ptolemy was concerned.
Ok, my question changes. If Nat was in the exact same position as Ptolemy was in, would Bart have accepted Nat's last gift willingly or unwillingly?

I didn't say he liked Nat did I? He had respect for him, nothing more.
Djinnis is not a word.
Djinn. like Sheep and sheep.
He doesn't have a choice, a magician lets you go, you go.

Dansariki wrote: I didn't say he liked Nat did I? He had respect for him, nothing more.
Djinnis is not a word.
Djinn. like Sheep and sheep.
He doesn't have a choice, a magician lets you go, you go.

It's not Bart's choice I'm talking about, but his willingness. I know he had no choice (as in Ptolemy's case), but he mentions he accepted Ptolemy's last gift unwillingly. Did he experience the same when Nat dismissed him? And I feel Bart had more than a grudging respect for Nat. He sort of liked Nat from the very start. He saved Nat (indirectly though) from the Golem, when there was no need to. And that was'nt the only instance. By the end of the third book, I guess he considered Nat somewhat his equal (vice versa, to be more appropriate). He really liked Nat (or that's the impression, I got).

Sry abt the djinn. Knew it of course, but did'nt realize.

Don't u think this topic is getting a bit out of hand? V seem to be travelling in a circle. Reckon v stop our discussion?

Djinni and Djinn
My bad.
Ha.
Okie dokie, I suppose I can go with that.

lolz. and i think he liked Nat a bit. respect is more like it though.

It is possible that Barti would have stayed with Nat, but unlikely. This is as Bartimemaeus saw Nat as an equal, but not above himself as he did with Ptolmey.

i think that bart would have stayed he liked nat from the start and even though he was treated badly he still relized what he could do and he let him in his body as an equal that and at the last moment dissmisses him befor he had a chance to say anything against itthat act alone might have made bart want to stay.

Bart would have died for Ptolemy, and would have had Ptolemy not dismissed him.
Bart would not have done so for Nat.
Simple.
How many more times must it be said.

I think he would have leave if he was given a choice. :P

Seeing how Nathaniel treats him in the past.

Besides, who wants to die?

Left*.
And I agree.

Writers & politicians spring to my mind :lol:.

I agree with Bart's statement, but ironically, I want to be a writer, and my backup is politician. :D
But not to worry; I won't be like them cheater prime ministers, presidents, and other cheapskates.

Weird combination but not unheard of. Usually writers need to be reserved & politicians the opposite but nearly all politicians become writers later in their career. Would u say heroic deaths are admirable?
Also, politicians sometimes die the hero's way (acc. to a few - not to me!). Look at Benazir Bhutto.