The Ogre Day 3

The emphasis on hunting is another example of how myth is being played with. In myth, there are several different types of creatures that our known to have wild hunt parties, as well as some gods who are associated mystical hunt leaders, such as Pan and Cernunnos. Both of these gods are associated with horned animals, especially stags, and thus even today are revered for being the ultimate expressions of masculine energy and fertility. Yet Tiffauges and his superiors seem to be leading a gross inversion of ceremonial hunts, since the author makes it clear that they are still in a childish state of mind and body which are reflections of malnourished souls. Thus they are hardly fit to represent the archetypes of Pan and Cernunnos, so their hunting becomes a way to capture something that they lack, which is perhaps why they emasculate the poor stags. This is the same reason why Tiffauges bonds with Bluebeard--horses are also phallic symbols and represent authority. Through Bluebeard he can enjoy almost literally carrying authority.