Yes, I think it's also significant beyond just that the two of them tend to play Devil's Advocate with each other, that Elizabeth was so freaked out over the idea of Paige and Henry being set loose in Europe where they'd be "dead in a week" in her mind, while Philip had confidence they'd be fine. It reflects their views a bit here, I think. Elizabeth sees the kids being under the eye of the center as potentially a good thing because it gives them structure for their life, protection and stability in exchange for their sacrifice and work. She saw them being completely on their own as dangerous to them because they're so unprepared.
Where as Philip saw that situation as a sink or swim moment that would end with them swimming. This I think, is reflected in the little we know about them both. Elizabeth has always needed something bigger to give her life shape and been disturbed by things like kids playing all day, thinking it makes them soft and directionless. Philip seems to really like the idea of them having freedom to choose to be or do what they want--and he seems to see survival situations in his own life as really formative. He never got to the end of that story about the milk but he seemed to be setting it up as a moment where he took control when left on his own. So the only two stories Philip's ever told about his past life involved play (swordfighting with icicles) and survival. Where Elizabeth's stories are more about responsibility and sacrifice (she took care of her mother on her own;they refused food because it came with hidden strings attached). Survival is Philip's default mode.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2014-08-09 03:26 pm (UTC)Where as Philip saw that situation as a sink or swim moment that would end with them swimming. This I think, is reflected in the little we know about them both. Elizabeth has always needed something bigger to give her life shape and been disturbed by things like kids playing all day, thinking it makes them soft and directionless. Philip seems to really like the idea of them having freedom to choose to be or do what they want--and he seems to see survival situations in his own life as really formative. He never got to the end of that story about the milk but he seemed to be setting it up as a moment where he took control when left on his own. So the only two stories Philip's ever told about his past life involved play (swordfighting with icicles) and survival. Where Elizabeth's stories are more about responsibility and sacrifice (she took care of her mother on her own;they refused food because it came with hidden strings attached). Survival is Philip's default mode.