I feel like lot of people are sort of misunderstanding Lister's motivation, which can make his actions seem erratic and nonsensical, when in his worldview they make perfect sense.
To us, it's obvious why Sylhan is afraid of him. Lister had all the power over him and isn't afraid to abuse it. But Lister doesn't see him as a slave or as a kicking piece, he sees him as competition.
He constantly brings up how Sylvan was more powerful than him in the past and it makes clear how he views their relationship: not as master and slave, but as two rivals. Infact, I think he sees Sylvan as a sort of snooty classmate, that thinks he's all that.
That's why he's sometimes genuinely worried about him, but enjoys the fact that he's scared of him.
He just doesn't want Sylhan to win over him. Sylhan not wearing his clothes, not eating with him and going out is seen as an attack at Lister, but Sylhan doing what is asked of him is also seen as an attack, because Lister wants to see him flustered, wants Sylhan to admit that Lister's better than him.
I feel like lot of people are sort of misunderstanding Lister's motivation, which can make his actions seem erratic and nonsensical, when in his worldview they make perfect sense.
To us, it's obvious why Sylhan is afraid of him. Lister had all the power over him and isn't afraid to abuse it. But Lister doesn't see him as a slave or as a kicking piece, he sees him as competition.
He constantly brings up how Sylvan was more powerful than him in the past and it makes clear how he views their relationship: not as master and slave, but as two rivals. Infact, I think he sees Sylvan as a sort of snooty classmate, that thinks he's all that.
That's why he's sometimes genuinely worried about him, but enjoys the fact that he's scared of him.
He just doesn't want Sylhan to win over him. Sylhan not wearing his clothes, not eating with him and going out is seen as an attack at Lister, but Sylhan doing what is asked of him is also seen as an attack, because Lister wants to see him flustered, wants Sylhan to admit that Lister's better than him.