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Bitter is too strong a word. More "conditioned" to search for character flaws in literature... Shannow Send a noteboard - 05/05/2010 03:48:49 PM
Lews Therin's situation was an impossible one. It called for an extraordinary man, and he was indeed such a person.

If your definition of perfect is that he is infallible in every context, in the face of every possible challenge, and basicaly "godlike" then nobody will meet those requirements.

But if you look at Lews Therin, he was a super-achiever, and yet he remained committed to serving his fellow humans. I haven't seen a single charcter flaw in him.

The fact that he was defeated and went mad is a testament to the severity of the challenge he faced. All indications are that if not for him, the Light would not have lasted the 10 years that it did.

It is best to therefore judge him by saying that he was inadequate for the task at hand, but more adequate than anyone else on earth.

In other words, no one could have done better than him. And despite his superiority to his fellow humans, he remained a surprisingly gentle, loving, merciful, kindhearted, generous and inspiring human being.

Now, most readers don't like "perfect" characters, but that's just tough, because Lews Therin was pretty much as perfect as you can get while still remaining human.

This message last edited by Shannow on 05/05/2010 at 03:51:22 PM
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Character discussion 1 : Lews Therin Telamon - 03/05/2010 05:13:30 AM 1430 Views
A tragic hero - 03/05/2010 02:44:35 PM 606 Views
I thought that was supposed to be left up to the reader to decide. - 03/05/2010 03:45:07 PM 551 Views
Yeah, there seems to be an answer in the notes, though - 03/05/2010 04:12:27 PM 597 Views
Re: A tragic hero - 03/05/2010 04:34:23 PM 577 Views
Re: A tragic hero - 03/05/2010 04:47:01 PM 541 Views
Not to mention--how old was LTT? He really had no adult children? - 03/05/2010 11:29:54 PM 497 Views
Re: Not to mention--how old was LTT? He really had no adult children? - 04/05/2010 05:22:19 AM 517 Views
Re: Not to mention--how old was LTT? He really had no adult children? - 05/05/2010 03:29:57 PM 518 Views
And even normals had extended lifespans - Mieran's servant was sixty & in his prime. - 06/05/2010 05:38:43 PM 520 Views
This makes me wonder ... - 06/05/2010 08:34:04 PM 470 Views
Well, Lews Therin is insane with only brief moments of coherence *NM* - 04/05/2010 06:42:09 PM 305 Views
well he is insane after all... - 06/05/2010 08:27:05 PM 453 Views
How perfect/imperfect was Lews Therin? - 03/05/2010 04:28:11 PM 604 Views
Re: How perfect/imperfect was Lews Therin? - 03/05/2010 04:53:22 PM 535 Views
What flaws? Lews Therin HAD no flaws. It's just you average folk being bitter about perfection... - 03/05/2010 08:39:19 PM 649 Views
Who's bitter? - 04/05/2010 05:20:36 AM 546 Views
Bitter is too strong a word. More "conditioned" to search for character flaws in literature... - 05/05/2010 03:48:49 PM 470 Views
A rather unrealistic character in my opinion - 03/05/2010 11:27:32 PM 528 Views
Re: A rather unrealistic character in my opinion - 04/05/2010 12:32:33 PM 550 Views
TGS ought to have put an end to that flawed reasoning - 04/05/2010 04:31:16 PM 624 Views
I have a question - 04/05/2010 06:32:16 PM 535 Views
Re: I have a question - 04/05/2010 11:47:54 PM 523 Views
Overly convoluted theory, in my view... - 05/05/2010 09:48:11 AM 517 Views
but thats how they got 12 books out of it so far... *NM* - 06/05/2010 04:29:50 PM 217 Views
I agree. - 05/05/2010 07:10:50 PM 426 Views
Nods in agreement *NM* - 06/05/2010 08:36:45 PM 199 Views
Did the LTT soul exist/reside in TAR as a Hero of the Horn ... - 04/05/2010 06:22:36 PM 578 Views
Re: Did the LTT soul exist/reside in TAR as a Hero of the Horn ... - 05/05/2010 12:22:09 AM 512 Views
But... - 05/05/2010 10:19:18 AM 462 Views
Re: But... - 05/05/2010 02:44:18 PM 476 Views
Lews Therin's funny Talent - 04/05/2010 06:34:26 PM 526 Views
Wards can detect people. - 05/05/2010 12:21:02 AM 489 Views
In hindsight - 05/05/2010 08:39:21 AM 478 Views
Re: In hindsight - 05/05/2010 12:20:36 PM 450 Views
Re: In hindsight - 05/05/2010 04:42:45 PM 457 Views
Re: Lews Therin's funny Talent - 05/05/2010 03:12:26 PM 518 Views
Unrealistic and unsympathetic for the most part - 05/05/2010 04:28:34 PM 472 Views

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