I recall a mention (I don't think I recently read it, so someone must've mentioned it in a discussion, but I can't remember where, unfortunately) of a Truthspeaker doing just that, actually. Perhaps in Tuon's reflections? I think there was a story about a Truthspeaker slapping the Empress... Emperor?... in public a long time ago.

But even if that's wrong, Anath does this verbally to Tuon in public in WH chapter 18. So yes, Truthspeakers do this, too.



The sad thing is that this isn't just confined to the WoT world. I've heard of one (or one hundred) too many "romance" stories based around the same principles - only they feature women in the subordinate role, and these are written FOR women! It's sick to think that this is what people think is normal, much less get off on, especially in this day and age, but because of this, I can't say it *surprises* me, at least, to find it in WoT. And at least the WoT males have much more of a spine than these heroines do.



I know I'm not the only one who disagrees with this, but as I'm not as good as explaining thoughts or evidence as other posters, I'll attempt a short analogy instead. Physical pain can be a good thing for people. It tells you when something is going wrong, so that you won't do anything to make it worse. People who cannot feel pain (for whatever reason - genetics, or certain drugs, for example) can get themselves seriously injured or even kill themselves precisely because they don't feel pain. They can leave their hand on a hot stove and not feel it burning, or they'll break a limb and not get help for it. There are times when it needs to be suppressed for one to function, but at the same time, it also serves a vital purpose by existing - and it's dangerous to not have that pain.

I think the point others, including RJ, are trying to make is that Rand is not dealing with his pain properly. You've made an interesting point about him beating himself up over the women, and I think that's true - but he's also trying to escape from all of the pain by becoming harder and harder (and not just through the Void). If he can deal with the pain properly, he can move beyond it. That might be the whole point of "laughter and tears"; if Rand can finally cry - expressing that pain - maybe he'll finally be able to let the wounds heal. Sort of like the Bore keeping the DO's prison open?

Bah, I did a horrible job of explaining that. What I'm trying to say, I guess, is that it's not just about pain - it's about emotions in general. When Rand can let himself feel those emotions again, he can deal with the pain - let it go, as you said. But he won't accomplish that by separating himself from the world even more.



As Lan said: death is lighter than a feather, duty heavier than a mountain. Dying is easy. LTT wants to die. I completely understand where Rand (and your thoughts) are coming from here, but waiting to get it over with is the easy route.

(Think Rand would care about a safe world for his babies...?)