I'm looking for an intellectual answer to this question. Its got to be one of Jordan's weirdist choices, and it's unusual even in general fantasy.
Why did Lews Therin only have one wife? Rand was foreordained to have three, and he loves them equally and they all love him back and have no real problem with their competition.
Thoughts?
I always found the whole three wives thing a bit bizarre and not all that great writing to be honest. I think I personally would have preferred it if RJ had focused on just one of them for the whole romance thing and used the extra time to make things a bit more realistic. The way it is written now, I find the whole thing a bit silly with how easily they all accept it and how quickly they fall for Rand. Especially Elayne.
I wonder if Rand's ta'veren is manipulating his three girls into agreeing for the whole sharing thing.
As for inworld reason. Well, I suppose the one thing that could not have easily happened with just 1 woman was the three-way-warder-bond. I suppose if Rand having three wives ends up being significant to the plot, then maybe he will get some extra-strength or something from this super-bond that will allow him to beat Moridin or something.
EDIT:
Oh, and the reason LTT had only one wife was simple. Rand has managed to get 3 wives in just a couple of years. How many would LTT with his centuries long lifespan have got. I can see it now:
LTT: "Oh light! What have I done, I killed her! Ilyena! And Mierin aswell! And Amaresu too! And Saralin! And Lyndelle! And Farede! And Bonwhin ... (Three hours and 25 pages pass) ... And finally my youngest beloved wife Melisinde I killed them all!".
This message last edited by Datakim on 31/08/2010 at 06:46:47 PM
Why does Rand have 3 wives?
- 31/08/2010 05:26:04 PM
2321 Views
Re: Why does Rand have 3 wives?
- 31/08/2010 06:26:44 PM
2625 Views
Re: Why does Rand have 3 wives?
- 31/08/2010 07:18:42 PM
1465 Views
I actually like Aviendha, but I also think her role could be combined or minimized
- 31/08/2010 08:02:52 PM
1336 Views
I am approaching this from the angle of the overall story and structure
- 31/08/2010 07:32:54 PM
1576 Views
I think it must have to do with the Arthurian legends.
- 01/09/2010 01:26:31 AM
1642 Views
Isn't one in some versions actually named Elayne? Also say Egwene al'Vere really fast and you get... *NM*
- 01/09/2010 02:19:38 AM
770 Views
There are Elaines in Arthurian legends, yeah, but they're involved with Lancelot more than Arthur.
- 01/09/2010 02:24:56 PM
1428 Views
Yeah...
- 01/09/2010 02:58:36 AM
1492 Views
You're right that Moiraine, Nynaeve and Cadsuane would make a better fit.
- 01/09/2010 02:28:04 PM
1689 Views
Huh?
- 02/09/2010 06:18:08 AM
1406 Views
I think you misunderstand.
- 02/09/2010 02:44:16 PM
1397 Views
He does
- 03/09/2010 03:03:17 AM
1352 Views
Re: He does
- 03/09/2010 12:48:02 PM
1323 Views
Re: He does
- 04/09/2010 12:16:34 AM
1346 Views
I think you need another edit to clean up the double-post-within-a-post a bit. 
Very interesting! *NM*
- 04/09/2010 01:45:45 PM
794 Views
Very interesting! *NM*
- 04/09/2010 01:45:45 PM
794 Views
Morgan le Fay = Meirin IMO, not Min. *NM*
- 01/09/2010 05:05:25 AM
715 Views
Yeah, I meant if I had to pick from those three. Otherwise, there are better candidates. *NM*
- 01/09/2010 02:23:50 PM
722 Views
Well, RJ dated two women at once - and they were cool with it - but there's more
- 01/09/2010 02:57:38 AM
1604 Views
Re: Well, RJ dated two women at once - and they were cool with it - but there's more
- 01/09/2010 03:22:18 AM
1493 Views
*NM*