Nynaeve does not have a problem with achieving a higher purpose in the face of extreme stress. Her problem is, she does not think the White Tower is a higher purpose than saving people.
It is true that she went against the rules of the exam. This is like a courtroom drama, where the defense lawyer put the system on trial. The prosecutor will say, that the system is not on trial, and we must follow the law as it is written, not how we would like the law to be. The defense lawyer who does this is taking a huge risk. And most of the times, it will not work. But sometimes, it works. What Nynaeve did there was the equivalent of putting the system of the Test on trial.
Also, the test requires people to put up with an illusion of calm, instead of being calm. Walking slowly merely pretends to be calm. Nynaeve was actually calm, since she was able to form her weaves.
Now, pretending to be clam does have its uses. A general like Ituralde often has to project calmness to his soldiers. But he can still run without showing panic. So why should the appearance of calm take precedence of actually being calm?
It is true that she went against the rules of the exam. This is like a courtroom drama, where the defense lawyer put the system on trial. The prosecutor will say, that the system is not on trial, and we must follow the law as it is written, not how we would like the law to be. The defense lawyer who does this is taking a huge risk. And most of the times, it will not work. But sometimes, it works. What Nynaeve did there was the equivalent of putting the system of the Test on trial.
Also, the test requires people to put up with an illusion of calm, instead of being calm. Walking slowly merely pretends to be calm. Nynaeve was actually calm, since she was able to form her weaves.
Now, pretending to be clam does have its uses. A general like Ituralde often has to project calmness to his soldiers. But he can still run without showing panic. So why should the appearance of calm take precedence of actually being calm?
Nynaeve's stupidity and the test for Aes Sedai
- 07/12/2010 08:27:05 PM
4596 Views
Way to totally misunderstand the chapter
- 07/12/2010 09:39:08 PM
1885 Views
I second this
- 07/12/2010 10:10:24 PM
1548 Views
your bold is stuck. *NM*
- 07/12/2010 10:21:22 PM
669 Views
On the whole, the test is innappropriate IMO
- 07/12/2010 09:40:08 PM
1664 Views
nice post
- 08/12/2010 09:20:02 AM
1444 Views
Isn't it implied
- 08/12/2010 02:16:58 PM
1223 Views
no they were students together
- 08/12/2010 05:33:17 PM
1159 Views
No, Lanfear was older than Lews
- 08/12/2010 07:21:45 PM
1382 Views
Where on earth did you get that from?
- 08/12/2010 08:41:16 PM
1308 Views
Re: Where on earth did you get that from?
- 09/12/2010 10:27:20 AM
1324 Views
Re: Where on earth did you get that from?
- 09/12/2010 03:56:32 PM
1431 Views
I always got the impression that they were together for quiet some time
- 09/12/2010 04:34:23 PM
1354 Views
Re: I always got the impression that they were together for quiet some time
- 09/12/2010 05:43:40 PM
1317 Views
I think skill with Saidar is easy enough to judge as it's a simple matter to see the skill
- 08/12/2010 05:37:27 PM
1242 Views
I think the greens should have been on Nynaeve's side as well
- 08/12/2010 06:18:16 PM
1345 Views
Problem is they are Aes Sedai and thus more likley to be political rather than rational! *NM*
- 08/12/2010 08:52:00 PM
908 Views
Re: nice post
- 09/12/2010 01:23:50 PM
1443 Views
On the matter of strength
- 09/12/2010 08:51:36 PM
1252 Views
Strength was "prized" in the AoL ... but lack of strength was not a negative
- 12/12/2010 01:41:08 AM
1215 Views
Yes. How dare she not conform with every other fucking mindless stupid WT Aes Sedai *NM*
- 07/12/2010 11:36:52 PM
740 Views
Status is not an end in itself. *NM*
- 07/12/2010 11:52:37 PM
622 Views
They're not really stupid...
- 08/12/2010 01:00:20 AM
1343 Views
Not saying they are. It's just that most AS that we've come across
- 08/12/2010 02:20:05 AM
1046 Views
They're constantly outsmarted by a teenage girl that has spent most of her life in a damn farm.
- 08/12/2010 10:32:50 AM
1300 Views
Bah...
- 09/12/2010 10:56:24 AM
1346 Views
I did not say all Aes Sedai are stupid, I said all WT Aes Sedai are stupid.
- 10/12/2010 09:19:52 AM
1311 Views
You are not only wrong in your call,
- 08/12/2010 04:39:44 AM
1554 Views
Re: You are not only wrong in your call,
- 08/12/2010 09:13:37 AM
1555 Views
if that is the purpose of the test
- 08/12/2010 01:34:45 PM
1248 Views
minor disagreement
- 08/12/2010 05:27:51 PM
1348 Views
Yes, but you can be not-panicked and not calm of body
- 08/12/2010 06:38:56 PM
1180 Views
not really the same thing as what the AS are getting at though
- 08/12/2010 09:02:05 PM
1822 Views
that's retarded, imo
- 09/12/2010 12:21:27 AM
1341 Views
Oh it's totally stupid!
- 09/12/2010 04:37:14 PM
1303 Views
No I know why she took the job. I just don't understand why she got it
- 09/12/2010 04:52:34 PM
1249 Views
I think Elaida just smarmed up at the right time, Morgase was very young then
- 09/12/2010 05:52:29 PM
1354 Views
Oh. Well, I'm sorry then.
- 08/12/2010 06:48:50 PM
1289 Views
I think it has already been established that the purpose of the test is to ensure that
- 08/12/2010 09:59:18 PM
1049 Views
Yeah, but how does that work?
- 08/12/2010 10:24:35 PM
1191 Views
Somewhere in the sub-conscious they know what they're doing is important to them.
- 09/12/2010 12:20:47 AM
1322 Views
Even so, it wouldn't work.
- 09/12/2010 03:32:55 AM
1238 Views
I think if this thread has established anything it's that the test is severely flawed. *NM*
- 09/12/2010 09:24:48 PM
606 Views
Another headless chicken example.
- 09/12/2010 12:30:02 AM
1218 Views
the headless chicken is just such a lovely metaphor for panic
*NM*
- 09/12/2010 04:48:11 AM
549 Views
*NM*
- 09/12/2010 04:48:11 AM
549 Views
Re: Oh. Well, I'm sorry then.
- 09/12/2010 12:07:15 PM
1293 Views
You seem to have no grasp of the difference between "politic" and "right"
- 09/12/2010 02:59:50 AM
1396 Views
Re: You seem to have no grasp of the difference between "politic" and "right"
- 09/12/2010 09:26:21 AM
1259 Views
That's not the dilema
- 09/12/2010 05:23:19 PM
1462 Views
One of those few times where I completely agree with Cannoli. Give over Sidious. You're wrong.
- 09/12/2010 09:55:20 PM
1237 Views
That's not what it's really about
- 10/12/2010 05:44:12 AM
1214 Views
This test, even by its usual abysmal standards, was idiotic. It bordered on being evil.
- 09/12/2010 03:46:31 AM
1253 Views
Re: This test, even by its usual abysmal standards, was idiotic. It bordered on being evil.
- 09/12/2010 09:40:09 AM
1307 Views
Re: This test, even by its usual abysmal standards, was idiotic. It bordered on being evil.
- 09/12/2010 02:04:02 PM
1614 Views
Re: This test, even by its usual abysmal standards, was idiotic. It bordered on being evil.
- 09/12/2010 11:26:40 AM
1312 Views
One of those few times where I completely agree with fionwe1987. Give over Sidious. You're wrong.
- 10/12/2010 03:53:25 PM
1320 Views

*NM*