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
4926 Views
Way to totally misunderstand the chapter
- 07/12/2010 09:39:08 PM
2041 Views
I second this
- 07/12/2010 10:10:24 PM
1724 Views
your bold is stuck. *NM*
- 07/12/2010 10:21:22 PM
752 Views
On the whole, the test is innappropriate IMO
- 07/12/2010 09:40:08 PM
1806 Views
nice post
- 08/12/2010 09:20:02 AM
1617 Views
Isn't it implied
- 08/12/2010 02:16:58 PM
1352 Views
no they were students together
- 08/12/2010 05:33:17 PM
1323 Views
No, Lanfear was older than Lews
- 08/12/2010 07:21:45 PM
1524 Views
Where on earth did you get that from?
- 08/12/2010 08:41:16 PM
1452 Views
Re: Where on earth did you get that from?
- 09/12/2010 10:27:20 AM
1488 Views
Re: Where on earth did you get that from?
- 09/12/2010 03:56:32 PM
1575 Views
I always got the impression that they were together for quiet some time
- 09/12/2010 04:34:23 PM
1501 Views
Re: I always got the impression that they were together for quiet some time
- 09/12/2010 05:43:40 PM
1458 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
1390 Views
I think the greens should have been on Nynaeve's side as well
- 08/12/2010 06:18:16 PM
1500 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
996 Views
Re: nice post
- 09/12/2010 01:23:50 PM
1600 Views
On the matter of strength
- 09/12/2010 08:51:36 PM
1403 Views
Strength was "prized" in the AoL ... but lack of strength was not a negative
- 12/12/2010 01:41:08 AM
1371 Views
Yes. How dare she not conform with every other fucking mindless stupid WT Aes Sedai *NM*
- 07/12/2010 11:36:52 PM
818 Views
Status is not an end in itself. *NM*
- 07/12/2010 11:52:37 PM
690 Views
They're not really stupid...
- 08/12/2010 01:00:20 AM
1488 Views
Not saying they are. It's just that most AS that we've come across
- 08/12/2010 02:20:05 AM
1196 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
1452 Views
Bah...
- 09/12/2010 10:56:24 AM
1492 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
1449 Views
You are not only wrong in your call,
- 08/12/2010 04:39:44 AM
1698 Views
Re: You are not only wrong in your call,
- 08/12/2010 09:13:37 AM
1711 Views
if that is the purpose of the test
- 08/12/2010 01:34:45 PM
1412 Views
minor disagreement
- 08/12/2010 05:27:51 PM
1479 Views
Yes, but you can be not-panicked and not calm of body
- 08/12/2010 06:38:56 PM
1334 Views
not really the same thing as what the AS are getting at though
- 08/12/2010 09:02:05 PM
1958 Views
that's retarded, imo
- 09/12/2010 12:21:27 AM
1497 Views
Oh it's totally stupid!
- 09/12/2010 04:37:14 PM
1448 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
1375 Views
I think Elaida just smarmed up at the right time, Morgase was very young then
- 09/12/2010 05:52:29 PM
1507 Views
Oh. Well, I'm sorry then.
- 08/12/2010 06:48:50 PM
1449 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
1201 Views
Yeah, but how does that work?
- 08/12/2010 10:24:35 PM
1347 Views
Somewhere in the sub-conscious they know what they're doing is important to them.
- 09/12/2010 12:20:47 AM
1463 Views
Even so, it wouldn't work.
- 09/12/2010 03:32:55 AM
1374 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
675 Views
Another headless chicken example.
- 09/12/2010 12:30:02 AM
1359 Views
the headless chicken is just such a lovely metaphor for panic
*NM*
- 09/12/2010 04:48:11 AM
625 Views
*NM*
- 09/12/2010 04:48:11 AM
625 Views
Re: Oh. Well, I'm sorry then.
- 09/12/2010 12:07:15 PM
1425 Views
You seem to have no grasp of the difference between "politic" and "right"
- 09/12/2010 02:59:50 AM
1546 Views
Re: You seem to have no grasp of the difference between "politic" and "right"
- 09/12/2010 09:26:21 AM
1432 Views
That's not the dilema
- 09/12/2010 05:23:19 PM
1610 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
1379 Views
That's not what it's really about
- 10/12/2010 05:44:12 AM
1341 Views
This test, even by its usual abysmal standards, was idiotic. It bordered on being evil.
- 09/12/2010 03:46:31 AM
1404 Views
Re: This test, even by its usual abysmal standards, was idiotic. It bordered on being evil.
- 09/12/2010 09:40:09 AM
1452 Views
Re: This test, even by its usual abysmal standards, was idiotic. It bordered on being evil.
- 09/12/2010 02:04:02 PM
1758 Views
Re: This test, even by its usual abysmal standards, was idiotic. It bordered on being evil.
- 09/12/2010 11:26:40 AM
1461 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
1520 Views

*NM*