Before I go any further, I will declare that I dislike Egwene as a character. Having said that, after reading TOM, I have a strange feeling about Egwene's future.
It seems to me, that she is a very odd leader, a leader without a power base. When I look at other leaders for the Light, they all have a power base, a group of people who shares something essential with them, a reason to follow them.
It seems to me, that she is a very odd leader, a leader without a power base. When I look at other leaders for the Light, they all have a power base, a group of people who shares something essential with them, a reason to follow them.
There are a few people in the series who built up a power base. Morgase is one. I believe that Egwene can be another. She has the BA hunters for instance as well as Suian and Nynaeve.
Mat has his Band. They follow him to survive till the Last Battle.
Perrin has the Two River folks, and the refuges with him will probably settle into the Two River area. They follow him to have safety and future prosperity in the Two River area.
Rand has the Aiel, who follow him to have a future with honor. Those who don't believe so had already joined the Shaido. Despite the lack of evidence so far, most of the Aiel still believe Rand will bring them great honor, based on faith in dreams, fortellings, and the WO's work behind the scenes. But they do support Rand out of a genuie belief, and they will continue to support Rand as long as they continue to believe in him.
Elayne has the Houses of Andor. They all want safety and prosperity. And when they saw her having the same desire as them, and having the capability of a good Queen, those Houses became her power base.
But who can Egwene rely on? Who form the power base of Egwene? As far as I can tell, Egwene just pit one group of AS against another group of AS, and hang on to the position without any group to call her own. Even the Green did not support her any stronger than any other Ajah, as can be seen from the secret Hall meeting. I think her lack of a power base is due to her lacking an identity of her own.
Perrin has the Two River folks, and the refuges with him will probably settle into the Two River area. They follow him to have safety and future prosperity in the Two River area.
Rand has the Aiel, who follow him to have a future with honor. Those who don't believe so had already joined the Shaido. Despite the lack of evidence so far, most of the Aiel still believe Rand will bring them great honor, based on faith in dreams, fortellings, and the WO's work behind the scenes. But they do support Rand out of a genuie belief, and they will continue to support Rand as long as they continue to believe in him.
Elayne has the Houses of Andor. They all want safety and prosperity. And when they saw her having the same desire as them, and having the capability of a good Queen, those Houses became her power base.
But who can Egwene rely on? Who form the power base of Egwene? As far as I can tell, Egwene just pit one group of AS against another group of AS, and hang on to the position without any group to call her own. Even the Green did not support her any stronger than any other Ajah, as can be seen from the secret Hall meeting. I think her lack of a power base is due to her lacking an identity of her own.
I agree with the lack of identity. I think the lack of a power base is largely due to how she was thrust into power. Her maneuverings haven't helped, though. Maybe they are necessary, but I will never like them.
As I think harder on this, I believe based on Egwene's character growth so far, she is not fit for a leader. Let us Look back into her history. In EoTW, she want to be the best water carrier. When She met the Aiel Wise Ones, she want to be the best Aiel. When she joins the rebels, she want to be the best AS. She would take up the traits of whoever she come in contact with, and grow into that role very quickly.
That, to me, is the trait of a Great Follower. She would be a Great Administrator, after someone else had set up all the rules. In fact, Rand saw through this, and ask her to gather the world's army for him. That is percisely the job of an administrator.
That, to me, is the trait of a Great Follower. She would be a Great Administrator, after someone else had set up all the rules. In fact, Rand saw through this, and ask her to gather the world's army for him. That is percisely the job of an administrator.
That isn't the trait of a great follower either. It is a weakness of Egwene that I am surprised that her many detractors haven't picked up on. Great followers have to be able to see beyond their role to do what is necessary to serve.
There is a large parallel with Rand. Rand's obsession with being the perfect dragon reborn led him to the abyss. It was only when he found the reason to fight outside that roll that he was able to leave the abyss and become the perfect dragon. Egwene is making that transition now but less dramatically and much slower.
An administrator does not need a power base, it only needs to evenly apply the rules given. A leader on the other hand, needs to have a vision, an idea that her followers can aspire to, and a way to realize that vision.
She can follow the rules very well, and take advantage of the rules very well. Her time with the Rebel AS had proven so. But so far, I don't see her coming up with any good rules, a vision of her own. Her flip-flop on the Three Oaths. Her insistence on the Tests. Her denial of her Dream about alliance with the Seanchan. She is not a good leader. John McCain was captured and tortured in Vietnam. And I am not sure if Egwene can claim her experience with the Seanchan is worse than John McCain's. John McCain can go to Vietnam without his personal grudges. Can Egwene do the same? If she want to be a good political leader, she must be able to do that, and put aside her personal feelings.
She can follow the rules very well, and take advantage of the rules very well. Her time with the Rebel AS had proven so. But so far, I don't see her coming up with any good rules, a vision of her own. Her flip-flop on the Three Oaths. Her insistence on the Tests. Her denial of her Dream about alliance with the Seanchan. She is not a good leader. John McCain was captured and tortured in Vietnam. And I am not sure if Egwene can claim her experience with the Seanchan is worse than John McCain's. John McCain can go to Vietnam without his personal grudges. Can Egwene do the same? If she want to be a good political leader, she must be able to do that, and put aside her personal feelings.
Egwene's rule about no secret hall meetings was a very good rule that showed that she is capable of great leadership.
I am not quite sure that I share the premise that a great leader has vision. To be honest, leaders with vision are scary people. They can lead a country to hell just as easily as they can lead it to heaven.
I don't know if Egwene is a good leader or not, but she has accomplished much in her short time. She stood up to Elaida when no one else would. In that sense she is probably the best the tower has, that is willing to take the job.
Egwene, a poor leader?
- 16/12/2010 05:59:15 PM
2056 Views
Egwene isn't supposed to be a leader. She's a dictator and a politician.
- 16/12/2010 08:21:13 PM
1213 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
- 16/12/2010 09:35:44 PM
996 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
- 16/12/2010 10:53:20 PM
918 Views
If the Shadow had removed Elaida so Egwene was Amyrlin whilst Rand was still Dark ...
- 16/12/2010 11:56:08 PM
876 Views
Same thing if Elaida was in charge when meeting w/ Dark Rand. *NM*
- 17/12/2010 02:10:20 AM
459 Views
Except Rand wouldn't go to the WT with Elaida in charge, without having to fight
- 17/12/2010 02:50:18 AM
985 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
- 17/12/2010 03:07:40 AM
1018 Views
Exactly how loyal do you think Nynaeve and Elayne are?
- 17/12/2010 04:52:34 AM
790 Views
Re: Exactly how loyal do you think Nynaeve and Elayne are?
- 17/12/2010 05:44:30 AM
897 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
- 17/12/2010 02:30:48 PM
935 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
- 17/12/2010 08:25:39 PM
726 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
- 18/12/2010 05:06:21 AM
892 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
- 19/12/2010 08:41:31 PM
773 Views
Torturing Nynaeve for exclusively her own political ends. *NM*
- 20/12/2010 12:14:55 AM
498 Views
Re: Torturing Nynaeve for exclusively her own political ends.
- 20/12/2010 01:24:12 AM
825 Views
And the most painful torments were caused by Egwene
- 20/12/2010 09:31:44 AM
952 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
- 20/12/2010 12:57:42 AM
764 Views
She has the same power base as any Amyrlin - the Aes Sedai, the artisans, Guards & citizens of TV
- 17/12/2010 05:51:20 PM
882 Views
Ta'veren vs. Mary Sue
- 17/12/2010 07:33:28 PM
1195 Views
I see them as being the same thing.
- 17/12/2010 08:11:30 PM
869 Views
I don't think the case can be made for Rand having it easy
- 17/12/2010 11:04:58 PM
789 Views
I would say that in the grand scheme of things, Rand's had good to balance out the bad.
- 20/12/2010 06:27:35 PM
777 Views
Funniest statement I've ever seen on here.
- 18/12/2010 05:22:28 AM
887 Views
But you are just undervaluing Egwene's struggles in comparison to the other characters.
- 20/12/2010 06:17:17 PM
1185 Views
Re: But you are just undervaluing Egwene's struggles in comparison to the other characters.
- 22/12/2010 05:28:01 PM
952 Views
Yes, but for completely different reasons...
- 18/12/2010 12:35:23 AM
905 Views
You think Egwene has more power than Tuon?
- 18/12/2010 12:27:01 PM
749 Views
Definitely...
- 18/12/2010 03:24:12 PM
766 Views
I think comparing Egwene to McCain is asking for trouble on several fronts. 
- 20/12/2010 12:33:04 AM
731 Views
- 20/12/2010 12:33:04 AM
731 Views
She has a pretty powerful weapon...
- 20/12/2010 02:41:32 AM
772 Views
RJ is more powerful.
- 20/12/2010 03:25:49 AM
873 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon...
- 20/12/2010 09:46:22 AM
857 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon...
- 20/12/2010 09:55:03 AM
727 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon...
- 20/12/2010 10:27:59 AM
781 Views