Fair points, I take back the "positive reinforcement" thing I said.
As I've said before, my biggest issue with Egwene is that she falls into the Pratchettian definition of evil: she treats people as things. One of the only times in the last few books that I can recall her even trying to empathise with someone was when she obtusely compared her imprisonment to Rand's. She clearly knows some details of his capture, and yet she compares a prison cell with a coffin, spanking with beating, and her fears for the tower with Rand's fears for the fate of the entire world. And to top that off, Rand was forced to watch his lover being beaten even harder than he was. Egwene just seems out of touch with people. She understands how they think and work, and she can negotiate well enough, but she doesn't actually feel for them. Nicola dies because of her bad planning, and all we get is a sentence or two of mild regret followed by justification. Siuan saves her life, but Egwene is too paranoid to trust her. Nynaeve's experiences were so far beyond any pain we've seen caused to Egwene that it's mindboggling, yet this is done for pure political expediency. Compare Egwene's thought process to any other major character; the only one who somewhat matches is Dark Rand.
She's had a month now - why aren't the Yellow and Green Ajahs out on the blight border holding back the tide? Because Egwene is thinking like Dark Rand; it's all about winning the LB, not about winning a future for humanity. A person can have all the traits and abilities of legendary leadership, but if they place that leadership before their own humanity then they are nothing more than an administrative machine.
As I've said before, my biggest issue with Egwene is that she falls into the Pratchettian definition of evil: she treats people as things. One of the only times in the last few books that I can recall her even trying to empathise with someone was when she obtusely compared her imprisonment to Rand's. She clearly knows some details of his capture, and yet she compares a prison cell with a coffin, spanking with beating, and her fears for the tower with Rand's fears for the fate of the entire world. And to top that off, Rand was forced to watch his lover being beaten even harder than he was. Egwene just seems out of touch with people. She understands how they think and work, and she can negotiate well enough, but she doesn't actually feel for them. Nicola dies because of her bad planning, and all we get is a sentence or two of mild regret followed by justification. Siuan saves her life, but Egwene is too paranoid to trust her. Nynaeve's experiences were so far beyond any pain we've seen caused to Egwene that it's mindboggling, yet this is done for pure political expediency. Compare Egwene's thought process to any other major character; the only one who somewhat matches is Dark Rand.
She's had a month now - why aren't the Yellow and Green Ajahs out on the blight border holding back the tide? Because Egwene is thinking like Dark Rand; it's all about winning the LB, not about winning a future for humanity. A person can have all the traits and abilities of legendary leadership, but if they place that leadership before their own humanity then they are nothing more than an administrative machine.
Egwene, a poor leader?
16/12/2010 05:59:15 PM
- 2051 Views
Egwene isn't supposed to be a leader. She's a dictator and a politician.
16/12/2010 08:21:13 PM
- 1207 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
16/12/2010 10:53:20 PM
- 915 Views
If the Shadow had removed Elaida so Egwene was Amyrlin whilst Rand was still Dark ...
16/12/2010 11:56:08 PM
- 872 Views
Same thing if Elaida was in charge when meeting w/ Dark Rand. *NM*
17/12/2010 02:10:20 AM
- 455 Views
Except Rand wouldn't go to the WT with Elaida in charge, without having to fight
17/12/2010 02:50:18 AM
- 979 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
17/12/2010 03:07:40 AM
- 1014 Views
Exactly how loyal do you think Nynaeve and Elayne are?
17/12/2010 04:52:34 AM
- 786 Views
Re: Exactly how loyal do you think Nynaeve and Elayne are?
17/12/2010 05:44:30 AM
- 894 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
17/12/2010 02:30:48 PM
- 931 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
17/12/2010 08:25:39 PM
- 723 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
18/12/2010 05:06:21 AM
- 883 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
19/12/2010 08:41:31 PM
- 770 Views
Torturing Nynaeve for exclusively her own political ends. *NM*
20/12/2010 12:14:55 AM
- 495 Views
Re: Torturing Nynaeve for exclusively her own political ends.
20/12/2010 01:24:12 AM
- 821 Views
And the most painful torments were caused by Egwene
20/12/2010 09:31:44 AM
- 950 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
20/12/2010 12:57:42 AM
- 761 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
- 878 Views
Ta'veren vs. Mary Sue
17/12/2010 07:33:28 PM
- 1189 Views
I see them as being the same thing.
17/12/2010 08:11:30 PM
- 866 Views
I don't think the case can be made for Rand having it easy
17/12/2010 11:04:58 PM
- 785 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
- 775 Views
Funniest statement I've ever seen on here.
18/12/2010 05:22:28 AM
- 884 Views
But you are just undervaluing Egwene's struggles in comparison to the other characters.
20/12/2010 06:17:17 PM
- 1181 Views
Re: But you are just undervaluing Egwene's struggles in comparison to the other characters.
22/12/2010 05:28:01 PM
- 948 Views
Yes, but for completely different reasons...
18/12/2010 12:35:23 AM
- 899 Views
You think Egwene has more power than Tuon?
18/12/2010 12:27:01 PM
- 744 Views
Definitely...
18/12/2010 03:24:12 PM
- 763 Views
I think comparing Egwene to McCain is asking for trouble on several fronts.
20/12/2010 12:33:04 AM
- 727 Views
She has a pretty powerful weapon...
20/12/2010 02:41:32 AM
- 769 Views
RJ is more powerful.
20/12/2010 03:25:49 AM
- 870 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon...
20/12/2010 09:46:22 AM
- 852 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon...
20/12/2010 09:55:03 AM
- 722 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon...
20/12/2010 10:27:59 AM
- 778 Views