Elaida is compounding Egwene's wrongdoing by ensconsing it in law. Egwene rightly identifies her as a tyrant for this action. Her own usurpations of power lie in different areas, so she would be hypocritical in complaining about Elaida's failure to keep Tar Valon clean or violating the status of the shawl by removing it, but she has not actually made it a public policy to demand personal fealty.

Elaida may have done the world a service by providing Egwene with a cautionary lesson of the road ahead, that may deter her when she contemplates some violation of a lesser degree but still similar to Elaida's tyranny.