Active Users:581 Time:31/10/2024 10:56:51 PM
Re: I'll cash that check, but I doubt my bank will care much. darius_sedai Send a noteboard - 01/01/2010 07:27:57 PM

But they don't give it the highly specific meaning that Fionwe proposed. Where do we hear an Aes Sedai go on about how their noble order exists to serve the pattern? Why don't any of the Forsaken mention that highly specific meaning when they mock the modern Aes Sedai?


I think they do! How many times have we heard "so called Aiel" or "what passes for AS in this era"? They don't spell it out, but they certainly imply that a modern AS is only a shadow of what they were in the AoL. And personally I think that goes well beyond just being poorly trained in the OP!

There is also meaning with them being labeled "Forsaken" (only former AS got that title). I think it's safe to infer that they have forsaken the light, or perhaps vows we don't know about from the AoL.

I disagree. She is reading the Old Tongue as a modern translator, not as a fluent speaker. I doubt Mierin ever wonders what is meant by tel'aran'rhiod.


Well that is true, but the Aiel she's talking to certainly think she's correct in her assumptions and they've all been through the columns in Rhudien so they would know.

One could view them as Servants of the Light, or the Pattern, or the Creator, but that would be unsupported by the text. We are told that Aes Sedai are "Servants of All" implying honor through public service. No one says a thing about there being any implication of serving the pattern.

As you mention, the title came from the AoL AS, and they were a different kettle of fish than the current lot. I doubt the half-trained girls who founded the tower would change the meaning of what their mentors did.


Everyone in the AoL could achieve honor through public service. That was the basis for their entire society. Seems redundant to have "Servants of All" in a society where everyone is in fact honored for serving.

IMO the only logical answer is that the literal translation of Aes Sedai is not the actual meaning of the Title assumed during the AoL and carried on into modern WT AS. I'd say the connotation is probably that the Title AS probably carries a sense of obligation to Serve or that there is a specific type of service ... seems to fit with Rand's description of what Asha'man means:

Lord of Chaos
The Black Tower

"Another word in the Old Tongue is asha’man. It means guardian, or guardians. Or defender, and maybe a couple of other things; I told you, the Old Tongue is very flexible. Guardian seems to be best, though. Not just any defender or guardian, though. You could not call a man who defended an unjust cause asha’man, and never one that was evil. An asha’man was a man who defended truth and justice and right for everyone. A guardian who would not yield even when hope was gone."

I see no reason to believe that Aes Sedai doesn't have a specific connotation attached to it.
Domani Drag Queen in the White Tower ... Aran'gar watch out!
Reply to message
It just occured to me - 31/12/2009 10:12:12 AM 1362 Views
I tink they did - 31/12/2009 10:52:32 AM 647 Views
Re: It just occured to me - 31/12/2009 11:07:29 AM 652 Views
Yeah, if you compare it to the Catholic Church... - 31/12/2009 11:34:49 AM 630 Views
Re: Yeah, if you compare it to the Catholic Church... - 31/12/2009 02:20:32 PM 545 Views
In a democracy though... - 31/12/2009 02:38:21 PM 497 Views
Re: Yeah, if you compare it to the Catholic Church... - 31/12/2009 04:30:58 PM 552 Views
Depends on what the actual translation is... - 31/12/2009 04:49:54 PM 535 Views
The translation... - 31/12/2009 06:17:07 PM 518 Views
Look at M'Hael - 31/12/2009 08:12:35 PM 540 Views
No... - 31/12/2009 08:19:18 PM 492 Views
And Sedai is not a title? - 31/12/2009 08:47:03 PM 574 Views
Nope, it is an honorific. - 31/12/2009 09:31:37 PM 642 Views
You're really splitting hairs... - 01/01/2010 04:06:02 PM 728 Views
That's why I said I was. - 01/01/2010 06:19:22 PM 642 Views
My 2 cents... which may only be worth 1 - 01/01/2010 06:39:52 PM 615 Views
I'll cash that check, but I doubt my bank will care much. - 01/01/2010 06:49:25 PM 613 Views
Re: I'll cash that check, but I doubt my bank will care much. - 01/01/2010 07:27:57 PM 629 Views
Re: I'll cash that check, but I doubt my bank will care much. - 01/01/2010 07:37:17 PM 589 Views
Re: I'll cash that check, but I doubt my bank will care much. - 01/01/2010 08:08:58 PM 627 Views
Re: I'll cash that check, but I doubt my bank will care much. - 01/01/2010 09:05:45 PM 599 Views
I think we're pretty much in agreement - 01/01/2010 09:26:26 PM 615 Views
I'd agree with that. - 01/01/2010 10:20:52 PM 564 Views
I think it's a pride of humility thing.... - 31/12/2009 06:24:17 PM 575 Views
They don't care. The meaning of the honorific is irrelevant - all significance comes from context - 01/01/2010 06:08:40 AM 531 Views
I Agree - 01/01/2010 08:36:40 AM 490 Views
Re: I Agree - 01/01/2010 03:04:18 PM 481 Views

Reply to Message