Re: It amazes me that you use Rand as the gold standard for good behaviour
Sidious Send a noteboard - 15/02/2010 03:31:26 PM
That's a completely unfair assertion. Egwene was offered a life of power, decadence and greatness as an AS. Rand was offered a life where he would kill millions of people, the world would lie upon his shoulders, and he would eventually go insane and kill his loved ones to boot. Hardly a fair comparison. Egwene seems immature because she doesn't seem to realise the price that her actions demand until after she acts. She only seems to be aware of how badly she could mess things up in a very vague way.
You only read it that way because you choose to weep along with Rand about his raw deal in life. In actual fact he is the strongest channeler in the world, with legendary knowledge about the One Power, and a ta'veren of unique power. He can single handedly change the entire world to his own liking and almost nothing could stop him. He is the only one who can destroy all the evil in the world, but ridding it of the Forsaken and sealing away Shai'tan. And what is he crying about? That he wants to herd sheep?
By your methods we could say that Egwene was put into a gilded cage, and has to put up with the black ajah, politics and decorum until the end of her days. The difference is that Egwene used her talents. She's not like Rand who whines about how rotten the world is. Rand is the one who is unhinged in this story, not Egwene.
Actually, in EotW, he is anything but paranoid. However, his situation has forced him to carefully consider who is friend or foe. Even in TGS at his darkest hour he still keeps Nynaeve and Min close, he isn't totally gone. After what he has been through, I'd consider that to be a miraculous level of trust.
So he isn't paranoid in the first book, just the twelve that follow?
Egwene on the other hand openly announces her affiliation and allegiance to the WO and WT, and Rand has seen how these groups force their members to think alike. He clearly holds hope that Egwene still supports him, but he is realistic - he understandably wants her to show him some support before he trusts her fully. That only makes sense.
Considering the two never talk, it's a marvel that you guys know what is going to happen. There's nothing wrong with the fact that Egwene isn't going to hand him the Tower on a silver platter. Even if she wanted to, the Hall would not allow it.
And yet even then, in his darkest hour, he pulls back from truly destructive actions and knows what is right. He is the golden standard because his actions have always been made with the best of intentions, except for the last half of TGS (so 1/24th, or ~4% of the series) where as you said, he wasn't himself anyway. Moiraine, Nynaeve and even Cadsuane have come to respect his decision making, if not his behaviour.
So Rand doesn't kill innocent people with the Power. What is your point?
I think if you put Egwene in Rand's position, the world would have been destroyed by now.
Based on what? Did she destroy anything else she's had power over?
As I said, none of them (with the exception of Perrin, who is probably the character who is LEAST dim-witted after Rand - slow but hardly dim) have actually told him anything contrary to his beliefs. He admitted himself that he agreed with Nynaeve's judgement of his actions, and while I respect her for stating her position, his moral compass has been pretty accurate except when it came to the AS at Dumai's Wells, whom I seem to recall he wanted to execute (Perrin stood against him for this; even that fight, however was partly staged so Rand could send him away without revealing his purpose). I didn't agree with Rand in that one scenario, but after what was done to him by those women, I can certainly empathise with him.
In other words Rand had made tough decisions, and so has Egwene.
Come on, Rand would hardly enslave them, especially after his epiphany in TGS. However, if Egwene holds back the support of the Tower to the one man who can save the entire world, then I'd certainly wonder where her moral compass pointed. She might have good intentions, but she needs to realise that the best way to protect her people is to COOPERATE with the DR, not attack him.
Egwene has never suggested attacking him, and Rand has enslaved Aes Sedai. I don't doubt that they deserve it, but if you're Egwene you may be worried that you're next.
My hope for now is that Rand is wise enough (and I think after TGS he is) to allow Egwene to have a rant against him for an hour or two, then after she has cooled down, just say "yes, I'm sorry" to appease her and get things done. I'm certain that if one of them has to take the moral high ground and take a position of humility in order to diffuse the DR/WT tension, it will be Rand, not Egwene.
They'll have a little banter and Rand will still get what he wants. You people need to relax.
Wheel of Time board admin
Fan of Lanfear
Fan of Lanfear
God I am so pissed off at Future Egwene
14/02/2010 07:02:20 AM
- 2558 Views
My sentiments exactly, though I think I'm a little more hopeful than you are.
14/02/2010 07:58:01 AM
- 1076 Views
Re: My sentiments exactly, though I think I'm a little more hopeful than you are.
14/02/2010 09:26:47 AM
- 884 Views
Just like Elayne treated him so well when she kicked him out of Andor?
14/02/2010 01:35:32 PM
- 726 Views
What? We are no longer allowed to make predictions of the coming books unless they're pro-Egwene?
14/02/2010 02:22:10 PM
- 843 Views
a theory vs. mindlessly attacking a character because you don't like them?
14/02/2010 07:00:27 PM
- 822 Views
It IS kind of ridiculous... but how do YOU think a meeting will go?
14/02/2010 07:20:08 PM
- 806 Views
Is Egwene going to do what Elayne did when she met Rand after tearing down his banners?
15/02/2010 11:25:27 AM
- 984 Views
You just KNOW that rather than compliment all the good he's done....
14/02/2010 03:06:09 PM
- 677 Views
Personally, I'm rooting for Elaida's Foretelling to be fake
14/02/2010 06:56:41 PM
- 971 Views
No way these are fake... she's not BA and she she says she's having a Foretelling
14/02/2010 08:24:29 PM
- 838 Views
Good point. And the "rent in fire and blood" part is almost certain as well.
16/02/2010 05:13:29 PM
- 633 Views
Take a sedative
14/02/2010 07:52:32 PM
- 865 Views
None of the Emond's Fielders suck up to him. There's difference between hostile and 1-upping
14/02/2010 09:01:35 PM
- 824 Views
Right cause Nynaeve is always going around telling people how much Mat's changed
14/02/2010 09:27:02 PM
- 812 Views
If you'll recall what Mat did 5 minutes after...
14/02/2010 11:06:41 PM
- 863 Views
Not really
14/02/2010 11:34:49 PM
- 746 Views
Re: Not really
15/02/2010 03:32:06 PM
- 776 Views
better than Nynaeve who just lies to herself in order to justify her actions!
15/02/2010 05:53:17 PM
- 874 Views
This is about Egwene, not Nynaeve.
15/02/2010 06:09:46 PM
- 768 Views
actually it's about all of the main characters
15/02/2010 06:13:27 PM
- 762 Views
Re: actually it's about all of the main characters
15/02/2010 06:39:25 PM
- 860 Views
Well said.
15/02/2010 07:20:47 PM
- 894 Views
Re: Well said.
15/02/2010 07:43:08 PM
- 729 Views
yet even Siuan seems to understand and accept Egwene's response ... odd that you can hold her to
16/02/2010 01:55:35 AM
- 672 Views
Oh, so Elaida's treatment of Sheremin is ok because Sheremin accepted it?
16/02/2010 06:49:53 AM
- 745 Views
watch out that you don't fall when you jump on a bandwagon
16/02/2010 01:51:09 AM
- 872 Views
Re: watch out that you don't fall when you jump on a bandwagon
16/02/2010 07:04:08 AM
- 825 Views
Alright enough. Will you read the books already?
16/02/2010 08:03:39 AM
- 873 Views
The point is people hold Egwene to a different standard for some reason
16/02/2010 01:34:30 AM
- 657 Views
Re: The point is people hold Egwene to a different standard for some reason
16/02/2010 07:08:13 AM
- 761 Views
Yes, but Egwene's is pride -
15/02/2010 07:04:25 PM
- 750 Views
I think Nyn has had the best character development, bar none
15/02/2010 08:52:54 PM
- 768 Views
Re: None of the Emond's Fielders suck up to him. There's difference between hostile and 1-upping
15/02/2010 05:08:49 AM
- 792 Views
It amazes me that you use Rand as the gold standard for good behaviour
15/02/2010 06:53:30 AM
- 725 Views
Re: It amazes me that you use Rand as the gold standard for good behaviour
15/02/2010 08:41:02 AM
- 949 Views
Re: It amazes me that you use Rand as the gold standard for good behaviour
15/02/2010 03:31:26 PM
- 833 Views
Re: It amazes me that you use Rand as the gold standard for good behaviour
15/02/2010 11:57:24 AM
- 1006 Views
Who says Egwene didn't have a destiny? *NM*
15/02/2010 12:46:10 PM
- 473 Views
Me. And I'm way smarter than you.
15/02/2010 01:04:48 PM
- 826 Views
15/02/2010 02:12:26 PM
- 901 Views
Re:
15/02/2010 10:40:39 PM
- 739 Views
Min's viewing of the Darkness v. fireflies very obviously shows that all the main
16/02/2010 01:32:45 AM
- 704 Views
Re: Min's viewing of the Darkness v. fireflies very obviously shows that all the main
16/02/2010 07:09:52 AM
- 769 Views
Re: It amazes me that you use Rand as the gold standard for good behaviour
15/02/2010 03:48:51 PM
- 895 Views
Sidious' problem in a nutshell.
15/02/2010 11:27:12 AM
- 853 Views
Re: God I am so pissed off at Future Egwene
14/02/2010 07:56:23 PM
- 770 Views
Re: God I am so pissed off at Future Egwene
14/02/2010 08:55:58 PM
- 723 Views
I'd venture the guess that it's what the called the Novices back then
14/02/2010 08:59:26 PM
- 819 Views
Re: I'd venture the guess that it's what the called the Novices back then
14/02/2010 09:24:23 PM
- 633 Views
I don't think so
14/02/2010 09:30:41 PM
- 709 Views
Re: I don't think so
15/02/2010 03:45:52 PM
- 792 Views
That's pretty much how I see it too
15/02/2010 05:54:14 PM
- 703 Views
I understood little sister to be a mild insult, Moiraine being so young and weak in the OP *NM*
16/02/2010 08:25:55 PM
- 573 Views
maybe a touch patronizing? *NM*
17/02/2010 12:51:25 PM
- 437 Views
Appears to be, but his thought process implies it's not as simple as him merely looking down on her. *NM*
17/02/2010 05:07:19 PM
- 428 Views
Yeah, I'm pretty sure it won't be flattering for Rand
14/02/2010 08:05:40 PM
- 928 Views
Re: Yeah, I'm pretty sure it won't be flattering for Rand
14/02/2010 11:55:40 PM
- 822 Views
Cadsuane needs to spank her.
15/02/2010 01:31:49 AM
- 789 Views
yeah, that's worked so well on her in the past
15/02/2010 01:48:05 AM
- 760 Views
It would be a very amusing moment.
15/02/2010 03:01:37 AM
- 713 Views
IMO it would merely be a hypocritical moment of massive proportions
15/02/2010 04:45:27 AM
- 717 Views
and a massive failure
15/02/2010 06:57:18 AM
- 855 Views
What Egwene needs is to be shown that her actions could harm the tower.
15/02/2010 08:46:30 AM
- 637 Views
If you hate arrogance, you must hate all the main characters in the series
15/02/2010 03:21:48 PM
- 684 Views
Everyone else is shown to be a bit small minded. Egwene is implied to be Strong And Wise
15/02/2010 09:23:47 PM
- 667 Views
When has she ever actually done that? Rand thinks she will, but so far she's done nothing like it!
16/02/2010 02:08:23 AM
- 807 Views
I meant that EVERYONE is bargaining, posturing, etc.
16/02/2010 02:54:29 AM
- 720 Views
Well miscommunication is one of the major themes of the series
16/02/2010 01:17:25 PM
- 704 Views
the most idiotic theme IMO
16/02/2010 03:27:26 PM
- 781 Views
I don't know if the theme itself is idoitic, but I would totally agree that it's gone nowhere!
17/02/2010 03:16:30 AM
- 678 Views
Re: Everyone else is shown to be a bit small minded. Egwene is implied to be Strong And Wise
18/02/2010 01:19:00 AM
- 719 Views
No, Cannoli has the right of it here.
16/02/2010 06:22:39 PM
- 857 Views
Well, all those beatings were in private
16/02/2010 07:54:00 PM
- 761 Views
That was the point of the scene in front of the Sitters during the banquet. *NM*
23/02/2010 06:58:50 PM
- 534 Views
Oh the one where Elaida tried to have her way with Egwene while the Sitters looked away? *NM*
23/02/2010 10:12:04 PM
- 488 Views
Yes. Elaida wanted Egwene to be cowed in front of her into obedience, which would erode her support
23/02/2010 10:18:03 PM
- 788 Views