Re: Characters we love to hate - The Shadow Rising
Cannoli Send a noteboard - 24/02/2010 12:55:30 PM
As usual my first impressions of some the the characters is decidedly negative and as I continue the story my opinion of the characters change.
Berelain.
In the Shadow Rising my opinion was Berelain is a shallow, lightskirt who will use her hot babe looks to manipulate men. She appears at Rand's bedroom door in suggestive nightwear and tries to seduce Rand. Later she tries the same approach with Perrin. As I continue the story Berelain is a competent administrator who is using what few weapons she has to secure Mayene's independence.
However I will not change my opinion about Berelain's and Faile's relationship. Berelain chose to go to war with Faile. Berelain is older, more experienced in sex as a weapon, and beautiful, yet she chose to take on a much younger less experienced, and less beautiful opponent for no apparent reason. Other than Perrin not taking the opportunity to be Berelain's message boy.
And keeping it up long after he got married.Berelain.
In the Shadow Rising my opinion was Berelain is a shallow, lightskirt who will use her hot babe looks to manipulate men. She appears at Rand's bedroom door in suggestive nightwear and tries to seduce Rand. Later she tries the same approach with Perrin. As I continue the story Berelain is a competent administrator who is using what few weapons she has to secure Mayene's independence.
However I will not change my opinion about Berelain's and Faile's relationship. Berelain chose to go to war with Faile. Berelain is older, more experienced in sex as a weapon, and beautiful, yet she chose to take on a much younger less experienced, and less beautiful opponent for no apparent reason. Other than Perrin not taking the opportunity to be Berelain's message boy.
Faile - I know many posters love to hate Faile.
I'm not sure that hatred is warranted. What we have is a 16 year old girl trying attract the man she loves, trying to behave the way Saladean women behave toward their men, and trying to help their man. Faile tricks Loial into taking her into the Ways. Why? The women of Saladean leaders go to war with their man. Deira certainly goes to war with Bashere. Faile was going to war with her man/husband.
Faile was still deliberately screwing with a friend. She had no business treating Loial that way, and she is not married, so she has no claim on Perrin, and no justification for her actions. Plus, given the stakes she knows about, her behavior is almost unforgivably juvenile.I'm not sure that hatred is warranted. What we have is a 16 year old girl trying attract the man she loves, trying to behave the way Saladean women behave toward their men, and trying to help their man. Faile tricks Loial into taking her into the Ways. Why? The women of Saladean leaders go to war with their man. Deira certainly goes to war with Bashere. Faile was going to war with her man/husband.
Faile expects Perrin to act like Saladean men. The first sign of this was in TSR. In the Ways Faile slaps Perrin across the face, Perrin say don't do that again and Faile slaps Perrin again. Perrin proceeds to spank Faile. Faile is not mad at Perrin but wonders by Bain and Chiad didn't stop Perrin. Later is the series Faile gets jealous of Berelain because Perrin treats Berelain like Faile wants to be treated. Maybe Perrin should spank Faile more often.
Duh.Speaking of Chiad and Bain. Why did Chiad and Bain agree to go with Faile to Two Rivers? I think it was because Chiad knew Gaul was going an wanted to be close to Chiad.
I don't think anything had really happened there yet. It was probably a friendship-based whim - they were also in the group that stayed home with Aviendha until the Wise Ones finally let her go on the hunt for HWCWtD. Egwene
This site really needs some obscenity filters. Look at the words you're allowed to post!The first time I noticed Egwene's potential. Eqwene is young and inexperienced and way over her head. Yet, she is one of the first characters to try and juggle more than one responsibility at a time. Moraine is only concerened about Rand and guiding Rand. She happily assists Nyneave and Elayne in their trip to Tanchico so there are 2 less voices Rand will listen to. The Wise Ones are only concerned with the Car'a'carn and saving the Aiel. Both are noble goals. The thought that Rand is the Dragon Reborn and responsible for the wetlands, that Egwene came with Rand, that Egwene was from the White Tower, and that Egwene may have other responsibilities never occur to the Wise Ones. Egwene is an apprentice dreamwalker. Egwene should have told the WO of her other responsibilities but like most teenagers she doesn't.
The teenager thing should be dropped. If she is just behaving like a typical teenager, she should NOT be holding positions of power like Amyrlin Seat, or presuming to guide the Dragon Reborn. Teenaged behavior has no place in adult affairs. Maybe she, personally, can't be held accountable, but then she should be set aside and ignored and made to learn her place, as children (which is what teenagers are) should be seen and not heard. Egwene is trying to balance her responsibilites to Elayne and Nyneave in searching for the BA, her responsilitites to Rand, and her responsibilities as an apprentice dreamwalker.
If by "balance" you mean, neglect one in favor of the other two, sure! I can see explaining away the violations of her promises to the Wise Ones in order to talk to her friends with this reason. But there is absolutely no sign of her having any interests whatsoever in helping Rand in any sort of balance or conflict with her other issues. She would not even be accompanying Rand if the people she was really interested in were not tagging along after him. Her allegiance is plainly with them, especially since there are no Tower issues arising to conflict with her fawning over the Wise Ones. Is this the thought process of a person trying to balance two allegiances?:
Responsibility to the Wise Ones: Promise to accept their control of all aspects of her life.
Balancing duty to Rand: Regret not being able to tell the Wise Ones his secrets because FOR SOME REASON he doesn't trust her enough to confide in her.
Responsibility to the Wise Ones: Tell them things about Rand, including a possible physical weakness to a people (in)famous for their toughness and scorning of the weak, that he clearly wishes them to not know.
Balancing duty to Rand: When the Wise Ones tell someone to stay with Rand, encourage the reluctant party by highlighting opportunities to spy on him.
Or even in the aforementioned weakness-blabbing, think of what transpired prior to that conversation:
Wise Ones: No wetlanders allowed! We'll talk with Rand in private!
Rand: Hey, it's cool. They can hang.
Egwene: What a jerk! Who does he think he is, a prophecied leader or something who was just acknowledged publicly as the supreme chief?
Rand: Egwene included, because I'm not that petty.
Egwene: *Acts petty*
Rand: Oh, that? Don't worry about it. Nothing important.
Egwene: It's a wound that not even Aes Sedai can Heal.
Curious Bystander: What on EARTH would make you say that? If Healing doesn't help, why do they need to know about it? If Rand doesn't want to tell them, what RIGHT do they have to know about it? And why are you informing on him when he is the only reason you were even allowed to be present, to the very people who sought to exclude you?
Egwene: Simple courtesy.
Curious Bystander:
Cannoli
"Sometimes unhinged, sometimes unfair, always entertaining"
- The Crownless
“Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.” GK Chesteron
Deus Vult!
"Sometimes unhinged, sometimes unfair, always entertaining"
- The Crownless
“Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.” GK Chesteron
Deus Vult!
Characters we love to hate - The Shadow Rising
- 23/02/2010 01:50:13 AM
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Re: Characters we love to hate - The Shadow Rising
- 24/02/2010 12:55:30 PM
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