tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post8203398060140959146..comments2024-01-14T15:52:43.644-05:00Comments on The Thirteenth Depository - A Wheel of Time Blog: Towers of Midnight Read-Through #34: Chapter 27 - A Call To StandDominichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17610557134981958201noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-67584788849379275442012-12-01T01:09:31.257-05:002012-12-01T01:09:31.257-05:00Russ: it was the same when Rand dropped by for a v...Russ: it was the same when Rand dropped by for a visit to the Tower. so blind and so arrogant. She has absorbed the Aes Sedai way of thinking so well. Contrast with Elayne and Nynaeve, who both show her another point of view, which she believes is deluded because they have been with him too long. The same should be said of Egwene too, being with the Aes Sedai so long.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14767984732078916662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-42378712510926853482012-11-30T15:21:04.930-05:002012-11-30T15:21:04.930-05:00Linda, I think this chapter may tie directly to a ...Linda, I think this chapter may tie directly to a prediction you have for AMOL and I agree to be likely, that the Tower will basically fall in line with Rand after the Fields of Merrilor meeting (and Moiraine's resurfacing) and Egwene will be left somewhat rudderless for a time. This vote right here makes that shift possible and your theory more likely in two ways, Egwene no longer controls the army and can't just "take her ball and go home", and her almost certain failure to deal with the monarchs i.e. Rand.<br /><br />A particular passage in this chapter really struck a nerve with me. It was the passage where she reflects on her maneuvering against Rand, and she thinks that she is tying the world's monarchs (armies) to the White Tower and they would serve in the Last Battle. I know this is what Rand intends, but that is beside the point. Even after what Darlin writes in her letter, she has the arrogance to believe SHE is the one marshalling forces for the last battle and that they will follow the WT. Rand gathered these armies for Tarmon Gai'don with the help and under the leadership of people he had to win over with gestures of trust and good faith, not game politically. (It was political, but Rand specifically chose leaders who would not game or be gamed.) Its just astounding to me that she refuses to see this. I say "refuse" because the implication of this in the letter is so obvious.Russnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-15862586459088851942012-10-03T23:14:21.049-04:002012-10-03T23:14:21.049-04:00Anon: not to mention that there is still no way to...Anon: not to mention that there is still no way to deal with the aftermath. Avoiding spoilers but those who know them will know it is also Egwene more in the right about delay.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373478630182772783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-51261073136599287192012-10-01T19:40:11.667-04:002012-10-01T19:40:11.667-04:00Anonymous: if Rand did that, he would alienate eve...Anonymous: if Rand did that, he would alienate everybody, and there would be no chance of any unification of forces to fight the Shadow and for world stability afterwards. Nothing indeed.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14767984732078916662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-22059222642411701722012-09-30T20:57:32.651-04:002012-09-30T20:57:32.651-04:00IF Rand is smart he will break the seals before th...IF Rand is smart he will break the seals before the big pow-wow with all the leaders. That way there is no chance for any to back down or out. All or nothing. The way it should be when fighting the shadow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-67561596349377537592012-09-28T19:48:48.312-04:002012-09-28T19:48:48.312-04:00About Egwene's feelings about the Seanchan. Be...About Egwene's feelings about the Seanchan. Because of the way this is emphasized it's pretty clear that she will have to face (and overcome) this issue in aMoL. Some kind of confrontation with Tuon is pretty much a given but it might not be from a position of equal strength. Egwene could get captured and collared and might have to face the a'dam again in the real world as she had to do in TAR in TOM.heridhttp://www.dragonmount.com/forums/blog/110-herids-blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-22304780594246205392012-09-27T08:46:56.898-04:002012-09-27T08:46:56.898-04:00Manetheren: Yes, I agree with your points. Egwene ...Manetheren: Yes, I agree with your points. Egwene seems to be holding on as long as possible before breaking the Seals. Is Rand being too precipitate for fear that they leave it too late? Usually the middle ground is the right one in Jordan's opinion. It will be interesting to see if that is the case here.<br /><br />Fionwe: Well the author portrays the character, so the two go together. As I said I think that many inconsistencies of characterisation are due to Brandon's dumbing down "secondary" characters to give favourites the spotlight. In this case the Sitters look foolish so that Egwene can appear clever. When they are not there, she goes back to being wrong-headed about the Seanchan, the bloodknives, the Black Ajah, Rand and the Seals, etc. The characters' actions and sense vary a great deal according to who is also in the scene with them. When real people do that they can appear shallow. Do the characters? Certainly at times.<br /><br />Yes, Egwene could have learned more from the Wise Ones. Delaying her return to the Aes Sedai would have made for a more boring series though.<br /><br />Egwene's trauma from the Seanchan still remains untreated. Could the Wise Ones have helped her through it? Who knows?Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14767984732078916662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-63538911250035791992012-09-26T21:40:50.647-04:002012-09-26T21:40:50.647-04:00I think your review of the chapters fail when they...I think your review of the chapters fail when they don't take into account major inconsistencies in Brandon's characterization of Egwene. You say she hasn't yet fully learned the lessons from the Wise Ones, yet Brandon has independently said her character development is finished, and she's ready to be awesome for the Last Battle. And recent revelations from the first chapter of aMoL put a very different spin on her efforts, yet her characterization in ToM doesn't match that. A lot of Egwene's flaws in these scenes seems to be less about her character and more about bad writing.<br /><br />Same for any number of other major characters in ToM.<br /><br />fionwe1987Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-26903612071703692432012-09-26T12:24:51.296-04:002012-09-26T12:24:51.296-04:00Interesting, I need to go back and read Darlin'...Interesting, I need to go back and read Darlin's letter again. I did catch that Darlin was concerned over Rand's intent, but I liked how he was pretty clear that he was behind Rand. He shows an understanding that while its easy for the others to sit on the outside and question his decisions, they are, ultimately, not Rand, not in his position and therefore can't truly appreciate or understand what he is trying to accomplish.<br /><br />I also agree that Rand is letting Egwene do a lot of the leg work to bring all the opposition together. It's pretty clear by that in one of the later chapters during Rand's POV when he is thinking about the meeting. He knows Egwene thinks he will bring his demands seeking concessions to not break the seals, but in fact, his demands actually have no bearings on whether he breaks them are not, breaking the seals will happen regardless. All the armies will be together so they can be sent to the Blight as one, not piecemeal. <br /><br />Thanks for the read :).Manetherenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16136085597386765947noreply@blogger.com