Robert Jordan's favorite dish - The Red Herring

[aevogt]

scattered liberally throughout his tale are one of my favorite literary devices - The Red Herring.  For those who aren't familiar with this device, it is a plot device that draws trhe readers attention away from what is reallt there.

 

A few examples

 

In Winter's Heart, The Black Sisters in residing in Camelyn are discussing their black sister in the Palace.  In the next chapter, Sareitha, one of those that Elayne suspects, is out of the Palace on an unspecified "errand".

 

In Crossroads of Twilight, Sareitha indicates her approval of Doilan Mellar, a known DF.   

 

Both of these are designed to direct attention away from the real black sister, who we now know to be Careane

 

There are others. 

 

Mazrim Taim's "almost smile" a trait he shares with Demandred, pointed us at him as his alter ego, a point we now know to be false.

 

When Rand is in Taim's presence, The Voice of LTT rants about killing, not Taim, but Demandred. 

 

I think it's one of the reasons I enjoy the books so much.

 

Anyone who has ever seen Muhammad Ali box will recognize the literary version of the Rope-a-dope