Do you miss the 'farmboy' Rand?

[RAND AL THOR]

Does anyone miss the innocent farmboy Rand we see in the Eye of the World? I surely do.

 

Vote and comment!

[DuDZiK]

Yes and no. Given his current character, I do look back with nostalgia at the kinder, more innocent Rand. But then I remember that when I was first reading the series alot of that 'farmboy' Rand irritated me no end - for with innocence comes naivety, and with kindness comes 'doormat syndrome' as I call it. ::)

[Raistlin]

I miss some of what he used to be, but I like more of what he has become. I am hoping he will soften up soon.

[Avery]

Not at all. I liked Rand the most when he was hoping around during FoH and LoC, manipulating people and scaring the hell out of everyone. I like him more as he slips into madness. I can't tell you how many times I'll read a scene and think "Oh christ just still her and move on."

 

Interestingly, I've noticed that as the series progresses, we see less and less of Rand. I wonder if this is because there are just so many characters (and Rand isn't doing anything important) or if it's deliberate by the author because it's becoming harder and harder for the reader to understand what's going on inside his head. Can we relate to an emotionally/psychologically unstable man who is in constant pain? It makes him more impressive too, I think, if we don't know his every justification.

[Asmo]

Farmboy Rand was too irrealistic. Half-mad Rand was decently epic in Book 3, but I think throughout Books 5 and 6 his character reaches its peak. Later on he just sort of becomes dependant on a great many people, which is rather annoying.

[RAND AL THOR]

Irrealistic? I never thought so. He was a boy who had spent some 16 years growing up on a farm and hadn't seen a decently populated town before Baerlon.

 

His character during book 4/5 was nice. I specially loved how he scared away those women in Cairhien, but his present character really sucks.

 

I liked his innocence in the first 2 books. Though his constant denial that he was the Dragon nearly frove me insane.

[Guest Dreadlord]

I dont miss it, because my favorite thing about Rand without a doubt is how far he developed. I never forget he started out as a farmboy, I just like how much he has changed and what he has changed into too much to miss the farmboy.

 

Rands frame of mind is what I like best about him. My favorite bits are when he almost thinks he makes the world go round. "He who thinks he turns the Wheel of Time may learn the truth too late." I think everything about the Dragon Reborn is brilliant. The best heroes have weaknesses.

[Ahaz Flagg]

Not at all here, One of my favorite scenes with Rand is when he had the Aes Sedai serving tea and dancing to his tune.  Rand the farm boy would never had done that.

[Jehaine]

I voted "Not sure".

 

On one side, i know the changes to his character are necessary for him to be who he is, though the madness is a nice touch.

 

On the other... Well, the best way to explain would be to use a quote someone i know once made when we were discussing fave characters (his is Mat, btw)

 

Rand... "I am hard, but I must grow harder! I must be cold as steel! Yarg emofest must be hearltess I will break the world yarg!"

 

And it's THAT side of Rand that just makes me want to root for the bad guys... Fortunately the good guys aren't all that bad, and Rand isn't getting much screentime lately either ^_^.

 

Seriously though, emo Rand just makes me want to reach for a crowbar.

[Jonn]

It's not a case of me liking his character now or not. It's the fact that I can still sympathize with Rand as a whole character and feel a sense of loss since he is no longer afforded the ability to simply be himself anymore.

It's really a tragedy, all of the pain and struggle he's gone through and the fact that he's basically lost himself in all of it.

 

So, I do miss the more innocent Rand, because it's no longer a journey for him, for that pure version of him. It's a death march for that young man. What little is left of him at this point is going to be gone forever by the end, and in a way, for those of us who have been reading this series for years, we can recognize that purity in ourselves fading away. Of course I do miss the simpler times in life when I was young and the world was more open, mysterious and wonderful. Yet, as your duties mount and life moves you forward, you find that that person you were before is just a memory and the times where you can indulge and relax and be that person grow shorter and rare.

 

So this task Cadsuane and Sorilea have embarked on to "teach" Rand, something...It's more the task of helping him remember his laughter and tears. So for the purposes of the story, I  can also see the audience's need to find that Rand amongst the chaos and overwhelming burden he harbors.

[Snowy Dawn]

``I liked his innocence in the first 2 books. Though his constant denial that he was the Dragon nearly drove me insane.''

 

His constant denial was understandable enough to me: he wanted to remain the more innocent character, and not become what, from the prophecies, he knows he must become. His desire that Tam be his birth-father after all is one way of clinging to that more innocent self, yes?

[RAND AL THOR]

``I liked his innocence in the first 2 books. Though his constant denial that he was the Dragon nearly drove me insane.''

 

His constant denial was understandable enough to me: he wanted to remain the more innocent character, and not become what, from the prophecies, he knows he must become. His desire that Tam be his birth-father after all is one way of clinging to that more innocent self, yes?

 

Yes. I perfectly understand why he was in constant denial. I would have been in denial for eternity if that happened to me. Its just that you KNOW he's the Dragon and you just can't wait to have him pronounce himslef publicly and get on with it! When re-reading, it isn't all that annoying but it was almost unbearable during my first read because I was really anticipating how events would play out after his proclamation.

 

Not at all here, One of my favorite scenes with Rand is when he had the Aes Sedai serving tea and dancing to his tune.  Rand the farm boy would never had done that.

 

Though I did want the AS tamed somewhat, that part was a bit sad. Even worse was the Merana coming to him, kneeling and kissing his hand when he was at the Sea-Folk ship. I mean, Merana did not really have any ill intentions towards him and I felt sort of bad for her.

[bjclinton]

I dont miss the farmboy, but I do miss the laughter...and the tears. i'm looking forward to his reunion with Moiraine (and hopefully Tam, who is the one person he says in book 11 that he hopes to get to see one more time before all is said and done)

 

but maybe thats what you meant? missing the RA before he turned to stone?

[trakand_01]

Not at all - I miss the innocent Perrin more.

 

For Rand, I love the fit, strong, powerful and skilled fighter / leader / man Rand has become.

 

There's a lot to be said for losing your innocence  ;) ;D

[Darkholme]

 

 

Though I did want the AS tamed somewhat, that part was a bit sad. Even worse was the Merana coming to him, kneeling and kissing his hand when he was at the Sea-Folk ship. I mean, Merana did not really have any ill intentions towards him and I felt sort of bad for her.

 

This part was a little much but I really enjoyed Dumai Wells he he went around severing the AS and bending them to submit. I guess it's because I personally can't stand people who think they are superior to anyone else just because of who they are. The AS had it coming, lording over people and bludgeoning them down the paths the WT wants.

[RAND AL THOR]

 

 

Though I did want the AS tamed somewhat, that part was a bit sad. Even worse was the Merana coming to him, kneeling and kissing his hand when he was at the Sea-Folk ship. I mean, Merana did not really have any ill intentions towards him and I felt sort of bad for her.

 

This part was a little much but I really enjoyed Dumai Wells he he went around severing the AS and bending them to submit. I guess it's because I personally can't stand people who think they are superior to anyone else just because of who they are. The AS had it coming, lording over people and bludgeoning them down the paths the WT wants.

 

Hell yeah! I personally want every sister in the the WT delegation stilled and handed over to trollocs. During Rand's torture  I was just :"This cant be happening! This cant be happening!"  IT was so agonizing! I can't believe Elaida gave such an order! Kidnap the DR! Those people DESERVE it!

 

But Merana wasn't like that. I felt sorry for her losing control of the delegation and worse still when Rand was so harsh against her. True, she did disobey, but she had no ill intentions like Elaida. Rand trusts all the wrong people and doesn't trust the ones he needs to.

[Bob T Dwarf]

Whoa, whoa, whoa -

 

There are many things we can lay at Elaida's feet, but Rand's torture isn't really one of them.  That was Galina, using her position and the situation Rand's own actions created to the maximum effect she could manage as a way to forever alienate Rand from the Tower.

[RAND AL THOR]

Elaida was anticipating parading Rand through Tar Valon and having him come to kiss her ring like a dog.

 

Pretty much suggests that Elaida did know at least some of what went on.

 

Besides, kidnapping the Dragon Reborn is offence enough.

 

The ring has been placed in the bull's nose.

What kind of language is THAT?