Why are the Prophecies so obscure?

[RAND AL THOR]

The fortellings are usually quite clear-though the interpreter may interpret wrongly (*cough*Elaida*cough*)

 

But why are prophecies so obscure? Obviously the writer needs them to be so or there is no suspense whatsoever and this is an issue not only in the WoT but in every book that has prophecies.

 

What would be the logical WoT answer to this? Say, if Rand asked Moiraine why they are obscure, what sort of answer would a WoT character give? THe Prophecies are supposed to help so it only makes sense that they should be as clear as possible. And I won't even start with the Finns.

 

I do love it this way though. The fancy way in which the prophecies are expressed make all fantasy (at least where it is well written) fantastic. But I often wonder what excuse an author would give if a reader put the question to them.

[CUBAREY]

What would be the logical WoT answer to this? Say, if Rand asked Moiraine why they are obscure, what sort of answer would a WoT character give? THe Prophecies are supposed to help so it only makes sense that they should be as clear as possible.

 

The prophecies were made over three thousand years ago, by people who had    no knowledge in general of the Randland world they were foretelling of.  Moreover, the prophecies were made and originally written down in the Old tongue, a language not well known by even many nobles who would have the best education available (besides A.S.). Moreover, the old Tongue is difficult to translateeven for many A.S. because of the many slightly different meanings that a sinle word might have.  Add to this that the earliest written versions may have been written "high Chant" and you can see as how the meaning of many of the events in the prophecies might seem obscure.                                                                 

[Hybrid]

The prophecies were made over three thousand years ago, by people who had    no knowledge in general of the Randland world they were foretelling of. 

 

Exactly.  So, for example, the prophecy of Rand being born to a maiden not touched by a man does not mention Maidens of the Spear, because that society didn't exist at the time.  In fact, it doesn't mention Aiel at all, because the Aiel were peaceful.  It calls the Aiel People of the Dragon, a name they were more commonly known by back then.  But it does identify the Stone of Tear by name, since that was around shortly after the Breaking.

[Majsju]

In addition to what Cub said, the prophecies are a result of numerous Foretellings made by several people during several hundred years. No wonder they get a bit obscure.

 

Meanwhile, the modern Foretellings we see in the books, we see individually, and with a great deal of knowledge as readers. Imagine reading Nicolas Foretelling about Three in the boat and yadayadayada...That would have been more obscure than pretty much oll of the prophecies.

[Guest Dreadlord]

QUOTE

But why are prophecies so obscure? Obviously the writer needs them to be so or there is no suspense whatsoever and this is an issue not only in the WoT but in every book that has prophecies.

 

What would be the logical WoT answer to this?

UNQUOTE

 

As well as what was mentioned about the prophecies being 3000 years old, I think a logical answer is that the prophecies MUST be fulfilled in order to set certain threads in the Pattern on the right path, and if those prophecies were in more detail then maybe people would begin to think they could change what needs to be done. And, if the prophecies dictated things in a more clear manner then surely the Shadow would know exactly what to do to counter it.

[Hybrid]

I just got another idea.  Remember when Loial is explaining the Pattern to Rand in TEOTW?  He explains that the Pattern will tolerate small differences, but generally not large ones.  Thus, there is no exact future.  If there was, there wouldn't be all those parallel worlds in the Portal Stones.  So the Prophecies are vague, because that is all you can get from Foretelling.  No details, because those could change.  Just a general sense of something that will happen.  Add this to the time difference, and you have the vague riddles that are called Prophecies.

[Silver]

Plus both sides have access to the Dragon prophecies, unlike the Dark sides. It would be pretty stupid to give the enemy your future plans. :P

[Luckers]

I would also point out that the foretellings would have to be functional--and thus, by nature, vague. A prophecy that clearly states its reality, also precludes it from occuring. I mean, concider if the prophecies stated 'An lo, verily shall a Cairhienin Aes Sedai by the name of Moiraine Demodred discover the Dragon in Emmonds Field in the Two Rivers on Winternight in the Year 998 (or whatever)'.

 

If prophecy speaks too clearly, then it won't happen. Peoples foreknowledge of that even would guide them away from it--and not even requiring they be of the shadow. Would you name your son Rand if you knew he'd grow to be the Dragon Reborn? Would a nation name itself Andor if that name were mentioned in the prophecies? Concider who Tear deals with ITS mention (and remember that it was constructed initially by the same people who gathered the karetheon cycle), it still strives to avoid it, and fails only because even in its direct statement in the prophecies, the exact roll is made vague.

 

Theoretically, a prophecy too exact couldn't be uttered--foretelling always come about, a prophecy speaking so clearly would stop it from happening, thus stopping the prophecy from being spoken in the first place since it would no longer happen. It's paradox.