Rand's sword obsession...

[Morindin]

Hi,

 

I hope this has not been discussed before (which I doubt) but I did not easily find any topics on the subject... unless I am typing my keywords wrong as my first language is French...

 

Why is Rand so obsess about fighting with the sword??? Will it play a role at TG???

 

One many occasion, people have told Rand that with his one power he does not need to fight with the sword... forsaken have said it was ridiculous... Bashere told him also... Taim thinks this is beneath him...

 

Now that Rand lost his hand in KOD, he is focused to relearn all the forms using only one hand to fight... why?

 

I think I have read somewhere an argument where if they can no longer channel... Rand and the Ashaman will fall back on the sword... I dunno... it would be kind of hard for Rand to fight with a sword with all the maidens around him...

 

Any ideas?? :-\

 

Thanks

[Majsju]

During TG, it is extremely unlikely that he would have had any use for his skills with a sword. He will not exactly challenge the DO to a duel.

 

But earlier in the series...Look at LOC, when he first tries to escape he kills two Warders before even the Aes Sedai can react. In WH, he kills one Asaha'man, and the sword is what saves him from Fain. So he has had some pretty good use for learning to fight with other means than Saidin.

[Roxinos]

Maj says it very simply, and you answer your own question anyway.

 

I think I have read somewhere an argument where if they can no longer channel... Rand and the Ashaman will fall back on the sword.

 

The sword is very useful. Channeling is not always an option, and having a secondary measure to defend yourself is good. Not to mention that learning to use the sword and practicing with the sword can relieve stress as well as help to maintain focus, as well as any exercise.

 

The only reason I'm still responding is because of this statement:

 

it would be kind of hard for Rand to fight with a sword with all the maidens around him...

 

Why would you think the Maidens around him would make any difference to his performance with the sword? How do you envision a sword battle? Someone wildly hacking away at anything that moves within 20 feet of a person? The sword is very self-contained allowing the wielder to choose their target. Rand is not about to lob off the head of a Maiden by accident simply by engaging in a battle while the Maidens are fighting around him.

[Morindin]

I agree with both of you...

 

My question is more regarding his obsession... as far as I see it anyway...

 

Like when he was practicing against 5 opponents in the courtyard and Bashere throw a knife at him to make a point...

 

And now with his hand gone the first thing he thinks about is relearning the forms...

 

It just strikes me as an obsession which goes beyond just protecting himself when he cannot channel... that is what I do not understand but try to... I guess RJ would have told me RAFO :)

 

As for

 

it would be kind of hard for Rand to fight with a sword with all the maidens around him...

 

that was a lame attempt at humour :)

[Roxinos]

that was a lame attempt at humour Smiley

 

*laughs* Okay, thanks for explaining. It just seemed odd to me.

 

My question is more regarding his obsession... as far as I see it anyway...

 

Have you ever met anyone who does any form of martial arts? Have you ever met anyone who exercises on a regular basis? They do it out of habit, out of enjoyment, out of the release of tension it provides them, out of general desire to maintain health.

 

It's the same thing in Rand's case. Rand has just found his physical outlet in his sword-play. He's not any more obsessed with it as any martial artist is obsessed with their art. It is natural, and it is perfectly healthy.

 

And now with his hand gone the first thing he thinks about is relearning the forms...

 

We do know that this is an example of his incredibly hardened state. He rejects going into shock, and instead focuses on things which are normal in his routine. The sword forms are one of those things.

[Morindin]

Have you ever met anyone who does any form of martial arts? Have you ever met anyone who exercises on a regular basis? They do it out of habit, out of enjoyment, out of the release of tension it provides them, out of general desire to maintain health.

 

It's the same thing in Rand's case. Rand has just found his physical outlet in his sword-play. He's not any more obsessed with it as any martial artist is obsessed with their art. It is natural, and it is perfectly healthy.

 

I do LOTS of training coupled with very healthy eating habits... now I can do nothing else than agree with you as I can definitely relate... sad how I did not see it by myself :)

 

You just made me see the light!!!

 

Thanks alot :)

[Cockta]

See there isn't anything that can be added from now on, so we can just try make this thread closed, because nobody would get angry, right?