A Look at the Future of Galad

[Azuption]

The contrasts between Rand and Galad are very interesting and serve to show how if Rand is the supernatural answer to the shadow, Galad is the mortal one.

 

Rand being the unwilling hero of the light

Galad being the very willing hero of the light

 

Rand having two mothers, Galad none

 

Galad’s one love loves his brother, Rand has 3 lovers

 

This could go on for a while, but despite all of it Galad is the beacon of what is good in humanity, my prediction is that Galad will actually become the downfall of the dark one, as he represents the purity of the light in the book.

 

Aka Scorned by the world, yet still willing to fight for the good = messiah like figure

 

Galad will play a huge roll in the next book. He is actually probably the biggest force for good in the whole story ( I realize this is a big claim but if you can find one that believes and acts for good more than him with his limitations, I take my hat off to you).

 

His story is tragic so far, but the only questions I see is whether his ability to still be

 

a force for good after so much bad is going to be used to lead mankind after the battle

to be corrupted to prove the darkone can corrupt anyone

to kill padin fain (my personal fav, lots of symmetry there)

 

 

[mb]

Rand is supernatural yet he also could be considered mortal.

Galad being an answer to the shadow, maybe slightly so since he leads the Whitecloaks.

 

Rand was unwilling at first, but he seems to have become willing.

Where has Galad been willing to be hero of the light?

 

Actually, Galad and Rand are biological to the same mother; and both could be considered to have two mothers. (Rand's other would be Kari, Tam's wife; Galad's other would be Morgase.)

 

There might be a chance that Berelain could become in-love with Galad (and Galad become in-love with her); because of Min's viewing of Berelain becoming in-love with a man in white.

 

Galad's role I guess would be to marry Berelain, maybe eventually accept Rand as the Dragon Reborn (with persuasion from Aes Sedia and maybe Berelain during courting or after wedding); and perhaps afterward ally the Whitecloaks to Rand.

 

[DaTaimsta]

I don't really disagree with any of this, but I've always wondered how exactly Galad would fall in love with Berelain? She's manipulative and after seeing what she says to Faile about Perrin, not a very moral person. Maybe after she falls in love with Galad, she changes or something.

[Graendals favourite]

I think Berelain's main issue actually is Perrin belittling her, and not so much attracting her. She is somewhat childish about it, but to me it seems what she is determined is not to win Perrin over so she can toss him aside, but to show him she is the more capable. Perrin has the ability to appear as over-bearingly patronising toward people he doesn't understand, like Berelain or Balwer or the like, not that he means to, only that will be how he comes across to them. On one had Perrin is young and on the other he has good leadership qualities, on the other he does somewhat think he is the highest judge in everything. The Aes Sedai are as irritated over this, that he commands them to stay away from battles etc as if they didn't know what they were doing and had been doing it before he was born. Most likely Berelain was annoyed by Perrin after spending ten seconds in the same room with him, and the reason will be that Berelain knows her worth, but Perrin does not understand what Berelain is as a ruler and only kind of sees a pretty doll. This is part of what Perrin has been growing with in the books, part of her problems with Faile, Faile also does want to be respected as a person and not something pretty and precious to hang on a wall. Perhaps, should Galad see Berelain as she is, a very capable ruler, he seems astute a reading people too, she might easily fall in love with him, as shrewd at reading people as she is.

[DaTaimsta]

I think Berelain's main issue actually is Perrin belittling her, and not so much attracting her. She is somewhat childish about it, but to me it seems what she is determined is not to win Perrin over so she can toss him aside, but to show him she is the more capable. Perrin has the ability to appear as over-bearingly patronising toward people he doesn't understand, like Berelain or Balwer or the like, not that he means to, only that will be how he comes across to them. On one had Perrin is young and on the other he has good leadership qualities, on the other he does somewhat think he is the highest judge in everything. The Aes Sedai are as irritated over this, that he commands them to stay away from battles etc as if they didn't know what they were doing and had been doing it before he was born. Most likely Berelain was annoyed by Perrin after spending ten seconds in the same room with him, and the reason will be that Berelain knows her worth, but Perrin does not understand what Berelain is as a ruler and only kind of sees a pretty doll. This is part of what Perrin has been growing with in the books, part of her problems with Faile, Faile also does want to be respected as a person and not something pretty and precious to hang on a wall. Perhaps, should Galad see Berelain as she is, a very capable ruler, he seems astute a reading people too, she might easily fall in love with him, as shrewd at reading people as she is.

 

I see what you mean. So it's more Perrin than it is Berelain, to a degree?

 

I always viewed a healthy relationship like this: Both people improve one another, mature with each other. I can imagine that happening with Galad and Berelain, especially because Galad isn't like Perrin. Perrin has always been sort of a doof anyway, I can see why Faile has wanted to box his ears.

 

Still, you could be wrong and Berelain could really be that kind of person, and maybe meeting Galad matures her, since that's kind of how I picture it.

[Graendals favourite]

Well, I kind of agree with you on that too. Cause Berelain also is young. I think perhaps the Wise Ones had the bottom of issue, they seemed to think Berelain's behaviour on this one issue was childish or something like that, which would fit. Perhaps there is also some attraction for Perrin, only not very strong, Berelain however may not be too experienced in personal relationships, and more than say Elayne.

 

Actually, Perrin, Faile and Berelain together are three young people from different cultures coming together, there's even a grudging respect between Faile and Berelain. All of them are very capable in their own way. It will be interesting to see how things will develop. Galad will be an interesting addition to the three, perhaps this will give Perrin something to be jealous over, too  ;D.

 

Yea, that's pretty much the healthy relationship: people not being each other, but being themselves and growing together.

 

I think I can see Galad as having a maturing effect on Berelain, since he will be a completely new sort of person for her, sort of someone she can't manipulate to her will to put it one way. I wonder if Berelain might be able to teach him prudence in his right-and-wrong problem, though he may have grown off stage somewhat, at least in KoD he didn't seem what Elayne thought of him.

[42Bonzo88]

    I had problems understanding your thoughts on Berelain but to me Berelain went after Rand first and was scared away because of the channeling. She went after Perrin and was pretty much shunned. Berelain can't handle being shunned by anyone and that is why I think she has gone after Perrin even knowing he is happily married. If that is what you were getting at, I agree.

[Graendals favourite]

I think it has more to do with her pride than being shunned specifically. At least not at being shunned on a personal level. To read the Shadow Rising, one is lead astray if one believes Berelain really is after pretty boys, thought she attempts to seduce Rand, considers Mat and moves on to Perrin. Rand after all rules Tear now. Berelain first showed interest in Perrin when he declined doing a favour for her, which as an unusual thing she no doubt read to either mean he rejected her as an ally or she might have wondered if Perrin was playing Daes Dae'mar which latter would then include her and she should be interested to find out what he was doing. The first would naturally be a grave insult to her pride.

 

In Lord of Chaos I think her chasing Perrin around room when Rand has been kidnapped combined with her smell, can only be understood as her sweeping the floor with him ie making him run from her in public, only she is determined get her full vindication. I think that is why Berelain said, after Faile had been kidnapped, to Perrin that they can set their contest aside until Faile is recovered, though Perrin rejected this offer.

 

I think Berelain is better understood as a careerwoman toward a close friend of her new boss, personal relationships just do not enter into it.

[Troilen]

Berelain has been described to us constantly as a more than beautiful woman, and she knows it and uses it.  RJ mentions it too us all the time.  Galad has been described to us constantly as too good looking and makes every single woman who sees him go weak in the knees.

 

I think Berelain is going to suffer the same weak kneed effects when she meets Galad, only to be put off by him because Galad is still dumbstruck by Egwene.  Berelain will continue to pursue, Galad will finally learn about Egwene and Gawyn, or he'll just get over her finally, and tada he'll realize he's got a hottie on his heals.

 

I do agree that it will be Berelain that influences Galad into bringing the Whitecloaks into a truce with Rand...even if it's only until TG is over.

[Charlz Fel]

Although Berelain was first interested in Perrin after he declined to do a favor for her, what really made her determined to capture him (to the point of childishness) is that Faile drew a knife on her, saying, "Perrin Aybara is mine."  Berelain replied that "I intensely dislike having knives drawn on me" [or something similar] and then gave Faile an "Ogier's oath" that she would take Perrin away from her.  In truth, I think Faile deserved a certain amount of harassment for her own childish behavior here, but Perrin does not.

 

Berelain and Galad?  I suppose it is as likely as any speculative thing.  The main obstacle, in my view, is that it does not really have very long to happen.  It is more plausible if Galad's feelings for Egwene have already changed, as Rand's did earlier.  (Interesting comparison among brothers there--both of Tigraine's sons believed, at some point, they were in love with Egwene, and one of them had another brother who really was.)

[Auld Manriva]

Tigraine only had two son's.. Galad the older who was abandoned and Rand whom she died giving birth to.

 

Gawyn is Morgase's son.

 

Seems to me to be pretty clear that Galad and Berelain will be thrown together. They are very close together geographically at present. So the meeting isn't hard to arrange actually. Galad isn't so infatuated with Egwene now either, he may think he is, but his sense of "right" will spell his stepping aside, once he's informed as to how things stand from her view. His thing has really been getting all the women he knows free of the WT.

 

Rand doesn't have to do any convincing of Galad about allying the White Cloaks with Rands forces either. Galad has already convinced himself of the rightness of that piece of business.

[Emily_Sedai]

Although Berelain was first interested in Perrin after he declined to do a favor for her, what really made her determined to capture him (to the point of childishness) is that Faile drew a knife on her, saying, "Perrin Aybara is mine."  Berelain replied that "I intensely dislike having knives drawn on me" [or something similar] and then gave Faile an "Ogier's oath" that she would take Perrin away from her.  In truth, I think Faile deserved a certain amount of harassment for her own childish behavior here, but Perrin does not.

 

Berelain and Galad?  I suppose it is as likely as any speculative thing.  The main obstacle, in my view, is that it does not really have very long to happen.  It is more plausible if Galad's feelings for Egwene have already changed, as Rand's did earlier.  (Interesting comparison among brothers there--both of Tigraine's sons believed, at some point, they were in love with Egwene, and one of them had another brother who really was.)

 

I don't quite agree that Berlain is childish at all.  As far as I'm concerned, she's the ruler of a weak nation, that is constantly under threat of being overrun by a larger power that pretty much surrounds the entire nation.  I believe it was Elayne who belittled the tactics of a previous Mayene ruler saying that her mother would never make a similiar mistake, only to be told by Moiraine that it may be so, "but then, Andor is not a small nation cornered by a much larger and stronger. (TSR, pg 135)"  She's trained to handle hired asassines, as shown later with her confrontation with Faile. 

 

I can see why she would want to attach herself to Rand as soon as possible, using whatever tools were at her disposal.  Rand conquered the power that holds her nation to the knife point, and she, as a ruler would have to find some way to ensure that her nation wouldn't be destroyed in some manner.  We seem to have quite a few good examples of Berelain being a fairly good administrator for Rand, and a strong leader while out in the wilderness with Perrin.  I'd give her some credit, though I'm sure there was a selfish aspect to her actions in the stone.  Generally, leaders of conquered nations don't seem to live for very long after the conquering is done. 

 

I think Charlz hit the nail on the head.  Berelain only became really interested in Perrin after Faile issued a challenge to her, and I think she is intrigued by relationship games like this.  I wouldn't call it childishness, just one of her quirks. 

[Shard]

Galad's role I guess would be to marry Berelain, maybe eventually accept Rand as the Dragon Reborn (with persuasion from Aes Sedia and maybe Berelain during courting or after wedding); and perhaps afterward ally the Whitecloaks to Rand.

 

 

According to KoD, Galad seems to already accept Rand as Dragon and is marching to join him. At least that's what the text seemed to say...

[trakand_01]

I wonder what would happen, were Galad to truly become to believe that him joining the Dark Side was the 'right' thing to do - if he became so certain that Rand was the personification of all that was bad, that he went that extra mile and joined the dark... then his moral compass was constantly fighting against the things he found himself being required to do. He could single-handedly destroy the dark side, from within.

[Alderthal]

Hmm, I love this thread!

 

Alright, first off, Berelain. I actually do think that Berelain likes Perrin, even a little bit. Sure, it started off on a dare, but Perrin has constantly been seen by Min and Egwene as having the hawk and the falcon on his shoulders. Sure, the hawk had a leash in her claw, but I think it signifies that both of them will 'perch on his shoulder'. I think there's enough proof about this. After all, Berelain was an extremely valuable ally to Perrin during the Faile kidnapping thing. Not to mention that she does seem to obey his commands, and accepts him as a leader (just like Faile does), and both of them try to 'improve' him. Is it love? Is it lust? Is it just a game? Maybe it's a bit of all three. I dunno. Guess it'll just remain unanswered.

 

As for Galad. Hmm... Galad IS pure. Sickenly so. He represents the highest ideals, and yes, he's obviously the moral opposite of the DO. However, he does represent excess.

 

Take this conundrum, if someone steals bread in order to feed his family, should he be punished for it? Even if it was either that or see his family die.

 

Galad would say yes. Stealing is stealing. Stealing is wrong. Punish the thief. There's no question about this in his mind. None.

 

RJ had a different outlook for his novel. We don't have altar boys and gals as heroes. Sure, we have demons as villians, but the best you can say about the character cast is that they're human. Rand obviously fights the good fight, but he won't ever kill a woman, no matter what said woman has done, and he's also a tyrant, and has a terrible temper. Perrin's a good guy, but is willing to forsake everything and everyone for his love. Mat's a good guy, but suffers from bouts of cowardice, is flamboyant, and vain.

 

I think Galad is destined for the throne of Cairhein. Poor guy.

 

[Idril]

When reading this thread one thought occured to me: When talking about somebody doing the right thing, being good and pure there´s somebody else that pops up my mind (apart from Galad) which is Aram. Don´t get me wrong, I do not think that Galad will be turned over to the dark side. It really seems pretty straight forward, that the events in KoD indicate he will make the Whiteclouds join The Dragon´s Forces. However, I think that this is mainly due to his education and history. Aram had a completely different background but he picked up the sword for pretty similar reasons. He got corrupted and to me this is a nice example of how easy the best intentions get you to the false road if you cease to look over your own horizon and elevate motifs above everything else exclusively.

[CUBAREY]

Galad would say yes. Stealing is stealing. Stealing is wrong. Punish the thief. There's no question about this in his mind. None.

 

I think you totally misjudge Galad as the episode of him starting a civil war with Meseena's men because he had promised to het the first boat for Elayne and Nyneave.  In the example you gave if Galad had to steal a loaf of bread to feed his family he would. Thereafter, he would probably turn himself in for judgment because he does see stealing as stealing. Galad does the right thing (or things) because they are right whatever the consequences to others and himself. Frankly I think you have the same view as Elayne. You believe that commiting a greater good absolves you of commiting a minor wrong. Galad on the other hand would commit the greater Good but would not presume that his ninor wrong is thereby absolved. 

[Guest The Thin Inn Keeper]

Rand is supernatural yet he also could be considered mortal.

He’s mortal. There’s no “considering” about it. – Why would anyone be agonizing over his potential death if he couldn’t be killed?

 

And, given that the idea of the soul is pretty well established among those who know, he’s not really supernatural.

 

If he had the soul of an AoL carpenter, there’d be no kerfuffle, he just happens to be the DR.

Where has Galad been willing to be hero of the light?

He hasn’t been called to be the hero of the light.

 

***

Here’s my take on Galad:

 

His dislike of the Aes Sedai comes not from a religious standpoint (like that of the Children), but rather one based in personal experience.

 

He has seen a woman whom he loved/was infatuated with enmeshed in what he sees as irresponsible schemes. – Let’s face it, the Aes Sedai were using Egwene.

 

He doesn’t appear to have any dogmatic dislike of Aes Sedai, he doesn’t like their way of doing things because he’s seen the way it affects, and possibly endangers people.

 

That’s a practical outlook, isn’t it? I also bet that it’s a result of his high levels of education.

 

At the end of the day, Galad wanted to get Egwene et al out of the clutches of the Aes Sedai because he believed they were going to get them killed. That’s a man acting to protect those he cares about, or has a duty toward.

 

As for recent events, he’s realized that the Last Battle is coming. He knows that the epic showdown between good and evil is just around the corner, and, because he’s a good man, he’s wants to be there.

 

He hasn’t put aside his distrust or dislike of Aes Sedai, he’s merely decided that it is more important to lend his not inconsiderable power and skills to the side of the Light.

 

To do otherwise would be irresponsible, and against his very nature. Gawyn has always said, he does what is right regardless of personal feelings and costs. This is exactly that, but on a much bigger scale.

 

As for Berelain … I think she’ll be staggered that a man doesn’t fall over himself at her beauty. I think Galad will treat her like any other woman. I also think he’ll call her out when she’s scheming, which’ll upset the apple cart a little bit.

 

And, at the end of the Berelain is human and Galad is, by all accounts, an amazingly good looking man.

 

He’s going to appear alien, if not unobtainable to Berelain, and that is often very attractive.

 

I’ll think we’ll see her chasing him, with Galad being reasonably indifferent at the start.

[metallicafan08]

has anyone seen the thread i posted about Galad being able to Channel? I think that will be a big part of what happens to Galad in AMOL. There's a lot of debate over whether he can Channel or not but I definitley think he can!!

[Alderthal]

Galad would say yes. Stealing is stealing. Stealing is wrong. Punish the thief. There's no question about this in his mind. None.

 

I think you totally misjudge Galad as the episode of him starting a civil war with Meseena's men because he had promised to het the first boat for Elayne and Nyneave.  In the example you gave if Galad had to steal a loaf of bread to feed his family he would. Thereafter, he would probably turn himself in for judgment because he does see stealing as stealing. Galad does the right thing (or things) because they are right whatever the consequences to others and himself. Frankly I think you have the same view as Elayne. You believe that commiting a greater good absolves you of commiting a minor wrong. Galad on the other hand would commit the greater Good but would not presume that his ninor wrong is thereby absolved. 

 

Err, no, I'm not saying they should be absolved of minor wrongs. I'm saying, while most of the characters would probably uphold the whole 'bread stealing to feed starving family' example, and let it go, Galad won't. He would applaud the sentiment, don't get me wrong, but he will still say the act is wrong.

[CUBAREY]

He would applaud the sentiment, don't get me wrong, but he will still say the act is wrong. Well the act is wrong especially when you consider that he would likely be stealing from a baker that is himself poor. Is it a minor wrong and may it be justifiable from the perspective of a man who's family is dying of hunger, yes but this does not mean the act itself is not wrong. In my opinion would both be willing to steal the loaf and face the consequences for stealing it. That's not being "too pure" that's having a moral compass that he will not ignore when it suits him.