Why is everybody hating on Rand?

[okstate91]

In every leat favorite character topic i have looked in, Rand has seemed to be a prime choice. Now he has that unhealing wound in his side, and in KOD at the very end (dont keep reading if you havent read it yet) he ends up with one arm as a knub. I may not like reading his chapters at times (they do tend to get filled with politics) but i am very happy with his over-all character. So why isnt everyone else? :evil:

[Kadere]

I think the main reason is that his action has slowed incredibly over the last couple of books, and he spends a lot of time whinning.

 

Don't get me wrong, I like Rand, I espically like the politics in his chapters, but he hasn't done much of anything since cleansing Saidin, and at times Cadsuane should really give him a spanking for being so angsty.

 

I mean, one of the points is his lack of feeling, and his huge ego, so that he doesn't care about the world around him, and only wants to get TG over and done with without caring about the cost to himself and others, in fact that's what makes him so intreging. But he has become a bit of an #$@##%.

[mightisright]

better then ou i guess. But on topic here, I happen to like Rand. I think a lot of people's love for him has slipped because quite frankly his personality has. He is half insane and hard as a rock. Remember when he meet Loial in TEOTW and is happy and nice as heck? I'm not saying he doesn't have good reason or that he is a bad character now. I still like him. I hope he gets a rest (not permadeath) after he takes care of business at Tarmon.

[okstate91]

Well as far as not doing nething since cleansin saidin, i think that its partly Min and Cadsuanes fault. He only really does something drastic when he has to and Min is in the way (sure she calms him down, but how much calming do you need) and Cadsuane just slaps his hand when he starts to do something partway interesting.

[okstate91]

might, r u a texas fan? Anyway, I think as far as him becoming distant and what not, he will realize eventually that he will probably die and that he should live it up while he can. I mean he has min elayne and avi, and being part aiel he can marry all of them, so instead of not geting connected and bieng a "rock' he should come out of the losing his hand experience enraged and go kill all the forsaken, or, like the metaphorical calm before the storm, TG should come soon after this lapse in excitement with Rand.

[Incubate]

i like Rand and all, (even more so since he became hard and cold) and i don't get why everyone hates him....

 

 

He is simply now a no-nonsense-do-what-has-to-be-done-to-win kinda guy, i admire that

[okstate91]

i completely agree incubate, good thought.

[rochaid]

personally i think rand is the best and my favourite(apart from, as of KoD,mat) character,although his action has slowed(dramitically) his rare appearences in the latter books are the parts i look forward to most,his band are also the most informed with the world,lessening the frustration i feel at other's ignorance(i.e;egwain and her AS).u just know he is goin to explode back onto the secne in a MoL

[Zardi]

I love Rand. He's my favorite :D I think people before me have hit it on the nose: a lot people don't like Rand because they find him whiny, arrogant, and emotionless. I suppose I agree with that assessment of his current personality, actually, but I also think that he's doing the best he can. He has to save the world, all the while knowing that there are people even on the side of the Light who would rejoice at his death, so long as he saves them first. I disagree that he doesn't care about anyone, though. I think that he does care deep down, but he knows that almost any price is worth paying if it can save the world from the Dark One. In several books he has regretted that other people have had to pay the price so far, but I don't think he realizes that he is paying too, with his physical and mental health...and with his life if he doesn't figure out the Finns' riddle. He sees any injury he sustains as worth the cost, and he doesn't even allow himself to mourn them anymore.

 

He really hasn't had much good happen to him since this all started, and he doesn't get much emotional support except from Min (slapping him, calling him an arrogant fool, and ordering him to talk about his feelings do not count as emotional support, regardless of whether he deserves those things or not). Everyone deals with pain and stress in different ways, and Rand happened to choose a way that is annoying and frustrating to readers and allies alike, and extremely unhealthy for himself. I do think that, deep down underneath all that steel, he's a more mature and seasoned version of the farmboy we met in EotW. The prophecies do say something similar to "pray that the Dragon remembers laughter and tears," and I think that he will, if you combine his obsession with the prophecies with the effect that Moiraine's return could have on him.

 

I hope there's buttloads of him in AMoL. (Am I allowed to say "butt" here?) I, too, have missed him these last few books.

[Guest Fire Lord]

I personally DO NOT understand people who hate Rand. He is my favorite character from the series. As for people who complain about his attitude, well, I've got this to tell you.

I personally would not like a milksop Dragon Reborn( him being arrogant) Perhaps he pushes it a bit over, but like Sorilea said, he has to show that mangy wolfpack that he is the leader of the pack.

And all of you who complain about whining, put yourself into his shoes for just one minute. What would you manage to do knowing as sure as hell that your death is one step away, and the fate of the world resting on your shoulders? Less than him, I'll wager.I think it's understandable for him to think about it quite often.

Him being that cold, I actually like it. I'm also convinced that that deep down, there is still that shepherd we love.

[Rand alThor]

The people who don't like Rand are jokes. Imagine if you were the Dragon Reborn and were hated by people that don't even know you. You are dying for the sake of humankind, for what? People don't appreciate what he is really doing. He has the world on his shoulders. Sure Rand is gonna have that badass attitude, because he realizes people don't care for him, they just hope he stays sane till the Last Battle.

[Besolyn]

I do like Rand, he's not my favorite, but I have great repect for him. I think maybe we'll see a difference in him once Elayne has their babies. Maybe seeing his children will bring him back on humanity's level.

[Auld Manriva]

Rand, Mat and Perrin. How could you not like anything about any one of them. They are the bedrock of this story. When it all sorts out this story like LotR will be at its core, about the bond between friends. What it can accomplish, the strains put on it, etc.

The things they've been put through have made them edgy,secretive,arrogant,sometimes petulant. Anyone have a relative/friend come back from armed conflict?

 

All their strengths and weaknesses, wins and losses are what have made what he is and why we follow this tale. Each, in his heart is a good person trying to do what he knows or feels to be right. Each does what he has to, however that needs to be done.

 

The tooth gnashing is never about himself ultimately, but who's getting hurt/killed by what he's having to do. Oh there's the usual "What'd I do" in regards to women but i don't see that as whining , thats like breathing in a males life

 

There is something in their bond (the swirls)that is developing into a tool for them unless i miss my guess. I'm eager to see what RJ makes of this, aren't you

[Besolyn]

Been very frustrated that none of the three have concentrated on each other enough to see what's going on.

 

Perrin’s been busy trying to get Faile (no room for thought), Rand’s always busy with so many people and plans in his head, and poor Mat probably thinks it has to do with the OP (you know he’s always in denial about being ta’veren)

 

very anxious to see where that goes

[taters]

I've always had a thing for not liking the main character very much in novels, i always seem to be drawn towards the sub-main characters, the hero's in the background, Ron and Hermione over Harry Potter; Beldin over Belgarath, Ulath over Sparhawk. WOT is no exception. My favourite character always used to be Perrin, but then he got tied down with Faile, now i've moved on to Mat- he's funny :D .

 

Rands all right i suppose, but THERE'S NO ACTION FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, he should bust out and DO something instead of moping around feeling sorry for himself. i'm looking forward to him and Tam re-uniting, hopefully that should make him shed a tear, break his "hard as stone" attitude 8)

[Besolyn]

Rands all right i suppose' date=' but THERE'S NO ACTION FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, he should bust out and DO something instead of moping around feeling sorry for himself. [/quote']

 

SPOILER ALERT FROM BOOK 11

 

I agree that Rand seems to always just be sittin' around doin' nothin'. When the Trollocs attacked the manor house where Rand & Co are hiding out and Lews Therin took over the OP, it worried me a little, but he did some serious butt whoopin'!! Hope that Rand was paying attention so he can whoop butt w/o LT having control

[n00l3y]

I dont love Rand, but I like his chapters.

 

Well...I agree that lots of people complain about Rand, and here's what I think.

 

A lot of people say that he has become heartless, but think about it. He can't be sure that anyone (other than a few friends/his wives) isn't a darkfriend. He is practically a magnet for shadowspawn and forsaken, his body his gradually getting worse and worse, and those he are trying to protect (and eventually save) hate him for it. Who wouldn't feel sour? Sure he whines, but so does every character in the book.

 

Regarding lack of action, I quite disagree. What he is doing now is preparing for TG. He can't risk using the OP too often, due to LTT and his dizzyness. He knows that he isn't as good a general as Mat or Lan. So he does what he can until he has who he needs with him. Currently, he doesn't have the support of the WT or BT, not to mention the Seanchan Empire. Nevertheless, I think he will make up for all this preparation in AMOL. :)

 

Still, everyone has his/her own opinions...

[Chel Vanin]

I love how everyone loves Rand on the "Why is everyone hating on Rand" thread but he gets burned on the others :)

 

I like Rand because he's so real. He has insecurities so tries to become hard as steel (does pretty dang good at that). He is cocky because, well hes the friggin Dragon Reborn, he does what he wants (unless Min says no :) As for no action...even without many chapters to his name in KoD he manages 1 pretty hardcore battle with trollocs, and another quick but intense battle with Semi (in which he comes out considerably worse...I HATE SEMI NOW).

 

Yep Rand's pretty dang cool.

 

 

but Vanin's better 8)

[okstate91]

my least favorite part of KOD was wen semi burned the crap out of rands hand. But i guess hes pretty screwed already, so wats a missing hand going to do to him more than any other injury has? he will just get used to it in the next book (dnt remember abbrev.)

[Vo0]

aMoL ? :)

 

I Like Rand too. Obviously he's arrogant if you were in his shoes wouldn't you be ? :D as for being whiny i think he's got a hell of a lot to whine about! Unless you can just go "SO yeah um i've got three wives who i'm going to leave as widows.. children without a father um i'm going to die a most horrible death by the embodiment of evil but hey it could be worse!" Give me a break. Wouldn't you be whiny and maybe just a tiny bit petrified ? lol. I admire him, i think he's come a long way since being that shepherd in disguise and he's matured in such a fast time i don't think the "forging his soul in fire" is an entirely good route to go down but hey whatever floats..

[Child Olaf]

I think everybody is down on rand because Perrin and Mat have turned into HEROES. They do heroic things all the time; they win major battles, they make huge strides toward peace with the Seanchan, they have a hand in making new weaponry, etc. While Rand is getting a lot accomplished, it is not being done heroicly. Too much of what he is doing is going on behind the scenes.

 

Of course, he is the only one who is insane...

[vikingdriver]

I tend to like Rand myself, I think RJ wrote his indifference very succinctly. He reflects the general attitude that is thrust upon him ie everyone wants him to do things their way and think him to childish to know what to do, they won't listen when he tries to explain, and only want from him so his character has become numbed. Yeah its boring to read the same drama over and over and it does tend to sound as if he's become quite the whiner but sheesh after 11 books and still no one wants to hear his plan and yet they know best how to get him to die faster. When all he';s trying to do is to figure out how to finish TG and still be alive.

[Zardi]

I agree with you. People who complain about Rand's attitude and numbness rarely bother to look at how little emotional support he actually gets from the people around him.

[n00l3y]

hmm...guys...Chel Vanin's right, nobody in this thread is against rand. Some opposition to our ranting would be nice :P .

[Vo0]

Maybe it fluctuates :D i know i change my mind about a character sometimes through a novel but i like him because he's so... eclectic :P he is able to adapt to his situation which i find really intriguing.