Compulsion used on Verin?

[horus17]

I'm doing yet another re-read and during the Dragon Reborn, and I'm noticing strange behavior by Verin, but who hasn't right? Anyways, Verin is always blinking like she just woke up or has a surprised look on her face when she realizes where she is or what she just said aloud. With Lanfear at the Tower during some of these occasions, i.e. talking to the girls in the kitchen about their search for the BA, is it possible that Lanfear has used Compulsion on Verin Mathwin? It could explain many of Verin's actions along the way.

 

I apologize if this idea has come up in the past and I missed it. I've read countless theories on this forum, but I just actually joined. Silly, but I Googled the idea and nothing seemed to match, so I got curious. Any help is appreciated.

[mb]

Just to make sure, what was the furthest book you been through during any of your times through?

 

[horus17]

I've been all the way through book 12, so you won't spoil anything. And since I'm new to the forums I didn't want to risk putting anything out there that could have made people salty with me! haha.

 

I've re-read the first 5 books at least 3 times, but my last was probably just before PoD came out. It was odd for her to be so very surprised at being in the kitchens, both before and after speaking with the girls. It got me thinking. Am I way off?

[mb]

Verin seems not to have shown any of the signs of Compulsion.

 

From prologue of Path of Daggers, Verin has known some form of Compulsion; I take since about 70 years before the main series.  She might have known if someone was doing it on her.

 

From Lanfear's discussion with Mat, I take Lanfear seldom does Compulsion.

 

[rubbernilly]

I didn't want to risk putting anything out there that could have made people salty with me!

 

"Salty"? Why, I oughtta...

[horus17]

That's where I'm not sure. Verin shows confusion and surprise by some things she says as well as where she's at certain times. The only thing that explains this is that I can see is that she's suffering from Compulsion, in my mind. Why would some so intellegent and full of knowledge seem so confused. I realize the Browns are so caught up in their studies and lost in their thoughts, but it doesn't explain her complete surprise shown in situtations in the Tower during the Dragon Reborn. The twin Sisters Adealas(sp) and Vandene never show these traits in any of the books; the thoughtlessness and the confusion that Verin displays when she's around the Two Rivers people. Lanfear is shown to be out for herself and all she seems to care about is to be reunited with Lew Therin. And the connection Rand has with the Two Rivers folk she tries to use to her advantage. Lanfear is for the Dark, but she also wants to manipulate people for her own gain.

 

Ok, I'm a little drunk but Verin's actions seem a little off for someone of her intelligence.

[Suttree]

That's where I'm not sure. Verin shows confusion and surprise by some things she says as well as where she's at certain times. The only thing that explains this is that I can see is that she's suffering from Compulsion, in my mind. Why would some so intellegent and full of knowledge seem so confused. I realize the Browns are so caught up in their studies and lost in their thoughts, but it doesn't explain her complete surprise shown in situtations in the Tower during the Dragon Reborn. The twin Sisters Adealas(sp) and Vandene never show these traits in any of the books; the thoughtlessness and the confusion that Verin displays when she's around the Two Rivers people. Lanfear is shown to be out for herself and all she seems to care about is to be reunited with Lew Therin. And the connection Rand has with the Two Rivers folk she tries to use to her advantage. Lanfear is for the Dark, but she also wants to manipulate people for her own gain.

 

Ok, I'm a little drunk but Verin's actions seem a little off for someone of her intelligence.

 

She puts on a mask of being confused and distracted as misdirection to throw people off of how calculating she actually is. Both Moraine and Cadsuane understand and it's noted that people on rare occasions catch her slipping and see her true nature. She also uses a lesser form of compulsion on others and it is not likely she could have taken the steps she did to out the BA if any Forsaken had ever been controlling her.

[schneb]

That's where I'm not sure. Verin shows confusion and surprise by some things she says as well as where she's at certain times. The only thing that explains this is that I can see is that she's suffering from Compulsion, in my mind. Why would some so intellegent and full of knowledge seem so confused. I realize the Browns are so caught up in their studies and lost in their thoughts, but it doesn't explain her complete surprise shown in situtations in the Tower during the Dragon Reborn. The twin Sisters Adealas(sp) and Vandene never show these traits in any of the books; the thoughtlessness and the confusion that Verin displays when she's around the Two Rivers people. Lanfear is shown to be out for herself and all she seems to care about is to be reunited with Lew Therin. And the connection Rand has with the Two Rivers folk she tries to use to her advantage. Lanfear is for the Dark, but she also wants to manipulate people for her own gain.

 

Ok, I'm a little drunk but Verin's actions seem a little off for someone of her intelligence.

 

I always figured that the confusion was an act that Verin puts on to keep other people from looking at her too closely.  I had this opinion before reading the latest book, and the last book just served to reinforce this in my mind.  One glaring example of this is when Verin had to decide whether or not she was going to kill Cadsuane when they met in the Royal Palace in Cairhein.  Verin used her "confusion" to hide the fact that she paused before serving the tea.  This pause allowed her to make the decision that Cadsuane wasn't bad for Rand and that she didn't need to be killed.  Had she decided differently, the pause also would have allowed her to put the poison into the tea before serving it.

[Agitel]

Many of the Browns display this behavior. I'm guessing it's a feint for many of them to cause others to underestimate them. They likely get to hear and learn a lot more than others would think they do, and thus the ever curious Browns get to add more to their knowledge base. The feint is disarming, and most sisters would feel less threatened around them.

[MikeRiley]

Yeah, I believe this was an act to make it seem like she wasn't going out of her way to seek them out. It would make them trust her more since they wouldn't have reason to believe she was manipulating them.

[Luckers]

Indeed, Verin plays the muddled brown as a mask. It is a not a sign of the befuddlement caused by compulsion.