Who do you feel most sorry for?

[dscott8]

The one I feel most sorry for is Brandon Sanderson -- no matter what he writes, legions of Wheel fanatics are going to criticize it, constantly pointing out that he isn't Robert Jordan. He's carrying a heavy burden, walking in a dead man's shoes.

[MatrixM]

I think Zlith is sorry for Alanna because she did what most aes sedai at some point would have considered the right course of action [in a way, it was an act reflecting her integrity] but now has been shunned by both sides.

[Zentari]

Elaida? ppl feeling sorry for elaida? No. ppl like tarna deserve our sympathy. Not someone who ordered the murder of a warder, demoted an aes sedai to accepted and tried to kidnap the DR. I won't even go into the rest of her sheninigans

 

Elaida's current fate is justice.

This is the only time I agree with you,so far.

 

As for my choice, it would have to be Rand.Yeah, being a hero is often a thankless job but getting hounded because of it ? Plus madness and death in the package ? Thanks but no thanks.

[Sbond91]

Rand, for reasons already stated. I think his thoughts in VoG say it better than I could:

 

...What right did any of them have to demand Rand's life of him? Well, Rand had offered that life to them. It had taken him a great while to accept his death, but he had made his peace. Wasn't that enough? Did he have to be in pain until the end?

 

...

 

...He understood what would be required of him, and he'd changed in ways he thought he needed. Those changes were to keep him from being overwhelmed. Die to protect people he didn't know? Chosen to save mankind? Chosen to force the kingdoms of the world to unite behind him, destroying those who refused to listen? Chosen to cause the death of thousands who fought in his name, to hold those souls upon his shoulders, a weight that must be borne? What man could do those things and remain sane?

[HighWiredSith]

Nearing the end of TGS and just completed the chapter "A Visit from Verin Sedai."

 

Wow, I feel sorry for Verin. And again, like so many times before, just when I start to get frustrated at the pacing and lack of significant events, I'm hit with a rather moving and totally unexpected scene that I never saw coming.

[trench]

Olver, he has always struck me as the most tragic character. He lost his dad to Shaido, his mother to sickness. He had to glom onto Mat for support and although it could seem he has a good life, its actually a pretty bad one. After the minor sociopathic scene in ToM, I think his story is by far the most tragic, and whats more no character in the story seems to realize how bad off he is.

[Mr Ares]

I think Drekka Mort has a good point - I'm also going to say Cadsuane. For one thing, she has to put up with Rand, no mean feat for anyone. Then she gets the blame for something she had no control over, and threatened with death because of it. Worst of all, she has to put up with the fact Sanderson just can't write her all that well. Other than that, Shai'tan. He has been trapped since the creation of the universe. Guy just can't get a break.

[Pilz]

How about Tam?

 

First, his wife dies young. Then he finds out that the infant - that he saves on Dragonmount and raises as his own - is destined to save the world, but also to go mad, break the world and die.

 

And then there is poor 'Lina :)

[HighWiredSith]

I feel sorry for the dark one. He keeps getting his ass kicked every time the friggin wheel turns and put back in prison. I can imagine him thinking once, just once, why can't I win?

[Seeker Matt]

I forgot about the Hopper, the wolves and all the other creatures that Slayer killed in Tel'aran'rhiod. It's too sad to dwell on.

[Mrs. Cindy Gill]

hopper, yes.

[lilltempest]

First and foremost, Rand. I don't think this needs any explanation, but in addition to the obvious reasons, I feel sorry for him being stuck with three horrid women. Elayne is a heartless shrew as far as he's concerned and Aviendha would rather be with Elayne than Rand. As far as Min goes, she had always been the only one of the three I actually liked with Rand but after she betrayed his trust to Cadsuane, then insisted on going to the meeting with "Tuon" (when she knew it could be dangerous for him and that he worries more about her than himself), I began disliking her as well.

 

Second place: Nynaeve. She loves a man who cares more about his dead owner (and dying) than her. She has been beaten down by Egwene and Cadsuane. Egwene, a twitty little girl who is supposed to be her friend, gets off on treating Nynaeve like crap and wants her to be a mindless slave to her will. The best thing Nyn could do for her own sanity is hand Egwene her serpent ring and tell her to shove it where the sun doesn't shine.

 

Third place: Mat. Yet another good man stuck with a woman who is a shrew and treats him like garbage. He lost an eye to save yet another thankless shrew who thinks she controls the world.

 

Fourth place: Logain. An awesome character, who is not so wussified that he bows and scrapes to any Aes Sedai who sniffs at him, yet I have the sinking feeling his "glorious" future will involve submitting himself and the Asha'man to Egwene's authority. I'd rather see him and the Asha'man dead than enslaved by Egwene and the Aes Sedai, whether as Warders or subjects.

 

Honorable mention: Gawyn. I've never liked him, and like him even less after ToM, but I do pity him. He's stuck with a woman who wants a mindless slave instead of a man and he agreed to those terms. He should count himself lucky if being bonded by her brings him an early death. A lifetime of that wench would be enough to make most men slit their own wrists.

 

As an aside, Perrin is the only one who struck gold with his woman. I wish Faile had hooked up with Rand instead - Faile would rip Egwene to shreds for treating the man she loves like Egwene treats Rand (and everyone who doesn't kiss her butt!).

[Seeker Matt]

lol! I too hope Nynaeve stands up to Egwene and the WT, and hope that Logain and the Asha'man do not submit to Egwene without being on an equal footing with other Aes Sedai. Perhaps Nynaeve and the Asha'man can cure the Aes Sedai of some of their failings :)

[Lupy]

Rand, for all the reasons given above.

 

Matt, because he was sexually abused by Tylin.

 

Nynaeve, for being so desperate for friendship that she has to be friends with Elayne. And for loving a man who's trying to commit suicide.

[Sleeper]

Matt, because he was sexually abused by Tylin.

I agree, that story arc was seriously disturbing.

 

EDIT: That story arc really made me hate Elayne too, when she just tore into Mat because she thought he was chasing Tylin, then started laughing at him when he said it was the opposite.

[Guest Emu on the Loose]

Mierin, of course, but really I feel sorry for just about everybody in the story. RJ had a streak of tragic fatalism to him. It's really strong in the secondary characters, who are caught up in a dying world that's totally out of their control, and are often killed or worse just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I feel sorry for the Darkfriends, who, because of human ignorance, end up making mortal mistakes that lead to immortal torment. I feel sorry for Moggy and Cyndane for being forced into Mindtraps. I feel sorry for anyone raped by Shaidar Haran. I feel sorry for Rand for being driven basically insane. I feel sorry for Perrin and Mat that they can't live the simple lives they want to live and instead have to put up with so much suffering and sacrifice. I feel sorry for any damane. I feel sorry for any male channeler who had to contend with the Taint. I feel sorry for Egeanin for losing her status, for Nyn for loving a martyr. Who don't I feel sorry for? The Creator and the Dark One, I guess. It's their mess.

[Lupy]

Matt, because he was sexually abused by Tylin.

I agree, that story arc was seriously disturbing.

 

EDIT: That story arc really made me hate Elayne too, when she just tore into Mat because she thought he was chasing Tylin, then started laughing at him when he said it was the opposite.

 

This made me absolutely hate Elayne. It also made me mad at Nynaeve, she should have helped him.

[UGAShadow]

Mairic. He was to be the Shaido Chief once he went to Rhudian. Instead Sammael sent him to a place surrounded by Rand's Aiel. His one POV is very moving. If he had gotten to go to Rhudian maybe the Shaido would have went to Rand eventually.

[Mordaunt]

Carbriana Mecandes, tortured to death by Semirhage, including her Warder.

 

Sahra Covenry.

 

Aram. His life was briefly good during his three day sexathon with Egwene, then he saw his mother killed, his mentor become a monster (due to him being influenced) and finally killed.

[Callern]

I think Zlith is sorry for Alanna because she did what most aes sedai at some point would have considered the right course of action [in a way, it was an act reflecting her integrity] but now has been shunned by both sides.

Indeed what I was thinking. But I must admit that I agree with the guys mentioning Verin. Speaking of which, is there any possibility that Verin got bounded to the horn? After all, the sacrifice she made was kind of... heroic?

[Puny]

Rand, as stated before has been more tortured and harassed then anyone before.

 

Hopper.

 

Mat ( in the early books, now he has come to accept his fate even though he jokes about it)

 

All the damane

 

All Semirhages victims

 

Logain: He is an awesome character but as a previous poster said I wish we could see more of him. I really like him. If his glorious destiny is making the Asha bow to Egwene and the Tower he will be one of the one I feel sorry for too =/

[Glip]

Narg. Poor bastard.

 

Bad pay. Long hours. Terrible Boss. Meaningless death. Such a hollow existense.

[pamela]

I feel sorry for Rand. His entire story arc up to VoG is basically him being psychologically tortured, physically tortured, going insane, having people try to manipulate him, becoming hated by a good portion of the world, surviving assassination attempts, and basically just getting beaten up in every way possible. People start trying to control him (Egwene/Elayne/Alanna/etc) and the amount of people he can trust is probably in the single digits. Plus he loses a hand and is kind of fated to die.

 

I feel sorry for Lan, too. That guy's led a tough life.

 

And Perrin, for being married to Faile

 

 

Agree with everything, especially Perrin

 

Plus all men in general- because of all these annoying women. I'm so sorry for Rand, Mat, Perrin, Loial, Gaul, Tallanvor, Thom, Juilin, Lews...

[pamela]

I am sorry for Cyndane, too- that she's short and fair-haired, like Ilyena was

[Glip]

The grass at Dumais Wells... it'll take ages for any vegetation to return there.