egwene hate thread

[Mrs. Cindy Gill]

go ahead, let it out. all the why's, when's, how's, what's, where's.

 

we know the who.

 

and what should the black tower do about her?

 

this is not a thread for the defense of egwene. you can start one of those if you like.

 

just catharsis and hate.

 

and.... go.

[Mrs. Cindy Gill]

ok then i'll start.

 

i dont hate egwene.

 

i dont hate any characters in these books. theyre not that real to me, and i dont usually hate fictional characters unless theyre real to me. except bella in twilight and thats another story.

 

but an awful lot of peole hate egwene.

 

can anyone explian why?

[WWWwombat]

I'm gonna tell Luckers!

[Mrs. Cindy Gill]

lol. as if he'd take on more responsibility

 

besides, we aren't wot discussion trolls and I'm sure no one will need to be beaten with a brickbat about the face and head

[Guest PiotrekS]

The Black Tower should do something about Egwene. Something definite. Something Dumai Wells style.

 

Oh, I don't really hate her. I generally don't hate. Just think she is the worst piece of WOT in terms of characters, the worst literary quality. Her arc is so over-the-top, so heavy-handed that it hurts. It would suffice to change some small details - a little less pompous and self-righteous dialogue line there, a little less Mary Sue solution there...And she could be bearable.

 

It's interesting if there are some cultural differences in how some readers perceive Egwene. For example, people in my country and I probably more than most, have an alergic reaction to propaganda and over-the-top pomposity and self-righteousness. I can't stand all this "I'm the White Tower and the White Tower is invincible" or "Oh, what have you done to my beloved institution, the shining beacon of the Light" and. last but not least "Mesana, you're an insect compared to me, the great Amyrlin!Buahahaha!". I'm seriously unable to use the expression "shining beacon" without sarcasm. I like irony, distance, critical reflection, sense of humour and the strong sense of self that is distinct from any institutional role the person might be playing in the world. Like the hobbits in LotR, Shire and friends before everything else. All the things that Egwene, as a literary character, not only lacks, but is a glaring opposite of.

 

If, on the other hand, some cultures are more accepting of things like this-grand gestures, big words, "shining beacons" and viceless, cartoonish heroes, then it might be easier to enjoy Egwene's arc in the later books. She's like Superman to me, a cartonboard, shallow character.

 

I haven't read Twilight, but from what my friends told me, the problem with Bela in Twilight might be similar to what I dislike about Egwene- literary kitsch.

[Mrs. Cindy Gill]

excellent piotrek, and I know there's more where that came from.

 

not sure that's my problem with Bella... but that's for another thread. or a derail. it's all good.

 

and good points.

 

maybe someone should counter them so that you can explain more fully tho...

[mmeeshal]

I don't have a defense of Egwene...I just always fail to see what's so hateable about her or any other character, really. The closest I've ever come to active dislike is Faile, and even her.... I don't actually dislike.

 

I guess I don't see the point of wasting my energy feeling that negative about any character, really. I mean, if they're supposed to be a hateable super-villain or something, then that's one thing, and part of the story, but...otherwise, I just try to take the story the way it comes. There's no point in disliking a character with a viewpoint; it makes the whole story harder to get through, IMO.

 

If I was living in that world at that time I probably wouldn't go near the WT with a thousand-foot pole, so I'm sure Egwene would rub me the wrong way, but I don't live in that world, and even when I'm really into the story I don't feel like I myself am there; I'm an observer, not a player, and thus it isn't my place to judge what happens. It just does.

[Turin Turambar]

Egwene is evil but it isn't her fault. She gained it thru osmosis when she was riding Bela out of the Two rivers. Everyone knows Bela is the DO.

 

[Ithillian Turambar]

^^^^^^ This

 

 

Turin speaks the Truth.

[Netbattler11]

Egwene isn't my favorite char, but I don't see why everyone seems to hate her so much.

[Mrs. Cindy Gill]

i hate lots of characters from lots of other books, and love others. i can't get too worked up about anyone from these. i loved moirane but she got thrown away.

[Guest PiotrekS]

I wonder if I have ever read a book where the villain would be so well written I would really hate them, like a real person. I don't think so, at least in fiction. My problem with Egwene is that she is no real enough for me and makes me feel disconnected from the story.

[Guest PiotrekS]

excellent piotrek, and I know there's more where that came from.

 

I wonder how I should understand this. Maybe I shouldn't though

[Mrs. Cindy Gill]

it means i know when you get going on egwene you can go and go and go.

 

and this is the spam tower.

 

so that's a good thing.

[Guest PiotrekS]

it means i know when you get going on egwene you can go and go and go.

 

and this is the spam tower.

 

so that's a good thing.

 

That's true that sometimes I think I've already said everything I had to say on the subject. But this weakness passes and I'm ready to jump into another thread like this

[ThorkinBarrimore]

I never have hated her at all. I don't like Gawyn is my main thing. He seems whiney

and clingy. I was sad when Rand and her had the "let's be friends" talk which always

sucks.

 

I can see the Lan/Nynaeve thing. I can see the Rand/Aviendha thing. I guess they had

to put Egwene and Gawyn together because everyone else was taken and they needed to

match them up. I will never understand it.

[Mrs. Cindy Gill]

it means i know when you get going on egwene you can go and go and go.

 

and this is the spam tower.

 

so that's a good thing.

 

That's true that sometimes I think I've already said everything I had to say on the subject. But this weakness passes and I'm ready to jump into another thread like this

 

 

jump in and say it all again. you won't get the same responses here as you do in WOT discussion i think. well, until ley comes around.

[Mrs. Cindy Gill]

ok, i'll devil's advocate it.

 

i can't do this well, cause... kind of apathetic about he whole issue except enjoy watching the discussions.

 

lets see...

 

strong, natural leader, necessary in a time of massive upheaval.

 

no less ridiculously over qualified than the three boys, when it comes right down to it.

 

has to butch it up to get the respect her youth would deny her.

 

doesn't really abandon every single friend she makes... just learns... and moves on...

 

ok, that last one was weak.

 

help me out here, any good qualities at all?

[Mrs. Cindy Gill]

takes a spanking like nobody's business?

[Mrs. Cindy Gill]

did well with the red issue?

[Mrs. Cindy Gill]

not afraid to use people as needed for the greater good? which she really believes is the strength of the white tower? possibly risking the world at the same time?

[Mrs. Cindy Gill]

not afraid to disrespect and abuse her elders and betters?

[ThorkinBarrimore]

takes a spanking like nobody's business?

 

That's a good one!

 

I don't think anyone could argue against that.

[Mrs. Cindy Gill]

i think its the cornerstone of her character. as much as all the girls get whipped and spanked... she really is his discipline star.

[ThorkinBarrimore]

She owned it especially with all that laughing business.