Rand al'Thor's personality

[alienfreak29]

yeah, the solution would be for characters you think are weak to kill everyone you do not like. That makes them strong and "cool". We all know how that works out in real life. Why don't you read Goodkind instead of Jordan? If you want types instead of characters, he will probably satisfy you.

 

Ah, tsk tsk tsk. Temper? Mmmm?

 

It's not that I want RJ to kill everyone I don't like. I also hate the Seanchan and their ways of collaring women who can channel and treating them like dogs.

 

But I don't feel the animosity toward them that I do toward Aes Sedai from the White Tower.

 

As for Rand being weak, well, if RJ continues to make him lick the Aes Sedai's boots, I would consider him to be weak yes. I have said it before and I will say it again...it seems to me that RJ may have been reading some bondage porn and the whole "Female Supremacy" crap that usually goes along with male fantasies seems to inundate Rand land.

 

Cadsuane and her counting! Pah!

 

Corporal punishment anyone?

 

Has nothing to do with Jordan vs. Goodkind. I have never read Mr. Goodkind that I can remember in point of fact.

 

What I would consider "strong" and "cool" would be for Rand to act as a man, not a boy. Listen to Logain, put Mazrim Taim in his place, take the White Tower seriously, and instead of trying to make peace, crush it. He is the Dragon Reborn, the White Tower is an obstacle. It would not have to be that way...but the White Tower and its witches have made themselves thus.

[Jellybelly]

No temper, I was perfectly calm when I wrote that.

 

Seriously, though, it seems to me that you have failed to grasp the roles of particular characters and institutions. If RJ followed your advice, the series would degenerate completely. Your proposal for Rand to show how tough he is would completely ruin any chance of winning Tarmon Gaidon in a logically viable fashion. Although this work falls under the category of speculative fiction, realism is a strong feature in it. It needs to make sense internally.

 

If Rand were to destroy the White Tower, he would destroy an indispensable ally. He would lose because of that, as the Aes Sedai will play a crucial part in the Last Battle. First you have the fact that he would lose the support of the most experienced channelling body in the world. He would turn every woman affiliated to the tower against him, turning an ally into an enemy, at least until the trollocs pour out of the Blight. In addition to that, he would more than likely lose the support of the nations, both in terms of popular opinion and military support. By destroying the Tower he would pull the rug from underneath the structure of the westlands, and he would stand on his own. The Tower is the oldest enduring institution of power in the world, and in many ways the cornerstone of society. If removed, everything would collapse. Although it may be an obstacle to Rand in several ways, he needs it. Destroying it might satisfy an adolescent need to take powerful women down a peg, but not much else.

 

Another point: Rand never licks Aes Sedai boots. When did that happen? He treats Cadsuane with a modicum of respect, which is only to be expected. All others he push around to do his bidding. The so-called "female supremacy crap" you refer to is hardly evidenced in the books. Far Madding is the only location in the books fitting that bill, to my eyes.

 

And how does Rand not act like a man? He is making the ultimate sacrifice, doing what he has to do, in a very uncooperative world that would rather he had never been born.

[Razor]

LTT and Artur Paendrag would in my opinion be much more suited or their personalities much more suited to take on the role Rand has

 

Comparing a shephard learning how to lead to great leaders of the past is not quite fair. Rand is learning throughout the series. I think he has done as well as can be expected.

[Arath Faringal]

Thinking about it, Rand is in a situation a bit different from LTT or Hawkwing. They were great, even had greatness thrust upon them, but as far as we know they didn't have so many prophecies rolling around about them. Rand, poor guy, had heard the prophecies of his own death from a very young age, even before he knew it meant him. Knowing for sure that death is right there in your immediate future is a bit more stressful than knowing that its a possibility. Gonna have a powerful impact on your personality. Most people would probably do one of two things.

 

1. Fall into depression/nervous breakdown.

2. Blatantly deny it and actively work against it.

 

Very few people would plod along on the expected path like Rand does, methinks.

 

The so-called "female supremacy crap" you refer to is hardly evidenced in the books. Far Madding is the only location in the books fitting that bill' date=' to my eyes.

 

Not to pick at hairs, but the White Tower, or at the very least the Red Ajah, would also fall in the category. And possibly the women's circles.

[AV1ENDHA]

It gets a lot better. He goes to Dragonmount in Gathering Storm (Book 12) and he completely changes. He isn't angry anymore and people the Pattern starts bending around him more. When he visits Tuon the second time, he gets shielded and flowers start growing out in a spiral pattern when he isn't even using the One Power. 

[Elendir]

I would point out to the author of OP that LTT led armies of light against the dark and totally screwed it up.

If you put in Rand place somebody like Arthur, he'd screwed it up as well. Rand has a lot of weaknesses, but he's strong enough to deal with them. LTT may have had few weaknesses, but he was overwhelmed by them (arrogance for example).

[SinisterDeath]

On 3/30/2021 at 2:49 PM, AV1ENDHA said:

It gets a lot better. He goes to Dragonmount in Gathering Storm (Book 12) and he completely changes. He isn't angry anymore and people the Pattern starts bending around him more. When he visits Tuon the second time, he gets shielded and flowers start growing out in a spiral pattern when he isn't even using the One Power. 

The 14 year old thread you replied to, at the time of the last post, Robert Jordan hadn't died yet, and Book 12 wouldn't have come out for another 2 years.