Wow this Wot Wiki article sum up ALL that must be concluded in the last book. It's extremely detailed ! If I have known it sooner !!!! I posted earlier about my doubt about a "too-standard" ending but after seeing this I REALLY can't predict what the last book will include ! Thanks for the link.

To add to my post... We see Randland is evolving. Actually someone asked what was the story ot the Wheel of Time on another post ... it is about the changing of a world.

When we are introduced to this world in TEotW, there is the Mayor ... but there is the Women's Circle thumping with sticks all around (don't think Nynaeve was alone doing it, EVERY woman was leading ... it's hinted). Actually the Wheel of Time is dealing with a world similar to our own where a gender is predominant and is gradually evolving to a world where both gender lead togeher.

I agree that in the Age of Legend every important feat was acomplished with both genders but ... with the opening of the Bore (by a woman ... who said that I talked about an apple and a snake !? ;) ), the genders actually broke appart. LTT and the other one (I can't recall her name ... the soul of Egwene ... Latra Posae ?) didn't agree and that lead to the tainting of Saidin.

The Wheel of Time deals with the equality of genders ... I think the basement of Elaida's Palace will be used for a new "Black Tower" (since the actual one will be entirely destroyed with the battle which will happen there ...). - I hope Aviendha will sacrifice her children (the Dragon Blood ...) in order to ensure a happy future but I digress ... -

To conclude : the third age is a woman-dominated age ... it's irritating but it's the goal of the book : only when men and women that great things are acomplished.

RJ should have written his book in the 70s lol.

I think women in Randland (especially those with political or social influence) behave like they are just because men are womewhat despised since the breaking.

Think ... every man is potentially a channeler. A man whose destiny is to be mad and destroy a x mile radius around him before death (the destruction happening simultaneously with his death ;) ...).

So ... with thousand years of suspicion about men, wouldn't you be despicable with men ? Think about how men behave with women in our days ... It's not really the same behavior (don't imagine a man sniffing of smoothing trousers lol) but basically it's the same thinking : women are inferior.

I think RJ did a nice job, perhpas it is too stretched or imaginative but it's a nice vision of a woman-dominated world.

Disagree ? Tenobia, Amathera, Alliandre and Morgase ... I don't recall if there are other queen in the westland but women rule over the main country there. The <b> rose </b> throne !!?? Seriously ... Not coutning the Saenchan Empress (always female ? I dunno but it's hinted with Tuon) ...

So don't whine about women in Wot ... they are totally in accord with their world.

(favorite character : Nynaeve lol).