I am on book 5 and this is my second time reading the series. I understand what Robert Jordan's idea was with the reluctant hero. However, by the end of book two enough was enough. The continuation of the characters, not just stubbornly resisting the paths laid out before them, but consistently ignoring the changes that occur to them is painfully frustrating for the reader.
It makes them appear simple-minded. Worse, it is not an accurate portrayal of a group of friends. Particularly friends who have grown up almost as brothers. Their unwillingness to discuss what is happening even among themselves rings false. I am surprised that beta readers/Editors did not make an issue with a character like Matt continuing to be portrayed like this after nearly 2 million words into the series. At least Perrin more or less accepts who he is a few books in. Rand eventually comes around. However, Matt who has the potential to be such a great character, just continues to act...well, like an idiot.
Like I said I truly understand Robert Jordan's desire to create the "reluctant" hero. The problem is that the way they are written is more like someone trying to hide that they are schizophrenic. The portrayal just does not work. Denial in the face of everything they experience from the outset makes the characters frustrating and often unlikable.
Another example of a really strange disconnect psychologically is their feelings about the Aes Sedai. It makes little to no sense. Particularly with regard to Moiraine. She saves them and The Two Rivers at the beginning, then helps them continuously and they treat her with near contempt. They seem to blame her for everything that is happening. It makes no sense. I swear if I were Lan I think I would have put a sword through all three.
So why am I reading the series for the second time? Despite how badly the three boys are portrayed in the first third of the series the world, concepts and magic system are brilliantly written. I also think that for the most part the prose is just fantastic. There is a lot to learn as a writer from these books. Even the mistakes. I believe the flawed portrayal of the boys as reluctant hero's is a great lesson for aspiring authors. It is a tribute to the brilliance of the series as a whole that it overcomes so big a mis-step with its three main characters.
What do you think?
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Do you think Rand, Matt and Perrin are badly written characters?
I am on book 5 and this is my second time reading the series. I understand what Robert Jordan's idea was with the reluctant hero. However, by the end of book two enough was enough. The continuation of the characters, not just stubbornly resisting the paths laid out before them, but consistently ignoring the changes that occur to them is painfully frustrating for the reader. It makes them appear simple-minded. Worse, it is not an accurate portrayal of a group of friends. Particularly friends who have grown up almost as brothers. Their unwillingness to discuss what is happening even among themselves rings false. I am surprised that beta readers/Editors did not make an issue with a character like Matt continuing to be portrayed like this after nearly 2 million words into the series. At least Perrin more or less accepts who he is a few books in. Rand eventually comes around. However, Matt who has the potential to be such a great character, just continues to act...well, like an idiot. Like I said I truly understand Robert Jordan's desire to create the "reluctant" hero. The problem is that the way they are written is more like someone trying to hide that they are schizophrenic. The portrayal just does not work. Denial in the face of everything they experience from the outset makes the characters frustrating and often unlikable. Another example of a really strange disconnect psychologically is their feelings about the Aes Sedai. It makes little to no sense. Particularly with regard to Moiraine. She saves them and The Two Rivers at the beginning, then helps them continuously and they treat her with near contempt. They seem to blame her for everything that is happening. It makes no sense. I swear if I were Lan I think I would have put a sword through all three. So why am I reading the series for the second time? Despite how badly the three boys are portrayed in the first third of the series the world, concepts and magic system are brilliantly written. I also think that for the most part the prose is just fantastic. There is a lot to learn as a writer from these books. Even the mistakes. I believe the flawed portrayal of the boys as reluctant hero's is a great lesson for aspiring authors. It is a tribute to the brilliance of the series as a whole that it overcomes so big a mis-step with its three main characters. What do you think?