I don't have a link or know of words he said from an interview (though I'm sure he addressed it over the years). I just mean that through his writing, Jordan made the ignorance of the AS pretty clear. Verin talks quite a bit about knowledge that has been lost, and even talks about how many things are done a certain way simply because they've always been done that way. Ergo, "Visioning" might be a more correct term for the ability than "Foretelling", but the sisters present at the first foretelling dubbed it a "foretelling", so that is what it's been called for generations now.

Mb, but Jordan made it very clear that there was a lot to these Talents, like Foretelling, that the AS didnt understand and may not be accurate about.  So just because the AS named this Talent "Foretelling", that doesnt mean that a Foretell-er can ONLY see the future. 

Can we assume that education and literacy is widespread just because our main characters can read? Just cause rand and egwene can read doesn't mean the congars and coplins can.

Rand is the only son of a widely traveled soldier who was at one point an officer in the illian equivalent of the secret service. He saw politics first hand and knew the benifits of an education. Egwene was the daughter of arguably the region's only politician and possibly it's wealthiest family. Ny was likely expected to be educated to hold her post. Mat's father was one to try to find a leg up on everybody, etc.

And it is not presented unreasonably in my opinion. Remember how Mat's letters were described?

I gotta say Perrin can't be guilty. and Hopper had nothing to do with it. it's all about an illegal army in other's territory, making it an invasion. Perrin was a legal citizen held against his will, under threat of force, by hostile, professional soldiers. Any use of force to escape that situation is justified.

Is it just me, or was that scene one of the most poorly written in the series? Why too much build up for a letdown of a trial. There seemed a lot of insistance on proper decorum...and not enough proper decorum. Seemed ad-libbed and sloppy.

I'm actually refering to the nobles who watched Rand practice with the sword early in LoC. Names escape me, and they may not have been part of the all-powerful 19 who elects the throne, but they didnt seem insignifican either, like the houses that later came to Elyane's aid. Dyelin might have the supposrt of all nobles with stiff upper lips, but others are gonna be with rand for any advantage they can grab.

I know Dyelin has got a great deal in the strength-of-character department, but she is still a noble, still a politician. It's completely believable to think she could bluster or exaggerate in order to achieve an end she wants.

As for the levies, i know how the Andorans feel about driving the dragon out, but when i actually comes to fighting a losing war against the biggest, baddest army the world has ever known, it would be really difficult actually raising that army from amoung those who aren't already professional soildiers

A united Andor behind Dyelin is all bluster on her part. First of all, you had a large contingent of Andoran nobles who were fauning over Rand, subtract them from the equation. Then you have the levies, who are gonna look at the nobles, look at the Legion and the Aeil, look back at the nobles, and go "nuh uh." The you look at the fact that Rand has an even bigger army in the deep south, one that can teleport just as easily as the Legion and Aeil did...

Dyelin can do that math. She knows that any resistance would be utterly smashed and purely symbolic, and a pitiful symbol at that. Very few people feel patriotic after thier entire military has be desimated in less than a day. Dyelin was just puffing herself up to intimidate him to get what she wants. Rand was really intimidated, but it turned out he wanted the same thing.

What bothered me about Elyane's defense, and more so about Bridgett's (cause it's her job), is the total lack of innovation to end the seige. use the power or don't, but kidnap, raid, tunnel, do SOMETHING. could really use your help elsewhere

So it is very understandable when he "obsessed" with his wife's safety.

Understandable does not necessarily equal enjoyable or interesting to read.

 

Yeah. You're right. However, the "debate" is because people say they dislike Perrin because of his "obsession."

It's understandable certainly, but I think some would have like to get the story from a different point of view.  Give us Berlain's occasionally, or Aram's.  Be interesting to be in his mind.  Perrin can be a chore because there is rarely any humor, and you can read the POV of someone single minded only for so long.  Light, the man ignored a fellow who had a cough that progressed into vomiting beetles til death.  You would think he'd go "You know, I want to get Faile back and all, but I could spare 60 seconds to ponder what this might mean."

I'd say Rand is always interesting, especially once the madness starts up.  mat on the other hand is fun because there is always humor in his POVs, even in dire situations.

Perrin I liked til book 4, then he went downhill.  After that, he becomes a character that never has a positive emotion not associated with Faile, i can't connect with that.  I get that he's in love, but being unable to to appriciate any moment without her seems unrealistic and a little creepy.