Re: I don't think so. But neither do I think Moridin is the true Nae'blis - Edit 1
Before modification by RugbyPlayingAshaman at 07/07/2010 11:14:24 PM
The Forsaken, for the most part, have become intoxicated by exposure to the Dark One. You can refer to any section of the book in which Lanfear, Ishamael, Demandred, Graendal or Moghedien is in the Dark One's presence - they feel exhilarated and drunk with the power It offers to them. That is largely why there reasons make no sense - they are being manipulated and in many ways are in too deep to escape; Asmodean, once he was separated from the Dark One and fell from favor, started to feel something like regret. To put it bluntly, there is a reason why the most bright and intelligent among the Chosen had such flimsy reasons for joining the Dark One, and most of their defections were related to a rejection of the AoL's societal morals or quite simply going insane. Rand/Lews Therin came close to this in TGS and we all saw how unbalanced his state of mind was in that book. You don't need to understand WHY a person wants something; all you need to is convince them you can provide it. That is sufficient. After that, the person themselves provides the necessary justifications that creates the excesses the Forsaken are famous for. This is why the Forsaken demonstrate such blatant holes in their logic - the most intelligent note that they really don't know what the Dark One wants, that the Dark One often lies and that he uses people...yet in the same breath/thought, they think that the Dark One promised them something and the Dark One would not betray them:
Rand/Lews Therin is not incorruptible. There is nothing that could be further from the truth. The problem is that the Dark One has nothing that Rand/Lews Therin really wants - Rand wanted love and safety for his loved ones; the only way the DO can offer anything in regards to that would be to capture them and threaten him with their safety, which was indeed the goal of the Shadow in the first few books.
And I disagree with you about animals. This is exactly why experienced animal handlers and trainers tend to say you can't understand animals, and why you always need to be careful because you can't predict what they'd do. Why? Because they aren't humans, and have different processes and animal impulses that can be triggered by things humans are not sensitive to. There is that story/saying about the dog that bit the hand that fed it, and others, that refer to this.
Week 1 Question: The Dark One has promised his followers immortality and power above all others on the Day of Return. In previous interviews you have said that this is within his power. My question is, will he? I mean, he doesn't seem very loyal or trustworthy to me. If (Light forbid) he breaks free, will he remember the "little people" or just destroy all the puny humans when he remakes the world in his own image?
Robert Jordan Answers: That's the big question for the Forsaken, isn't it. Can they trust the Dark One? You're right; he isn't very trustworthy or loyal. Greed leads people to believe strange things, to excuse the most abhorrent behavior on their parts-just check out the nightly news for confirmation-and at the root, that is what motivates the Forsaken and, in truth, most Darkfriends. Greed for power, greed for immortality. That makes them believe, because they want to believe. So will he grant these things? Maybe. After all, he gains more willing followers, more eager followers, if he is seen to give rewards. But will he care whether he has any followers at all in a world where he is all-powerful? Flip a coin and check which way the wind is blowing. Maybe you can find the answer there.
Robert Jordan Answers: That's the big question for the Forsaken, isn't it. Can they trust the Dark One? You're right; he isn't very trustworthy or loyal. Greed leads people to believe strange things, to excuse the most abhorrent behavior on their parts-just check out the nightly news for confirmation-and at the root, that is what motivates the Forsaken and, in truth, most Darkfriends. Greed for power, greed for immortality. That makes them believe, because they want to believe. So will he grant these things? Maybe. After all, he gains more willing followers, more eager followers, if he is seen to give rewards. But will he care whether he has any followers at all in a world where he is all-powerful? Flip a coin and check which way the wind is blowing. Maybe you can find the answer there.
Rand/Lews Therin is not incorruptible. There is nothing that could be further from the truth. The problem is that the Dark One has nothing that Rand/Lews Therin really wants - Rand wanted love and safety for his loved ones; the only way the DO can offer anything in regards to that would be to capture them and threaten him with their safety, which was indeed the goal of the Shadow in the first few books.
And I disagree with you about animals. This is exactly why experienced animal handlers and trainers tend to say you can't understand animals, and why you always need to be careful because you can't predict what they'd do. Why? Because they aren't humans, and have different processes and animal impulses that can be triggered by things humans are not sensitive to. There is that story/saying about the dog that bit the hand that fed it, and others, that refer to this.