I think Tuon is a competent ruler of her people, not given to megalomania, and not a dolt.
I even understand where she is coming from, but even apart from her willful blindness on the damane issue (which is at least understandable), she is hardly likeable. She grew up in a closed environment where all that existed for her was the struggle to be named heir and doing her duty to her people.
The result is a young woman who has never had time to think of herself as a person, as anything other than the Daughter of the Nine Moons.
Unlike Elayne, who didn't have to have her brothers killed and face total separation from her mother, Tuon has never had a childhood at all, and that shows.
She is, for example, quite kind on occasions, even understanding and open-minded (with Mistress Anan, especially). She isn't monstrous, not the kind who takes pleasure in her power. But she she does all these things because in her mind, she is a good ruler, who will be a good Empress. There is, in her mind, no dichotomy between Tuon the woman and Tuon the Empress, whereas up to tGS, at least, Egwene retains that part of her that is not Amyrlin, for an example of what Tuon lacks.
This means Tuon is the kind of person who can make people respect her, even follow her loyally. But only those who saw her as a little kid love her and can be her friends.
Egwene is headed that way too. I don't think she can ever make any more new friends. Gain new followers, yes. Make women like Saerin trust her and follow her lead? Yes. Gain a close working partner in a woman like Silviana? Again, yes. But the part of her that was playful, childish She isn't as forbidding as Tuon, of course, and has a better sense of humor and is definitely more charming than Tuon. But those are the very qualities leadership is leaching out of her, though she does seem to realize that she shouldn't ever give them up.
Jordan seems to be making a statement here. Leadership, at an early age, seems to take something out of people (with Elayne being the obvious example of a case where this isn't true at all). The question is, how grounded will these women remain? Egwene is far from hopeless.
With Tuon, her only hope is Mat. Jordan did a great job there pairing them up. Mat is the obvious foil for her, the irreverent lout to her stern judge. Mat, who has the most well adjusted attitude to leadership (because he never considered the issue, never felt it to be that great a burden). I think that was the part the sequels would have expanded on. How Mat makes Tuon "cool".
But certainly, for a character who was only introduced in book 9, Tuon has been very well drawn. Kudos to Jordan for that.
I even understand where she is coming from, but even apart from her willful blindness on the damane issue (which is at least understandable), she is hardly likeable. She grew up in a closed environment where all that existed for her was the struggle to be named heir and doing her duty to her people.
The result is a young woman who has never had time to think of herself as a person, as anything other than the Daughter of the Nine Moons.
Unlike Elayne, who didn't have to have her brothers killed and face total separation from her mother, Tuon has never had a childhood at all, and that shows.
She is, for example, quite kind on occasions, even understanding and open-minded (with Mistress Anan, especially). She isn't monstrous, not the kind who takes pleasure in her power. But she she does all these things because in her mind, she is a good ruler, who will be a good Empress. There is, in her mind, no dichotomy between Tuon the woman and Tuon the Empress, whereas up to tGS, at least, Egwene retains that part of her that is not Amyrlin, for an example of what Tuon lacks.
This means Tuon is the kind of person who can make people respect her, even follow her loyally. But only those who saw her as a little kid love her and can be her friends.
Egwene is headed that way too. I don't think she can ever make any more new friends. Gain new followers, yes. Make women like Saerin trust her and follow her lead? Yes. Gain a close working partner in a woman like Silviana? Again, yes. But the part of her that was playful, childish She isn't as forbidding as Tuon, of course, and has a better sense of humor and is definitely more charming than Tuon. But those are the very qualities leadership is leaching out of her, though she does seem to realize that she shouldn't ever give them up.
Jordan seems to be making a statement here. Leadership, at an early age, seems to take something out of people (with Elayne being the obvious example of a case where this isn't true at all). The question is, how grounded will these women remain? Egwene is far from hopeless.
With Tuon, her only hope is Mat. Jordan did a great job there pairing them up. Mat is the obvious foil for her, the irreverent lout to her stern judge. Mat, who has the most well adjusted attitude to leadership (because he never considered the issue, never felt it to be that great a burden). I think that was the part the sequels would have expanded on. How Mat makes Tuon "cool".
But certainly, for a character who was only introduced in book 9, Tuon has been very well drawn. Kudos to Jordan for that.
Character discussion 10 : Tuon
18/07/2010 06:08:30 PM
- 1923 Views
Most annoying, unlikeable, incomprehensible, irredeemable character in the books.
18/07/2010 06:44:14 PM
- 1105 Views
I disprove your argument with one word. Coincidentally, it is a character.
18/07/2010 07:50:17 PM
- 922 Views
Re: Most annoying, unlikeable, incomprehensible, irredeemable character in the books.
19/07/2010 05:57:29 PM
- 905 Views
Re: Most annoying, unlikeable, incomprehensible, irredeemable character in the books.
20/07/2010 01:01:50 AM
- 841 Views
Re: Most annoying, unlikeable, incomprehensible, irredeemable character in the books.
20/07/2010 06:36:11 PM
- 1038 Views
I really like Tuon.
18/07/2010 07:45:11 PM
- 1018 Views
Re: I really like Tuon.
18/07/2010 07:56:22 PM
- 966 Views
I guess I should have said she and Egwene share positive personality traits
18/07/2010 09:01:50 PM
- 944 Views
Re: I guess I should have said she and Egwene share positive personality traits
21/07/2010 01:26:03 PM
- 701 Views
Cool character but has major flaws
19/07/2010 06:22:15 AM
- 881 Views
The a'dam and the 3 Oaths are a lot alike.
20/07/2010 01:01:49 AM
- 957 Views
Re: "She is a better ruler than most". Really? Can you provide the examples?
19/07/2010 06:58:46 PM
- 851 Views
Re: "She is a better ruler than most". Really? Can you provide the examples?
20/07/2010 12:39:15 AM
- 830 Views
Re: "She is a better ruler than most". Really? Can you provide the examples?
20/07/2010 03:59:30 PM
- 802 Views
You meant to say Graendal used Arad Doman as her base & destroyed it, right?
20/07/2010 04:14:41 PM
- 904 Views
There are plenty of examples
20/07/2010 08:59:19 PM
- 966 Views
Re: There are plenty of examples
21/07/2010 02:21:01 PM
- 703 Views
Does Tuon know sul'dam can channel or not?
18/07/2010 10:56:40 PM
- 854 Views
I'm laughing out loud. AS are normal women? Have you been paying attention to the AS she's with?
19/07/2010 01:35:08 AM
- 884 Views
A horrible woman
19/07/2010 07:02:45 AM
- 927 Views
Yes - and the Seanchan Empire is ten thousand times worse than a White Tower-like organization
22/07/2010 03:24:28 PM
- 777 Views
I think she has the most potential for evil
19/07/2010 03:24:28 PM
- 817 Views
One of Jordan's better done characters...
20/07/2010 04:56:36 AM
- 797 Views
Tuon and omens plus other thoughts.
20/07/2010 05:20:26 AM
- 752 Views
On that note, I think she is a bit uncanny because she sometimes seems a bit insane
20/07/2010 03:52:58 PM
- 754 Views
One thing among many that really bothered me about Tuon
21/07/2010 08:07:57 AM
- 780 Views