Fair points, I take back the "positive reinforcement" thing I said.
As I've said before, my biggest issue with Egwene is that she falls into the Pratchettian definition of evil: she treats people as things. One of the only times in the last few books that I can recall her even trying to empathise with someone was when she obtusely compared her imprisonment to Rand's. She clearly knows some details of his capture, and yet she compares a prison cell with a coffin, spanking with beating, and her fears for the tower with Rand's fears for the fate of the entire world. And to top that off, Rand was forced to watch his lover being beaten even harder than he was. Egwene just seems out of touch with people. She understands how they think and work, and she can negotiate well enough, but she doesn't actually feel for them. Nicola dies because of her bad planning, and all we get is a sentence or two of mild regret followed by justification. Siuan saves her life, but Egwene is too paranoid to trust her. Nynaeve's experiences were so far beyond any pain we've seen caused to Egwene that it's mindboggling, yet this is done for pure political expediency. Compare Egwene's thought process to any other major character; the only one who somewhat matches is Dark Rand.
She's had a month now - why aren't the Yellow and Green Ajahs out on the blight border holding back the tide? Because Egwene is thinking like Dark Rand; it's all about winning the LB, not about winning a future for humanity. A person can have all the traits and abilities of legendary leadership, but if they place that leadership before their own humanity then they are nothing more than an administrative machine.
As I've said before, my biggest issue with Egwene is that she falls into the Pratchettian definition of evil: she treats people as things. One of the only times in the last few books that I can recall her even trying to empathise with someone was when she obtusely compared her imprisonment to Rand's. She clearly knows some details of his capture, and yet she compares a prison cell with a coffin, spanking with beating, and her fears for the tower with Rand's fears for the fate of the entire world. And to top that off, Rand was forced to watch his lover being beaten even harder than he was. Egwene just seems out of touch with people. She understands how they think and work, and she can negotiate well enough, but she doesn't actually feel for them. Nicola dies because of her bad planning, and all we get is a sentence or two of mild regret followed by justification. Siuan saves her life, but Egwene is too paranoid to trust her. Nynaeve's experiences were so far beyond any pain we've seen caused to Egwene that it's mindboggling, yet this is done for pure political expediency. Compare Egwene's thought process to any other major character; the only one who somewhat matches is Dark Rand.
She's had a month now - why aren't the Yellow and Green Ajahs out on the blight border holding back the tide? Because Egwene is thinking like Dark Rand; it's all about winning the LB, not about winning a future for humanity. A person can have all the traits and abilities of legendary leadership, but if they place that leadership before their own humanity then they are nothing more than an administrative machine.
Egwene, a poor leader?
16/12/2010 05:59:15 PM
- 2223 Views
Egwene isn't supposed to be a leader. She's a dictator and a politician.
16/12/2010 08:21:13 PM
- 1386 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
16/12/2010 10:53:20 PM
- 1069 Views
If the Shadow had removed Elaida so Egwene was Amyrlin whilst Rand was still Dark ...
16/12/2010 11:56:08 PM
- 1021 Views
Same thing if Elaida was in charge when meeting w/ Dark Rand. *NM*
17/12/2010 02:10:20 AM
- 532 Views
Except Rand wouldn't go to the WT with Elaida in charge, without having to fight
17/12/2010 02:50:18 AM
- 1137 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
17/12/2010 03:07:40 AM
- 1163 Views
Exactly how loyal do you think Nynaeve and Elayne are?
17/12/2010 04:52:34 AM
- 942 Views
Re: Exactly how loyal do you think Nynaeve and Elayne are?
17/12/2010 05:44:30 AM
- 1050 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
17/12/2010 02:30:48 PM
- 1110 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
17/12/2010 08:25:39 PM
- 882 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
18/12/2010 05:06:21 AM
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Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
19/12/2010 08:41:31 PM
- 952 Views
Torturing Nynaeve for exclusively her own political ends. *NM*
20/12/2010 12:14:55 AM
- 562 Views
Re: Torturing Nynaeve for exclusively her own political ends.
20/12/2010 01:24:12 AM
- 999 Views
And the most painful torments were caused by Egwene
20/12/2010 09:31:44 AM
- 1116 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
20/12/2010 12:57:42 AM
- 882 Views
She has the same power base as any Amyrlin - the Aes Sedai, the artisans, Guards & citizens of TV
17/12/2010 05:51:20 PM
- 1035 Views
Ta'veren vs. Mary Sue
17/12/2010 07:33:28 PM
- 1420 Views
I see them as being the same thing.
17/12/2010 08:11:30 PM
- 1044 Views
I don't think the case can be made for Rand having it easy
17/12/2010 11:04:58 PM
- 963 Views
I would say that in the grand scheme of things, Rand's had good to balance out the bad.
20/12/2010 06:27:35 PM
- 951 Views
Funniest statement I've ever seen on here.
18/12/2010 05:22:28 AM
- 1058 Views
But you are just undervaluing Egwene's struggles in comparison to the other characters.
20/12/2010 06:17:17 PM
- 1354 Views
Re: But you are just undervaluing Egwene's struggles in comparison to the other characters.
22/12/2010 05:28:01 PM
- 1127 Views
Yes, but for completely different reasons...
18/12/2010 12:35:23 AM
- 1080 Views
You think Egwene has more power than Tuon?
18/12/2010 12:27:01 PM
- 905 Views
Definitely...
18/12/2010 03:24:12 PM
- 945 Views
I think comparing Egwene to McCain is asking for trouble on several fronts.
20/12/2010 12:33:04 AM
- 915 Views

She has a pretty powerful weapon...
20/12/2010 02:41:32 AM
- 932 Views
RJ is more powerful.
20/12/2010 03:25:49 AM
- 1055 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon...
20/12/2010 09:46:22 AM
- 1009 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon...
20/12/2010 09:55:03 AM
- 880 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon...
20/12/2010 10:27:59 AM
- 972 Views