Well, that depends. - Edit 1
Before modification by redqueen at 10/04/2011 10:16:40 PM
Though at least by noticing Min visiting Amyrlin's study at the start of TSR and remembering her connection to Rand and the Supergirls, Elaida showed a working brain, one of the rare times in the series.
I think Elaida had a lot of potential, but that most of it was wasted. To have finished her training in the time she did, she would have to be very bright and very driven. Unfortunately she then spent the next twenty years knitting baby booties in Caemlyn. If she'd spent that time learning Tower politics and learning to work with people instead of bludgeoning them, she might have made an okay Amyrlin.
It certainly would've been much better if she were a more worthy opponent for Egwene and not such a complete caricature in Books 6-12. She made way too many dumb decisions to remain even a remotely threatening opponent.
I know. Alviarin would have been way better.
I keep trying to imagine Elaida as a 'trained' damane and I can't do it. I just can't conceive of her as 'meek' or 'obedient', ever.