We see numerous examples of Warders acting as advisors and confidantes to their Aes Sedai, including being the voice of reason or contradiction. They might accept that the final say is the sister's, but the warder is allowed (and possibly encouraged) to question her and play devil's advocate. By standards of comparison, Moiraine does not really seem to have as light a leash on Lan as she claims.
Though Warders may disagree with their Aes Sedai, this is very rarely done in public for the practical reason that to the public eye, the Warder is the right hand of the Sister. Moiraine and Lan presented a united front to the world precisely because ultimately, she wasn't a fool, and he backed up her decisions.
A Warders' advice may be welcomed in private, but in public, this is tantamount to questioning the judgment of a superior in their ranking system and it undermines credibility. to go back to the military example, a new Lt. often makes mistakes, but if they have what is considered a good NCO, the NCO will accommodate the mistake in such a way that the order is carried out in the way it was intended to.
Though Warders may disagree with their Aes Sedai, this is very rarely done in public for the practical reason that to the public eye, the Warder is the right hand of the Sister. Moiraine and Lan presented a united front to the world precisely because ultimately, she wasn't a fool, and he backed up her decisions.
A Warders' advice may be welcomed in private, but in public, this is tantamount to questioning the judgment of a superior in their ranking system and it undermines credibility. to go back to the military example, a new Lt. often makes mistakes, but if they have what is considered a good NCO, the NCO will accommodate the mistake in such a way that the order is carried out in the way it was intended to.
The relationship between Warder and Aes Sedai reminds me a lot of traditional marriage, only with the authority roles reversed. The Warder makes a lifetime commitment to one woman, an Aes Sedai. He must obey her, protect her and he a sword for her to use when the Power is not appropriate. Personal compatibility with your Warder is important enough for a sister to spend years searching out a suitable man. But the Aes Sedai is the authority and the focus and it's her vision or cause that will decide how they spend their lives.
This argument is very modern-western-world, with our belief that everyone is equal to everyone else. WoT does not share that standard. Warders know the score when they sign up; they aren't equals, and never expected to be.
Egwene vs. Gawyn (ToM spoilers of course)
- 28/04/2011 05:01:46 AM
3953 Views
There's fifty feet of crap between rock bottom and your post... *NM*
- 28/04/2011 07:40:04 AM
470 Views
Almost three days since the last post...at least I'm trying.
- 28/04/2011 12:17:59 PM
933 Views
What is to discuss here? You hate Egwene and will spin anything to put her in a negative light
- 28/04/2011 12:59:58 PM
989 Views
But he's so good at it. all the pieces are in there and close to the right place... like a picasso.
- 03/05/2011 12:51:54 AM
955 Views
I'd say there's no need to take it so seriously when there's so few posts lately. You should see
- 28/04/2011 05:59:19 PM
893 Views
while i agree with you on most of this
- 28/04/2011 04:53:06 PM
1077 Views
hmpf, i post a good point and nothing
- 28/04/2011 11:09:53 PM
853 Views
*NM*
you could say the same about a lot of the relationships in this series
- 28/04/2011 04:59:19 PM
1026 Views
I agree there are plenty of underdeveloped and somewhat one-sided relationships in the series
- 28/04/2011 08:15:52 PM
1068 Views
Re: I agree there are plenty of underdeveloped and somewhat one-sided relationships in the series
- 29/04/2011 06:55:14 PM
912 Views
In regards to the letters...
- 28/04/2011 05:28:13 PM
1117 Views
But Gawyn was not Egwene's subject
- 28/04/2011 06:09:31 PM
932 Views
Which was why I thought it was appropriate, since he meant to act as Egwene's Warder.
- 28/04/2011 06:19:53 PM
896 Views
The only issue is that Warders are not minions - they are honored junior partners.
- 28/04/2011 07:39:18 PM
1052 Views
No, the junior partners are Accepted. Warders are essentially personal bodyguards and/or assistants.
- 28/04/2011 08:00:17 PM
849 Views
Marriage
- 28/04/2011 08:27:53 PM
873 Views
Accepted are not anything, let alone junior partners. Don't think N&E's experience was typical
- 28/04/2011 09:32:22 PM
1075 Views
Here's the thing though...
- 28/04/2011 11:20:32 PM
899 Views
No, but it's cute and quirky when Faile does it.
- 29/04/2011 03:06:50 PM
1068 Views
But...
- 29/04/2011 10:52:03 PM
865 Views
That's not really clear
- 29/04/2011 11:41:20 PM
993 Views
Actually, it is...
- 30/04/2011 06:37:42 PM
1005 Views
Re: Actually, it is...
- 30/04/2011 11:17:21 PM
886 Views
Didn't Siuan, Gareth and Gawyn tell her about the Bloodknife they encountered?
- 02/05/2011 02:33:08 PM
891 Views
Re: Accepted are not anything, let alone junior partners. Don't think N&E's experience was typical
- 28/04/2011 11:36:24 PM
912 Views
My two cents: yes, a little, maybe, and possibly not.
- 28/04/2011 06:05:09 PM
1038 Views
Regarding your reference to another Emond's Fielder: What are you talking about?
- 28/04/2011 09:06:13 PM
893 Views
both together, couldn't separate them in my mind - perrin's evasiveness or nyn's trickiness *NM*
- 28/04/2011 10:16:57 PM
475 Views
It isn't the worst romance in WoT
- 28/04/2011 08:10:23 PM
1201 Views
Galad is a great option for a political marriage
- 28/04/2011 09:04:46 PM
885 Views
Yes, but...
- 28/04/2011 09:40:39 PM
928 Views
but galad knew nothing of berelain's closeness to rand, so that couldn't have affected anything
- 28/04/2011 10:12:23 PM
963 Views
Yes. An often overlooked point is that ELAYNE, not Egwene, gains the most power in ToM
- 28/04/2011 09:42:43 PM
1263 Views
Except they're both really hot.
- 28/04/2011 10:01:46 PM
1060 Views
I can only quibble; Egwene became so insufferable in ToM I'm convinced her fate will be unpleasant.
- 04/05/2011 12:41:53 AM
1026 Views
Siuan...
- 04/05/2011 05:42:59 AM
1031 Views
Re: Siuan screwed up big time.
- 07/05/2011 03:35:46 AM
900 Views
Good points all round (do you switch brains when getting into real world politics? ) & re: the Talk
- 12/05/2011 02:04:06 PM
850 Views
Thanks, (and no, you just become less and less astute as we move farther from fiction. 
)
- 15/05/2011 11:46:41 PM
1200 Views
)
- 15/05/2011 11:46:41 PM
1200 Views