Egwene SACRIFICED her life for her beliefs! Just because you found her character irritating doesn't mean she wasn't a hero in the series.
This doesn't count for anything to those who rabidly hate Egwene. Its only more irritating to them that she died heroically. And of course, some even find ways to twist that into something negative. I've seen posts calling her arrogant for assuming she could defeat Taim, that she killed herself only because she knew she'd be burned out if she let go of the Power (completely ignoring that she overdrew by choice, not accident), and other things in that vein. Just be satisfied the character wasn't shortchanged, and those who can read the books without ridiculous biases can enjoy the progression of her arc very much.
Which unfortunately got to the stage that I struggled to read passages from her POV (meaning I missed out reasonable chunks of the story when rereading as I skipped those parts entirely).
However, I do think she did a lot of good, and was a hero, and had an especially heroic end. I'm somewhat surprised that people think she was arrogant to think she could defeat Taim, though I guess I shouldn't be surprised given the wide variety of views on the internet. From my point of view, she was one of the few who probably could try and take him on, as proven when defending the White Tower Egwene is one of the better Aes Sedai for combat situations (reflective I think that despite the Green Ajah being battle Ajah, most of the Aes Sedai had spent too much time in the Tower in the last few generations), and Taim seemed to used to being in battles that were heavily favouring his side. With everything that Taim was managing, I think she had to try at least to take him on, regardless of her chances, but like I said I think her chances were always reasonable.
Like I said in a previous thread, I do find myself being able to view her overall progress through the series better now, as it seemed she fit her eventual role well (saviour and reuniter of the White Tower, and leader of the White Tower at the Last Battle).
I suspect I will always find her sections difficult to reread though, as possibly due to bias, I still see her as arrogant in many parts. In saying that, I don't find her arrogant in her opinion of herself / her abilities, or her views on whether she is fit to deal with others or not, I think she never overestimated herself. And, while I think she wouldn't have been a good future leader due to her interactions with the Seanchean and the like, I can't really fault her for these interactions, given her history with them and what they are like, her attitudes and behaviour were perfectly understandable. The traits that I see, that make me feel her arrogant, and difficult to read about, is where she seems to like to make assumptions quickly, and then treat the assumptions as fact (e.g. Rand must have made up about meeting the Daughter-Heir of Andor, Rand must have taken on a bard in the Waste out of pride / arrogance), and where she seems somewhat hypocritical (being very harsh in view on Rand on hearing he may have gotten Aes Sedai to swear to him, but has no problem making Aes Sedai swear to her).
Pattern's Choice for Amrylin
23/01/2013 08:57:21 PM
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23/01/2013 09:28:50 PM
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Re:
23/01/2013 09:40:49 PM
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Well since Cadsuane won't abolish the oaths she'll be dead before she can accomplish much
23/01/2013 10:00:27 PM
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Re: Well since Cadsuane won't abolish the oaths she'll be dead before she can accomplish much
23/01/2013 10:30:26 PM
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I disagree about Cadsuane. Her entitlement issues are pretty significant.
23/01/2013 11:29:04 PM
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Re: I disagree about Cadsuane. Her entitlement issues are pretty significant.
23/01/2013 11:59:08 PM
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Age was never a limit to Cadsuane...
24/01/2013 01:20:46 AM
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Cadsuane was able to adapt in her dealing with the DR
24/01/2013 02:16:31 AM
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Huh?
24/01/2013 02:23:28 AM
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Seriously ... She constantly reminds herself that Rand is NOT the boy she grew up with
24/01/2013 05:50:45 AM
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She seemed to have difficulties with the idea of him in charge, and the idea of him channeling
24/01/2013 04:23:43 PM
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Re: Well since Cadsuane won't abolish the oaths she'll be dead before she can accomplish much
23/01/2013 11:22:54 PM
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Still, Cadsuane is near 300 years old and unless she drops the oaths she's going to be dead soon
23/01/2013 11:31:17 PM
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Re: Still, Cadsuane is near 300 years old and unless she drops the oaths she's going to be dead soon
23/01/2013 11:58:57 PM
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The Pattern doesn't pick Amyrlins.
23/01/2013 10:29:47 PM
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The Pattern determines the general path of Wotworld
23/01/2013 11:36:19 PM
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Nope...
24/01/2013 01:25:46 AM
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Humility is a Huge Difference
24/01/2013 01:54:56 AM
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Bwahahahaha .... That's the funniest statement on the boards in years
24/01/2013 02:09:35 AM
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Egwene almost had all of the Westlands united under the authority of the WT?
23/01/2013 11:02:17 PM
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Who would Egwene ever have knelt to?
23/01/2013 11:53:30 PM
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Exactly why does she have to kneel?
24/01/2013 01:31:03 AM
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Why does Egwene expect people to kneel and kiss her ring
24/01/2013 02:08:21 AM
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She doesn't. She expects people to show respect for the position of Amyrlin
24/01/2013 02:14:29 AM
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She did become Dragon Sworn *NM*
24/01/2013 02:22:02 AM
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Where did you get that idea from?
25/01/2013 07:13:45 AM
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Re: Where did you get that idea from?
25/01/2013 06:17:25 PM
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Cadsuane never swore any oaths to Rand. She agreed to be his advisor nothing more
27/01/2013 05:35:21 PM
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She accepted Elayne as the wartime leader of the Lights forces
24/01/2013 02:12:11 AM
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Don't confuse your opinion with fact *NM*
24/01/2013 02:30:52 AM
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This coming from you?
24/01/2013 05:47:08 AM
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Its a sad truth...
24/01/2013 07:12:27 AM
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Re: Its a sad truth...
24/01/2013 07:33:19 AM
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I'm probably something of an Egwene hater...
28/01/2013 03:23:27 AM
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Egwene was a complex character
24/01/2013 04:00:04 PM
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They are both equally arrogant in different ways. Nothing in it *NM*
26/01/2013 03:47:00 PM
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