(I'm replying to this before I read the other replies, hopefully I'm not just repeating what they say.)
1. Knowing how to handle Elaida. Initially she was meek and allowed Elaida to fully spread her tyrannical wings. She picked the exact right moment to engage her, and what a debate it was, even while being tortured with the Power. It was a spectacular scene, using her intellect to gain the individual support of the Sitters present in the room.
It was a good move... however, it ultimately didn't accomplish much. She was still thrown into the dungeons, and Silviana was as well. Egwene herself acknowledge Elaida as making a brilliant move, there. If the Seancean hadn't attacked and captured Elaida, Egwene would still be in the dungeons and Elaida would still be in power.
2. Handling the Sitters. She showed several times that she could win over the Sitters using simple methods i.e. knowledge with the Browns, logic with the Whites etc. She never backed down even though some called her girl, or tried to throw her out. In the end she managed a unanimous vote, which is very rare.
This kind of bothered me. Not that I disagree with your observations, because it's exactly what Egwene did. However, the whole thing with her having "The logic of a White, the mediation of a Grey, the determination of a Green, the passion of a Blue, the foresight of a Brown, the care of a Yellow and the vengeance of a Red" was slightly irritating to me.
"Ohhhhhh Egwene is the best Aes Sedai EVER she is so PERFECT we all LOVE her she MUST be our leader!"
Meh. Plus, her stance on the Oaths, and her intention to link all channelers to the White Tower, also annoy me. Other channelers don't WANT to be linked to the Tower, and we've seen many, MANY examples of how the Oaths do more harm than good, and many examples of people with no oaths (Egwene, Nynaeve and Siuan) acting perfectly honestly without them.
3. Destroying the Black Ajah. Yes, Verin gave her the list, but she pushed for execution. It was a brilliant move that required her to make the true nasty decisions needed by a leader. The Sitters wanted interrogation or stilling, but for once someone knew the folly of trying to hold an evil channeler. She even recalls her mistakes with Moghedien. And that was the quick demise of 50 Sisters, with a Tower that was suddenly a lot less Black.
Yup, that was a good one. Though I'd point out that it wasn't that Mogheiden was a channeler, it was that she was freed by other Darkfriends. Still, it wasn't feasible to hold and interrogate them all, which is a pleasant change from earlier in the series when all anyone ever wanted to do was put a Black Ajah sister on trial.
4. Berating both sides of the Tower for their disgusting behaviour. Hypocritical yes, but then she was an Accepted in the Waste when they started this nonsense and was forced into the position. Making both sides humble was essential in not allowing a side to think that they were superior in some way. The Hall for their disgraceful conduct, the rebels for the Rebellion.
Hypocritical, yes. It was also pragmatic. Still, Egwene came off to me as "Both of you are in the wrong. I'll say I'm in the wrong too, but really I'm in the right, since I'm here to pick up your messes. So, I'm right and you're wrong, but I'll say we're ALL wrong so we can put all this behind us. As long as you do what I say."
5. Taking a Red as her Keeper. One of the most brilliant tactics she could have used. I always hoped we'd see more of Silviana, and I'm eager to see how they work together.
Very well done, and I like Silviana too. This comes off again as kind of Mary Sueish to me ("Oh she can bring everyone together, and she even knows that one of her former enemies is very honorable!"
, but that's not the character's fault.
6. The destruction of the Seanchan. Using her sa'angreal, Egwene single-handedly faced an army of men and damane and destroyed them all. She literally saved the Tower with this move. It was also good to see her release her demons against the Seanchan - she's been bottling that up for ten books. She saved so many Aes Sedai, and killed dozens of damane and to'raken. Amazingly she was the first Aes Sedai to think of using angreal or sa'angreal to fight these people. Considering damane cannot link, Aes Sedai definitely should, or use angreal - it makes shielding impossible.
Heh. I was just picturing her standing there, laughing and shooting lightning at everyone. I don't think she was actually laughing in the books, but it was a cool image.
<quote
Seriously this woman is just brilliant, and far less irritating to read about than Rand. She has great antagonism towards him, so I think there's going to be a huge storm when they finally meet. In his state, she would be in mortal danger. Still, this book cements a great plot arc driven by a spectacular character - one of my all time favourites.
Her antagonism towards him is really quite annoying. Min said it best "We should be trying to help him instead of making him do what we want." She was saying it to Cadsuane, but Egwene is worse than her in that regard. The only mitigating factor is that Egwene hasn't had TIME to start meddling with Rand again.
Sanderson even has her try to soften on him, but it just comes off as false, almost like she's trying to think good thoughts in case someone is watching.
It says something about RJ's portrayal of Egwene when I read that Egwene is empathizing with Rand being put into a box and beaten and go, "Egwene would never sound like that."
1. Knowing how to handle Elaida. Initially she was meek and allowed Elaida to fully spread her tyrannical wings. She picked the exact right moment to engage her, and what a debate it was, even while being tortured with the Power. It was a spectacular scene, using her intellect to gain the individual support of the Sitters present in the room.
It was a good move... however, it ultimately didn't accomplish much. She was still thrown into the dungeons, and Silviana was as well. Egwene herself acknowledge Elaida as making a brilliant move, there. If the Seancean hadn't attacked and captured Elaida, Egwene would still be in the dungeons and Elaida would still be in power.
2. Handling the Sitters. She showed several times that she could win over the Sitters using simple methods i.e. knowledge with the Browns, logic with the Whites etc. She never backed down even though some called her girl, or tried to throw her out. In the end she managed a unanimous vote, which is very rare.
This kind of bothered me. Not that I disagree with your observations, because it's exactly what Egwene did. However, the whole thing with her having "The logic of a White, the mediation of a Grey, the determination of a Green, the passion of a Blue, the foresight of a Brown, the care of a Yellow and the vengeance of a Red" was slightly irritating to me.
"Ohhhhhh Egwene is the best Aes Sedai EVER she is so PERFECT we all LOVE her she MUST be our leader!"
Meh. Plus, her stance on the Oaths, and her intention to link all channelers to the White Tower, also annoy me. Other channelers don't WANT to be linked to the Tower, and we've seen many, MANY examples of how the Oaths do more harm than good, and many examples of people with no oaths (Egwene, Nynaeve and Siuan) acting perfectly honestly without them.
3. Destroying the Black Ajah. Yes, Verin gave her the list, but she pushed for execution. It was a brilliant move that required her to make the true nasty decisions needed by a leader. The Sitters wanted interrogation or stilling, but for once someone knew the folly of trying to hold an evil channeler. She even recalls her mistakes with Moghedien. And that was the quick demise of 50 Sisters, with a Tower that was suddenly a lot less Black.
Yup, that was a good one. Though I'd point out that it wasn't that Mogheiden was a channeler, it was that she was freed by other Darkfriends. Still, it wasn't feasible to hold and interrogate them all, which is a pleasant change from earlier in the series when all anyone ever wanted to do was put a Black Ajah sister on trial.
4. Berating both sides of the Tower for their disgusting behaviour. Hypocritical yes, but then she was an Accepted in the Waste when they started this nonsense and was forced into the position. Making both sides humble was essential in not allowing a side to think that they were superior in some way. The Hall for their disgraceful conduct, the rebels for the Rebellion.
Hypocritical, yes. It was also pragmatic. Still, Egwene came off to me as "Both of you are in the wrong. I'll say I'm in the wrong too, but really I'm in the right, since I'm here to pick up your messes. So, I'm right and you're wrong, but I'll say we're ALL wrong so we can put all this behind us. As long as you do what I say."
5. Taking a Red as her Keeper. One of the most brilliant tactics she could have used. I always hoped we'd see more of Silviana, and I'm eager to see how they work together.
Very well done, and I like Silviana too. This comes off again as kind of Mary Sueish to me ("Oh she can bring everyone together, and she even knows that one of her former enemies is very honorable!"
, but that's not the character's fault.6. The destruction of the Seanchan. Using her sa'angreal, Egwene single-handedly faced an army of men and damane and destroyed them all. She literally saved the Tower with this move. It was also good to see her release her demons against the Seanchan - she's been bottling that up for ten books. She saved so many Aes Sedai, and killed dozens of damane and to'raken. Amazingly she was the first Aes Sedai to think of using angreal or sa'angreal to fight these people. Considering damane cannot link, Aes Sedai definitely should, or use angreal - it makes shielding impossible.
Heh. I was just picturing her standing there, laughing and shooting lightning at everyone. I don't think she was actually laughing in the books, but it was a cool image.
<quote
Seriously this woman is just brilliant, and far less irritating to read about than Rand. She has great antagonism towards him, so I think there's going to be a huge storm when they finally meet. In his state, she would be in mortal danger. Still, this book cements a great plot arc driven by a spectacular character - one of my all time favourites.
Her antagonism towards him is really quite annoying. Min said it best "We should be trying to help him instead of making him do what we want." She was saying it to Cadsuane, but Egwene is worse than her in that regard. The only mitigating factor is that Egwene hasn't had TIME to start meddling with Rand again.
Sanderson even has her try to soften on him, but it just comes off as false, almost like she's trying to think good thoughts in case someone is watching.
It says something about RJ's portrayal of Egwene when I read that Egwene is empathizing with Rand being put into a box and beaten and go, "Egwene would never sound like that."
I amuse myself.
Egwene... one of the best characters in the series
- 30/10/2009 07:45:11 AM
1384 Views
I hope I am wrong but
- 30/10/2009 08:52:37 AM
807 Views
Re: Egwene... one of the best characters in the series - AMEN!!!!!!! *NM*
- 30/10/2009 01:34:55 PM
321 Views
*NM*
I lurves her. She am pretty, smart, courageous, independent, the whole package. 
- 30/10/2009 03:28:07 PM
592 Views
- 30/10/2009 03:28:07 PM
592 Views
Pretty! An absolute MUST for a good character in a pictureless book series!
- 31/10/2009 05:09:13 AM
639 Views
It's obvious you're petty and shallow. Who said anything about PHYSICAL beauty?
- 31/10/2009 09:09:52 PM
608 Views
That *is* the most obvious interpretation of the word "pretty"...
- 31/10/2009 09:44:38 PM
662 Views
As expected, Cannoli is nothing but obvious. He has no depth, just cheese. XD *NM*
- 31/10/2009 09:54:11 PM
296 Views
*NM*
She's coming off a bit Mary Sue-like, IMO
- 30/10/2009 06:48:59 PM
847 Views
Sidious: proving as Jason did, that running a WoT site makes you crap as a reader
- 30/10/2009 07:09:46 PM
725 Views
Re: Sidious: proving as Jason did, that running a WoT site makes you crap as a reader
- 31/10/2009 05:33:19 AM
649 Views
Good job, yes. Worthy goal - not really. Still an arrogant Tower-loving carppy friend, absolutely
- 31/10/2009 10:33:28 PM
737 Views
It was all very impressive, yes. Unfortunately, it was *too* impressive and that makes it hollow.
- 31/10/2009 06:16:03 PM
615 Views
Re: It was all very impressive, yes. Unfortunately, it was *too* impressive and that makes it hollow
- 31/10/2009 10:34:54 PM
638 Views
Its been heading there, no?
- 31/10/2009 10:47:13 PM
606 Views
It has, yes, but that doesn't make it realistic.
- 01/11/2009 11:16:19 AM
936 Views
Re: It has, yes, but that doesn't make it realistic.
- 05/11/2009 02:01:28 AM
646 Views
While I do prefer Mary Sue Egwene to Idiot!Egwene (Books 1-11), I'd much rather have Human!Egwene
- 03/11/2009 03:22:25 PM
1344 Views