I forgot to add Sheriam's quote about Mesaana's strength... - Edit 1
Before modification by Shannow at 15/11/2009 07:27:49 AM
Like Fionwe, I think there are many meanings to each quote. When Cadsuane refers to Semirhage being one of the most powerful women who ever lived, I don't see really how strength could enter the debate. Strength in the Power does not make you invulnerable to torture and being broken. To me it's more a reference to Semirhage being one of the top leaders in the Shadow - a woman who's done so much evil that there could be nothing that could intimidate her (clearly Cadsuane hasn't met Moghedien).
I think it's reaching to assume that these quotes mean anything, and I did keep a look out for them when I read the book. Semirhage is at the very least as strong as Nynaeve, and that still makes her one of the most powerful channelers in the world. If one adds her major Talent, her lust for pain and her evil intent, it's easy to see why there are very few people who can overcome her. Making her as strong as Alivia will not really add to this.
The way Sheriam referred to Mesaana's incredible strength twice in a short scene (frist saying someone of great strength in the Power was outside her tent, and then again exlaiming over "such strength!"
was reminiscent of the references we've seen to Alivia's "incredible strength in the Power".Anyway, as you and Fionwe say, there is of course no conclusive evidence either way. At least, not in this book.
But I maintain that the entire argument used to put Graendal above Semirhage is based on the single comment, made by Graendal HERSELF, about it being very rare indeed to find a woman stronger than herself in the Age of Legends.
There has been nothing to indicate that Semirhage might not be one such woman. In fact, one can very easily argue that Semirhage's strength is "very rare indeed."
My point is, we cannot at this point definitively prove that Semirhage is stronger than Graendal. But there is even less of a basis to suggest that Graendal is stronger than Semirhage.
So I have a problem with the fact that the current 21 level list - which is now sitting on 13th depository I think - places Graendal a level higher than Semirhage.
I repeat: There is NO evidence for this whatsoever.