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Is the final Prophecy corrupted? Etzel Send a noteboard - 25/11/2009 04:20:01 PM
Since we learned a bit about the Seanchan Propehcies in the books, it was suggested that they were at least partly corrupted by Ishy (who, as we know, had in a way a hand in creating the Seanchan and likely also invented the Dark Prophecies). For example the Westland Prophecy that the DR will bind the 9 Moons to serve him, seems in contradiction to the Seanchan Prophecy that the DR has to bow to the Crystal Throne before TG or all is lost. IIRC there is even a reference in the books that the Seanchan actually think that the Westland Prophecies are corrupted, which implies some differences between both versions.

BS stated on this matter:

Q: "We know that the Karaethon Cycle and the Essanik Cycle are different. Is that because there were different contributors to each, or some other reason (like tampering by Ishamael)? Which is more correct?"
A: "The Essanik cycle had only in Seanchan and there were different contributors. Which is more correct? I’m not going to say which is more correct. There has been tampering…"
Q: "In both?"
A: "People are not perfect, alright? Let’s just say that and there are lots of forces at work. The Essanik cycle, they have tried to preserve it as perfectly as they can. If the Outriggers ever get written there will be more information about what the Essanik cycle is. It is had only in Seanchan. It was given by damane in Seanchan, so nobody knows about it on the main continent."

And:
Q: "Did Ishamael have a hand in how the Seanchan prophecies have come to differ from those of the Westlands?"
A: "RAFO."

Considering all this, I believe that the final Prophecy in TGS from the Seanchan Essanik Cycle is actually corrupted:

"At the end of time,
when the many become one,
the last storm shall gather its angry winds
to destroy a land already dying.
And at its center, the blind man shall stand
upon his own grave.
There he shall see again,
and weep for what has been wrought."

This Prophecy takes a very positive event that really happens - Rand becoming enlightened on Dragonmount - and turns it into something rather depressing. In the first verse it states typical Shadow propaganda - e.g. expressed by Moridin - namely that the end of time has come, although it's precisely Rand's task to prevent it. It's not completely clear what "when the many become one" means. It could point to Rand's uniting of the Westlands (which isn't already complete, though), or the integration of all of the Dragon's previous lives into the current Dragon Reborn's life. The Prophecy then stresses the power of the Shadow, and the basically inevitable destruction of the world. Finally it says that the DR will weep on his grave for what has been wrought, indicating that all Rand did was bad. That's contrary to what really happened, namely that Rand found laughter and light again on Dragonmount (which was not only a grave, but also his birthplace), after he at least partly healed his soul.

Thus, this final Prophecy rather sounds like the Dark Prophecy in TGH. Because of the obvious negative & dark take on the event in the end of TGS (in contrast to Rand's and Egwene's last PoV in TGS), it seems most likely that this Prophecy is another example of a corruption to spoil any hope. It was probably done by the former writer Ishamael, who even talks as Moridin in TGS, prologue, in such a prophetic way: "The Wheel has groaned its final rotation, the clock has lost its spring, the serpent heaves its final gasps (= the end of time). He must know pain of heart. He must know frustration, and he must know anguish (= weeping).

Fortunately, Moridin's plan and "Prophecy" failed in the end of TGS.
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Is the final Prophecy corrupted? - 25/11/2009 04:20:01 PM 3734 Views
I don't think so. - 25/11/2009 04:46:26 PM 809 Views
That... - 25/11/2009 05:13:56 PM 681 Views
Yes, but which? or both? and what parts? - 25/11/2009 05:25:47 PM 578 Views
Re: Yes, but which? or both? and what parts? - 25/11/2009 06:40:51 PM 599 Views
Sounds reasonable to me. *NM* - 25/11/2009 07:04:39 PM 277 Views
There is some confusing info here - 26/11/2009 12:13:41 AM 554 Views

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