And Any Obstacle Can Be Called an Enemy. - Edit 1
Before modification by Joel at 27/11/2009 01:05:40 PM
I have the audio book. So please correct me if the quotes are not correct. I have listen to this many times, but if the reader misread or I misunderstood this could help explain.
Egwene: "...I'd name you darkfriend as well but i suspect the dark one would be embarrassed to be associated with you."
Elaida: "You name me darkfriend? You are the darkfriend. You and those rebels outside..."
Did, Elaida lie or just misunderstand what Egwene said?
Egwene made a point of not directly naming Elida a darkfriend.
Yet, Elaida directly says Egwene did. "You name me darkfriend?"
If she said "You'd name me darkfriend" this would explain it. The only other explanation I can think of is that Elaida in her anger misheard.
Then she says "You are the darkfriend. You and those rebels outside..." directly calling Egwene the darkfriend.
The definition of darkfriend is: "Those who follow the Dark One and believe they will gain great power and rewards when he is freed from his prison."
Elaida may think Egwene and the rebels have been duped into helping the dark one. But unless the knows they are pledged to the dark can she call them a dark friend. If she would have said "I name you a darkfriend" or "I accuse you" of being one this would been more like a charge for a trial.
But unless she truly believes can she directly call them darkfriends?
Thoughts?
Egwene: "...I'd name you darkfriend as well but i suspect the dark one would be embarrassed to be associated with you."
Elaida: "You name me darkfriend? You are the darkfriend. You and those rebels outside..."
Did, Elaida lie or just misunderstand what Egwene said?
Egwene made a point of not directly naming Elida a darkfriend.
Yet, Elaida directly says Egwene did. "You name me darkfriend?"
If she said "You'd name me darkfriend" this would explain it. The only other explanation I can think of is that Elaida in her anger misheard.
Then she says "You are the darkfriend. You and those rebels outside..." directly calling Egwene the darkfriend.
The definition of darkfriend is: "Those who follow the Dark One and believe they will gain great power and rewards when he is freed from his prison."
Elaida may think Egwene and the rebels have been duped into helping the dark one. But unless the knows they are pledged to the dark can she call them a dark friend. If she would have said "I name you a darkfriend" or "I accuse you" of being one this would been more like a charge for a trial.
But unless she truly believes can she directly call them darkfriends?
Thoughts?
As for calling Egwene a darkfriend her evidence is Egwene's and the rebels opposition. If a darkfriend is a kind of enemy any enemy could be honestly if slimly called a darkfriend. if you are working for the Light
Therefore, anyone in your way is a Darkfriend, QED. I'm surprised the real world parallels here haven't engendered more heated debate, because it's an aspect of the "only I am equal to this grave task, and any who disagree with me are fools or Darkfriends when they aren't both." It's killed many otherwise excellent leaders (often with Fains aid) and has prompted Rand to realize the difference between that and a tainted world is marginal. There's no question in Elaida's declaration Egwene is a Darkfriend, so she must believe it.
It's one of those Great Themes required of literature over fiction and despite the risks of such discussion I think it long overdue for WoT, because missing that misses a big part of the series, and something that makes TWoT more than just another swords 'n sorcery pulp serial.