Yes, the Aes Sedai need to rediscover the meaning of "servants of all" - Edit 1
Before modification by BlackAdder at 06/12/2009 05:03:40 AM
When Semirhage was captured at the end of KoD, I was convinced that Rand would be an idiot and she would end up escaping due to his softheartedness ... I was pleased to see this didn't happen. She was guarded well - though not stilled, which she should have been - and only escaped thanks to Shaidar Haran.
It was Rand's softness that permitted her escape. An escape that was certain. The DL has never permitted his chosen to be captured. From memory, in the Time of Legends no chosen was ever captured or killed by forces of the light (until bore sealed).
But I found myself disappointed in her - this legendary figure, the Mistress of Pain, did nothing with her captivity except spout ridiculous threats. Where was the divide-and-conquer? Where was her subtle, clever plan to escape? I know that whole spanking scene with Cadsuane had been about showing her to be 'only human'. But I was still disappointed. I would have expected more from the newest-raised Aes Sedai.
The newest raised AS is unlikely to have recently balefired the DR (against direct orders), nor lost her control of the largest empire on the planet - with no backup in place. Semi is under stress. And no matter how much she may have wondered what capture is like, experience can be a harsh teacher.
And at the other end of the spectrum was Egwene. A lot of the book was devoted to her undermining of Elaida, and it was a tense, gripping plot from beginning to end. Throughout it all, Egwene bore near-intolerable pain, indignity and fear.
Her pain was regularly healed, the indignity was relatively minor and she can escape via 911-T'AR if essential. Her politicking has excellent, but most of the groundwork was done by Elaida, Padan Fain and scheming AS.
Is doing the "right" thing admirable of itself? After a while, Bela would look like a racehorse if she were surrounded by Shetland ponies.
She plotted and planned and played politics with a masterful skill far beyond her years. When the Seanchan attacked, Egwene fought them off with nothing more than a circle of novices and a sa'angreal.
She did what the others should have. And she was lucky that the novice halls were moved (and thus free of AS supervision).
But "fought them off"? She saved those on her floor, and inflicted casualties. But the Seanchan raid was a dramatic success. The tower breached! Over 40 AS, including the Amyrlin, captured! The Seanchan did what no-one could do in 3000 years. And that was just a raid.
Oh, and in a spare moment, she destroyed the Black Ajah that had infested the Tower for over a thousand years.
Really this is down to Verin. And her "exposing" of the BA in the rebel camp was a blunder. Most escaped from TV, and the BA is now much more useful to the DO. For the first time in the BA's history the members know each other. They have nowhere to hide but in the DO's shadow. They are thus afraid, self-aware and motivated.
The AS needed a night of the long knives. I think this was an example of her inexperience costing the light big time.
In every page that was written about her, she was faultlessly noble and completely self-sacrificing. Her sections of the book were a thumping good read. But tGS has finished the job begun in CoT of making Egwene into a character who is simply too good to be true. She is wise, clever, never makes mistakes, and seems to utterly lack flaws.
This is naive - her faults are considerable, and she is dangerous. Her attitude to Rand - that AS will offer guidance, appeal to his ego etc - is the approach AS have used for 2 years and it has rendered them ever more marginal. Only Moiraine has had insight that AS are no longer the organ grinders. They are there to assist.
Her leadership is questionable. Siuan made a (reasonable) decision to save Egwene, and yet Egwene has fallen into an Elaida-like "orders were orders". Can you imagine Mat acting this way? Siuan is actually her closest advisor, and is now much weakened.
Egwene has done well, but she in danger of becoming egocentric and self-important. She is still just Bela in the pony patch. There is no time for a Cadsuane to save her. Unless ...
What about her crush on the repulsive turncoat Gawyn? Aagh! Ironically this may save her. Perhaps she will learn to laugh and cry again ...