If we just focus on my original question for a second ... on the one hand (your point), Moridin reveals the information to encourage Rand to resort to Shadow-like, "evil" methods in order to accomplish what he believes needs to be done, hoping to lead Rand down the path where he would use the CK to balefire indiscriminately any obstacle in his path, big or small, and ultimately destroy Creation.
On the other hand, if the goal was to make Rand dispair at the idea of the repetitive Dragon cycle of birth, sacrifice, battle, pain, death, etc., and the ultimate futility associated with it, wouldn't it have been just as effective (perhaps even more so) to tell Rand that the Chosen would continue to be revived to oppose him, time and again, no matter what he did (even though it would have been a lie). That would have been a more ... direct way, it seems to me, to manipulate Rand into giving up on Creation and destroying it, as opposed to revealing that BF prevents transmigration, and hoping that info, at the expense of perhaps several Chosen deaths, leads Rand down the path where he'd use massive amounts of BF indiscriminately (even though it almost worked, as it turns out). *shrugs*
Anyway ... I pretty much agree with your analysis of the Shadow's tactics in TGS. It was a big gamble, and it came very close to paying off.
I also agree that Rand's epiphany makes it rather unlikely that he'll touch the TP again (the "victory at any cost" spiral he was in having been halted and reversed permanently, IMO). But that makes me wonder what the (presumably negative) ramifications of his having used it once will be. Sanderson has stated that there will be ramifications. Whatever they are, they cannot contradict the epiphany Rand had (that would cheapen the epiphany, otherwise), nor (IMO) can they be "positive", like, for example, provide Rand with the mechanism to reseal the DO away permanently, as I've seen proposed (that would contradict one of the main themes of the whole story). That leaves a rather narrow window of possibilities, it seems to me.
On the other hand, if the goal was to make Rand dispair at the idea of the repetitive Dragon cycle of birth, sacrifice, battle, pain, death, etc., and the ultimate futility associated with it, wouldn't it have been just as effective (perhaps even more so) to tell Rand that the Chosen would continue to be revived to oppose him, time and again, no matter what he did (even though it would have been a lie). That would have been a more ... direct way, it seems to me, to manipulate Rand into giving up on Creation and destroying it, as opposed to revealing that BF prevents transmigration, and hoping that info, at the expense of perhaps several Chosen deaths, leads Rand down the path where he'd use massive amounts of BF indiscriminately (even though it almost worked, as it turns out). *shrugs*
Anyway ... I pretty much agree with your analysis of the Shadow's tactics in TGS. It was a big gamble, and it came very close to paying off.
I also agree that Rand's epiphany makes it rather unlikely that he'll touch the TP again (the "victory at any cost" spiral he was in having been halted and reversed permanently, IMO). But that makes me wonder what the (presumably negative) ramifications of his having used it once will be. Sanderson has stated that there will be ramifications. Whatever they are, they cannot contradict the epiphany Rand had (that would cheapen the epiphany, otherwise), nor (IMO) can they be "positive", like, for example, provide Rand with the mechanism to reseal the DO away permanently, as I've seen proposed (that would contradict one of the main themes of the whole story). That leaves a rather narrow window of possibilities, it seems to me.
Rise and fall, turn the Wheel,
'cause all life is
is really just a circle.
-BHT&tM
'cause all life is
is really just a circle.
-BHT&tM
Why did Moridin reveal that balefire prevents transmigration?
01/02/2010 03:41:30 PM
- 1484 Views
I think it's #2.
01/02/2010 04:21:39 PM
- 828 Views
Re: I think it's #2.
01/02/2010 05:29:20 PM
- 628 Views
Hahahahahahaha. That's hilarious. "I think its #2." Classic!
01/02/2010 10:39:19 PM
- 1195 Views
Yep, I'm not really 100% on most things in the series unless there is no doubt.
02/02/2010 08:03:31 PM
- 517 Views
Obviously #2
01/02/2010 04:42:24 PM
- 611 Views
Re: Obviously #2
01/02/2010 05:47:31 PM
- 644 Views
I have a fairly controversial answer...
01/02/2010 08:16:31 PM
- 603 Views
Re: I have a fairly controversial answer...
01/02/2010 08:48:20 PM
- 615 Views
I agree that it is difficult...
01/02/2010 09:49:38 PM
- 489 Views
Re: I agree that it is difficult...
01/02/2010 10:46:56 PM
- 568 Views
Moridin probably just wanted the access key to prevent the Cleansing
02/02/2010 10:26:11 AM
- 7020 Views
no reason to take the tool that allowed Rand to Cleanse saidin?
02/02/2010 01:34:59 PM
- 587 Views
We don't even know if SH knew about the access key in the box
02/02/2010 02:09:32 PM
- 510 Views
So the DO's Hand doesn't know about the AK? And we have a quote with Elza's orders where?
02/02/2010 02:14:58 PM
- 530 Views
If Elza had the order to take the access key, she would have taken it
02/02/2010 02:29:08 PM
- 535 Views
As I've said a million times... I'm on the fence with this theory
02/02/2010 03:52:31 PM
- 988 Views
Again: there wasn't a Forsaken near the opened box. *NM*
02/02/2010 04:22:32 PM
- 486 Views
So SH is the idiot? Okay!
02/02/2010 04:59:36 PM
- 599 Views
He might not know about the access key in the box or have other priorities. *NM*
02/02/2010 07:20:36 PM
- 455 Views
Re: So the DO's Hand doesn't know about the AK? And we have a quote with Elza's orders where?
02/02/2010 08:00:20 PM
- 621 Views
It's a mix, IMO
01/02/2010 05:00:07 PM
- 604 Views
Re: It's a mix, IMO
01/02/2010 05:20:42 PM
- 671 Views
In the same scene
01/02/2010 05:36:45 PM
- 632 Views
#4 - Part of his intoxication
02/02/2010 06:26:35 AM
- 529 Views
Hmmm ...
02/02/2010 02:47:54 PM
- 563 Views
Re: Why did Moridin reveal that balefire prevents transmigration?
24/02/2010 02:01:01 PM
- 599 Views