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A point to understand about Egwene as a ruler... (Incoming wall'o'text... vandevere Send a noteboard - 07/02/2010 06:43:43 PM
One has to differentiate between the private person, and one who is called upon to rule. In Egwene's case, she has to be both a Private person, and a Public person. On top of that, she now has the responsibility of leading the now-reunited Aes Sedai.

In a time when rulers of any kind are rarely hampered by constitutional checks on their powers-Earth during Middle Ages and Renaissance period,and seemingly all of Rand's world-a ruler very often simply can't afford to be seen as a kindly person.

A ruler in that type of cultural mindset needs to be seen as both autocratic, and in touch with the people he/she rules. Two real world examples would be Henry VIII, and his daughter, Elizabeth I.

I don't imagine one could call either one of them very nice people. But they did superbly well by their nation. And this, in spite of having to face some very serious problems, some self-created, others not.

On to Egwene...

The Aes Sedai don't need a nice Amyrlin right now. They need a capable one who is, above all else, a realist.

They also need one who can bring all the various factions within the Tower to heel; so they're going to need a tough Amyrlin as well...

They're going to need an Amyrlin who can order the executions of DFs and BAs without batting an eyelash, or dithering.

And they're going to need an Amyrlin who can do all of that, while keeping up expected appearances to both the inside and outside world, while getting rid of factional hatreds.

No, I don't think Egwene's growing up to be a very nice woman at all. But, she can't afford to.

But, she's well on her way to becoming the White Tower's very own Elizabeth I...



If the human brain were so simple we could understand it, we would be so simple we couldn't understand it.
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I was wrong about Egwene. - 06/02/2010 09:46:43 AM 1976 Views
BTW, I am the god of Irony. Bow to me. *NM* - 06/02/2010 09:47:20 AM 418 Views
I think that if there's a real message to take out of this - 06/02/2010 02:55:47 PM 838 Views
yes she's politically shrewd if completely amoral - 06/02/2010 05:03:19 PM 746 Views
Re: yes she's politically shrewd if completely amoral - 06/02/2010 06:08:40 PM 778 Views
In her defense, she has no way of getting in contact with him - 06/02/2010 11:28:37 PM 825 Views
Re: In her defense, she has no way of getting in contact with him - 06/02/2010 11:47:04 PM 621 Views
Re: In her defense, she has no way of getting in contact with him - 07/02/2010 02:43:13 AM 681 Views
Re: In her defense, she has no way of getting in contact with him - 07/02/2010 11:13:39 PM 801 Views
I might agree with her on your projected Verin scenario - 06/02/2010 11:35:47 PM 936 Views
It really is her most defining quality - 06/02/2010 06:27:17 PM 638 Views
That was nothing. - 06/02/2010 08:48:39 PM 618 Views
The only mitigating factor was that she had already dumped Rand at that time - 06/02/2010 11:34:45 PM 750 Views
Re: The only mitigating factor was that she had already dumped Rand at that time - 06/02/2010 11:51:48 PM 645 Views
Hah! - 07/02/2010 02:22:30 PM 610 Views
There was a nice beginning - "Cannoli: I was wrong about Egwene"... - 06/02/2010 06:42:18 PM 678 Views
I think the title summarizes years of debate *NM* - 07/02/2010 09:26:35 AM 512 Views
A point to understand about Egwene as a ruler... (Incoming wall'o'text... - 07/02/2010 06:43:43 PM 811 Views
I like Egwene. - 08/02/2010 10:22:14 AM 647 Views
And the greater good always conveniently requires her being in charge or getting more power *NM* - 12/02/2010 12:19:05 AM 299 Views
Yes, just like for Rand. *NM* - 12/02/2010 12:24:57 AM 259 Views
And the rest of the Randland Justice League. *NM* - 12/02/2010 05:25:38 PM 263 Views
Re: Rand goes out of his way to discarge authority to others; Egwene, well hopefully in the future *NM* - 13/02/2010 04:20:31 AM 304 Views
Ummm... what? When? *NM* - 13/02/2010 04:53:50 AM 252 Views
Like his Stewards & supporting loyal rulers. *NM* - 15/02/2010 02:30:32 PM 291 Views
Darlin, Caroline, Elayne, Ituralde, Bashere, Logain, Rhuarc, etc. - 15/02/2010 05:57:05 PM 753 Views
Oh you mean all those guys he treats like his personal b*tches? *NM* - 15/02/2010 06:10:17 PM 377 Views
Re: Oh you mean all those guys he treats like his personal b*tches? - 16/02/2010 08:10:02 PM 652 Views
Agreed, that's what I've been saying. - 16/02/2010 08:23:14 PM 645 Views
Well, Egwene has lackeys too! - 15/02/2010 08:12:17 PM 561 Views
Re: Well, Egwene has lackeys too! - 15/02/2010 10:37:50 PM 539 Views
Yup, hopefully she'll be killed, then stilled. - 13/02/2010 11:03:51 PM 538 Views

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