I was more focussed on the cost of GETTING power, not the prices of discharging it responsibly - Edit 1
Before modification by Cannoli at 18/03/2010 04:28:30 PM
I don't disagree with the primary thesis, merely the outcomes for some of the characters: notably Egwene and Elayne. I think that both will have a difficult time during their tenure in positions of power because as compromise candidates, neither has a strong base of support right now or for a long time to come.
I don't disagree, I would simply contend that they have gain a remarkable set of advantages, with a great deal of ease on the moral front. I would not for one minute argue that it's all smooth sailing from here on out.Elayne is faced with all of the currently-powerful Heads of House (the ones that actually matter) virtually united against her in mistrust and the knowledge that she's not beholden to them; she was acknowledged Queen as a matter of expedience and compromise, not mutual back-scratching, and will be resented for it.
For instance, there is the somewhat sinister Sylvase. She indicates a certain ruthlessness learned at surviving her grandfather's senile paranoia, and much of what I said about Elayne's moral advantages over her subordinate High Seats does not apply to her. The guilt of opposing her that Elayne can hold over Lir and Karind (not to mention Arymilla and the other pretenders) belongs properly to Sylvase's grandfather, and she can always point out that blaming her for Nasin's actions is like blaming Elayne for Morgase(Rahvin)'s actions. Note that when waiting for the meeting with the Dyelinite faction, while Arymilla's other followers are shown to be feeling the weight of their former allegiance, Sylvase shows no similar signs of being under similar guilt. After all, practically her first act as High Seat was to stand for Elayne! There is not much Elayne can do to her politically, and given her mother's last months, she has to be careful of how she steps as a ruler, lest she be tarred with the same brush of tyranny. In addition to all that, she will probably have to step carefully to balance her duties to the Tower without interfering with her ability to rule Andor and keep it free, and certainly regarding her personal relationships. Though now, she can use other methods and put a different spin on bringing her relationship with Rand out of the dark, if she so chooses, though those could be fraught with peril as well. For instance, the Dragon Reborn, ruler of the Aiel and King of Illian is hardly a bad marital alliance for a queen, much less if his parentage is exposed - their daughter would be the grandchild of the last TWO queens of Andor before Elayne, and one might argue, have a superior claim to Elayne herself - which could be an entirely NEW set of problems if people choose to view it that way.
Egwene will not be able to rub the Aes Sedai's face in the breaking of the Tower for the next three centuries.</qutoe> Why not? I mean, considering that was the theme of her inaugural address...
"You DARE speak to me so? I who saved the Tower in its darkest days since Hawkwing, while YOU stood aside? Where were YOU when Elaida threatened to shatter our unity for good? Where were YOU when rebels gathered an army and marched to the gates of Tar Valon itslf?! I am the Amyrlin Seat daughters, and I will not hear your insolence regarding my necessary measures to save this Tower/world once again from the threat of the Dark One, when you lacked the courage to stand up for the Tower's laws and traditions in its hour of need." I have EVERY confidence in Egwene's ability to find spurious reasons to punish people. Hell, she managed to do so with the Black Ajah hunters, of all people! Women who were risking their lives investigating the most dnagerous group of Darkfriends in the world were lambasted and accused of seeking excessive power because they did not trust a woman who was an admitted rebel against the White Tower!
If she can get away with condemning the rebels for rebellion and for all their rebellious acts, most of which were undertaken with great reluctance at the urging of women who are now members of her inner circle or Egwene's own orders, we have to accept that she's covered in political Teflon right now.
As the twice-compomise candidate, she will be forever unable to rely on any particular Ajah's support in the Hall regardless of whether or not the various Sitters went to Salidar, stayed in the Tower, or held themselves apart. The third group especially will be trouble for her, since she has nothing to threaten or punish them with.
"You DARE speak to me so? I who saved the Tower in its darkest days since Hawkwing, while YOU stood aside? Where were YOU when Elaida threatened to shatter our unity for good? Where were YOU when rebels gathered an army and marched to the gates of Tar Valon itslf?! I am the Amyrlin Seat daughters, and I will not hear your insolence regarding my necessary measures to save this Tower/world once again from the threat of the Dark One, when you lacked the courage to stand up for the Tower's laws and traditions in its hour of need." I have EVERY confidence in Egwene's ability to find spurious reasons to punish people. Hell, she managed to do so with the Black Ajah hunters, of all people! Women who were risking their lives investigating the most dnagerous group of Darkfriends in the world were lambasted and accused of seeking excessive power because they did not trust a woman who was an admitted rebel against the White Tower!
If she can get away with condemning the rebels for rebellion and for all their rebellious acts, most of which were undertaken with great reluctance at the urging of women who are now members of her inner circle or Egwene's own orders, we have to accept that she's covered in political Teflon right now.
While Egwene has been miraculously adept at playing parties off each other, it's only a matter of time til the heads of the Ajahs and the Sitters catch on.
Like they caught on to her inept and simplistic arguments in the Tower? If she could get away with her contentions and evasions regarding her lack of legitimacy and Elaida's lawful status, I can't see them getting too smart too soon. On the other hand, furtive resistance, foot-dragging and passive-agressive naysaying will cause a lot of problems for her if she isn't careful.While Egwene and Elayne may not have bad to break some skulls during their rise to power, their early reigns will be characterized the same way as how they came by their positions: compromise and an inability to deal from a position of strength. While that can change over time (the younger Heads of House growing up, the younger Initiates/Accepted obtaining the shawl and acquiescing out of teen-hero-idolization, etc) none of that will be in time for Tarmon Gai'don.
I more or less agree. They WILL have enough short-term authority, IMO, to do the really necessary stuff to help with TG. I think the troubles they encounter in their early reigns will fall more under the heading of personal inconvenience and extra work, rather than genuine obstacles to the urgent greater good, which would require the skull-cracking out of necessity, rather than simple convenience.