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I'd go for Aviendha for "should" with Elayne being a good second option. Min is not a good match. RugbyPlayingAshaman Send a noteboard - 12/04/2010 04:07:36 PM
Aviendha is the most similar to Egwene, so perhaps that is why I think her aggressive personality is the perfect match for Rand's more passive one. Not only do they have a good balance, but she shows an inner dynamic fluidity - she is dangerous because she needs to be aware of the different levels of danger in the Aiel world and the Westlands, and because of it, she is the closest to being realistic in a way that women in Rand's land are not. Highborn women in the Westlands are used to the idea that they are valuable and protected by social mores - this doesn't apply to lower class women or those who seek other roles aside from committed motherhood and companionship.

Elayne is a very good counterpoint to Rand in some ways, but the fact that she couldn't arouse any romantic feelings in him until she declared it is a negative for me. Plus, they both are passive behind-the-scenes - she wants something from Rand that he is really not able to give. Whereas Aviendha inspired him to seek her out as a mate, Elayne had to take another strategy and be more coy about it, employing a number of strategies. This is neither good nor bad, since she is clearly more educated and intelligent than he is, but it does make them seem somewhat similar in overall mindset - despite the fact that Elayne was raised to lead, her strategy tends to favor using her perception to analyse those around her and then act, which means she often finds herself outmaneuvered because she can't strike the right balance of thinking and acting whereas Aviendha naturally had the latter and has the capacity to learn the former.

Min is the worst match for Rand IMHO because her personality was largely undermined by her position in the relationship she has with Rand. Furthermore, she has an inability to hold him to standards she has set and has become something of an enabler to the very mindset and actions that she finds abhorrent. I think the key thing about Min is that she has no courage or lacks the ability to convert her feelings into capability - the other women have been on a journey to learn skills, gain new strength and increase their capabilities throughout the series to become more powerful and live strongly. Min does not have that. While she is the most confident on the outside, she has no conviction and in the real world, her confidence is quickly brushed aside. As Aviendha comments (I'm paraphrasing from memory), "Doesn't (Min) realize that in the time it took for her to twirl those knives, (Aviendha) cut her cut her throat five times?" We see the same in both encounters with Semirhage - a legitimate threat appears, Rand is completely unable to draw upon his own abilities and both times, Min could do nothing more than superficial wounds. Min is unable to a be a warrior/killer, counselor/general or a resource besides constantly bending before Rand's whims. This is why she went from a character I liked to one I abhorred by the end of TGH, and I think there relationship sucks.
"Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness."
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let's play "Stupid Question" : which one will (or should) Rand choose? - 11/04/2010 12:54:15 AM 1478 Views
I'd choose Aviendha. But if Rand were forced, I think he would go with Min ... - 11/04/2010 01:37:57 AM 1114 Views
Mat and Elayne? Interesting, but I don't see it - 11/04/2010 06:01:04 PM 757 Views
I agree (with your title, if little else) - 12/04/2010 01:46:44 PM 974 Views
Very true, I suppose - 12/04/2010 03:42:09 PM 714 Views
He definitely won't choose one over the others - 11/04/2010 06:39:21 AM 713 Views
Re: let's play "Stupid Question" : which one will (or should) Rand choose? - 11/04/2010 06:46:09 AM 701 Views
Your reasoning seems to ELIMINATE Min - 12/04/2010 02:34:47 PM 894 Views
Obviously Min is the only real option - 11/04/2010 07:05:33 AM 824 Views
Their hotness doesn't matter, and anyone'd be pissed if they got preggers - 11/04/2010 05:54:55 PM 691 Views
I'd go for Min for "should." - 12/04/2010 12:15:09 PM 800 Views
I'd go for Aviendha for "should" with Elayne being a good second option. Min is not a good match. - 12/04/2010 04:07:36 PM 790 Views
Wow. Getting it right, in such a wrong way. - 12/04/2010 09:27:26 PM 801 Views
elayne = no, not because of my preferences - 12/04/2010 04:35:14 PM 772 Views
Re: elayne = no, not because of my preferences - 12/04/2010 05:49:51 PM 672 Views
There is such a thing as healthy "need," - 13/04/2010 03:36:31 AM 573 Views
Elayne is the obvious choice - 12/04/2010 06:44:20 PM 694 Views
Re: Elayne is the obvious choice - 28/05/2010 08:30:19 PM 620 Views
Bella *NM* - 12/04/2010 09:41:46 PM 389 Views
I think she prefers Edward *NM* - 02/06/2010 06:48:35 PM 300 Views
Min - 13/04/2010 11:53:13 AM 758 Views
Elayne makes the most sense... - 13/04/2010 12:51:36 PM 700 Views

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