Can you imagine the problems if the Dragon during our Age - because our Age already happened in these books - was Randall Torson, a Mid-Western American in his 20's today? He would've fought Semirhage on a small island off the coast of Mexico, then holed up with everyone in Baja. After the disaster with Semi's escape and Min's near-murder, Rand would travel to Egypt and wander by a U2 concert in Seanchan territory. As he's currently written, our boy would be doing meth or heroin in the bathroom. He would already have started cutting himself 8 books beforehand. It's just that in Egypt, he would start babbling aloud about life being worth nothing and wanting to destroy it all.
This is certainly not what Rand would do. Seeking escape through drug-induced catatonia is the polar opposite of what is ailing Rand, to wit, he doesn't allow himself any escape. He is mindlessly driven by his purpose, he will not allow himself any escape until he has defeated Shai'tan, and even then that escape, in his current mindset, is death. Which also addresses the self-mutilation, Rand has no time for that.
Specifically, I have to say that I hate the way RJ chose to cripple Rand (or the fact that he got crippled at all). If it had to happen - even if it had to be "by accident on purpose," which is what we got - it shouldn't've been because Min blackmailed him, couldn't take care of herself at all, and he couldn't figure something better out.
While I may not be the most cognisant of the symbolism Robert Jordan used in his series, this at least I am fairly certain I recognise. The Dragon Reborn is one with the land, and the land is one with the Dragon Reborn. As the world is driven to a second Breaking, so too is Rand torn apart. Rand's suffering is the world's suffering, and the world's injuries are Rand's injuries. That is why Rand is being crippled, I think.
This in turn would have made him realize that his worst enemy is how he responds to his failure to live up to those (perhaps intentionally?) impossible standards. When he screws up, he *has* to punish himself. Things get darker because he doesn't dust himself off and get back up with a good spirit - he makes it harder for himself to carry on, really.
Actually, the problem is that those impossible standards are very real. The entire world, every world, depends on Rand's actions. It is an impossible amount of pressure, and all Rand can do is struggle on. Every time the world kicks him in the nuts, he can only get back up and struggle on. Because if he doesn't, everything will die. Rand goes on, even though duty is heavier than a mountain, and death lighter than a feather (Now that I think about it, I haven't read that saying in any of the recent books). This is not enough. He needed a reason to fight on, a reason to live. Which is the point of Veins of Gold.
Your solution, as far as I can tell, is akin to telling an individual afflicted with depression to 'stop being depressed'. These things are not simple to overcome.
Honestly, I hope we learn in the next book that Graendal has been responsible for all of Rand's self-destructive behavior since TDR/TSR. It would utterly validate Graendal as one of the deadliest, evilest creatures to ever exist. *That* would rock.
No it wouldn't. It would make Rand's entire character development meaningless, because it was all just a form of magical mind control instead of some guy facing up to impossible trauma and overcoming the immense burden.
What is most troubling - for either Rand's personality or the WoT's continuity - is that Rand wasn't raised by a man that would have taught him that sort of lesson. I mean, sure, *Nynaeve* would teach people that they're flawed and must suffer for it; but Tam wouldn't. Tam seems like a "pick yourself up, dust yourself, start it all over again" kind of man. He would've spanked Rand for his dumbest pranks, but he wouldn't teach him that he should hate himself more and more when everything doesn't go his way and he can't get what he wants.
I have no idea what you're saying. Rand was certainly raised to take responsibility for his actions, I don't think anybody prepared him for being responsible for the lives of millions (except possibly Moiraine, and given that to her the ends justify the means, I can be almost certain that 'dealing with trauma' was not part of her lessons).
The first rule of being a ninja is "do no harm". Unless you intend to do harm, then do lots of harm.
~Master Splinter
Victorious in Bergioyn's legendary 'Reverse Mafia'. *MySmiley*
~Master Splinter
Victorious in Bergioyn's legendary 'Reverse Mafia'. *MySmiley*
I hope Graendal was responsible for LTT's voice all along! What happened to our little boy?!
- 13/04/2010 04:02:20 AM
1176 Views
I have to disagree.
- 13/04/2010 05:34:44 AM
741 Views
You're right, but a couple of points
- 15/04/2010 01:38:48 AM
670 Views
I don't really get Rand self-pity from the books.
- 15/04/2010 04:01:27 AM
477 Views
"How hard will I become," Rand thought, "'til simply *being myself* feels like the taint on saidar"
- 15/04/2010 06:06:58 AM
639 Views
Re: You're right, but a couple of points... unreasonable expectations
- 27/04/2010 08:02:20 AM
556 Views
Wow, very thoughtful, and I can't find anything to disagree with in what you wrote... *NM*
- 01/05/2010 03:11:37 AM
180 Views
I hope not. I don't think Graendal had the interest or opportunity to manipulate Rand that early.
- 13/04/2010 02:39:18 PM
631 Views
The voice was a reincarnation side effect, but why did RJ take his hand!
- 27/04/2010 07:37:49 PM
460 Views