I'll address these two points out of order, then everything else in the order of your response: Rand's bad attitude doesn't feel like someone "getting back up." No one, not even Two Rivers folks say that they'll get back up with a song in their heart, but struggling on with an increasingly poor attitude doesn't sound like the right way at all. Also, I never suggested a solution (saying "get over your depression"
. I'm just lamenting the situation that lasted for so long.
You make excellent points about Rand's mindless determination and him being injured because he's one with the land. Still, Rand has been engaging in self-mutilation for a long time - it's just internal, not external.
The Rand Standards I'm referring to are: (a) No one can get hurt; he goes a little loony whenever that can't work out for him. (b) Every death is horribly on his head and it all reflects on how awful he is/has become/more self-pitying junk. (c) No woman can ever die, ever (see above) - not if they're good and it's their choice or if they're bad and it's not. (d) He has to take care of everything. (e) These preceding standards can't be questioned or adjusted in the face of the fact that it just doesn't work.
I mean seriously, Rand blamed himself for Colavere's suicide! He spent time thinking about how vile he is because he *set a trap for soulless shadowspawn* on that Waygate. 8+ books of relentless, intense self-pity and self-loathing make me feel rather "meh" about the whole character-development of it all...
I find questioning what one believes to be one part of personal development or growth. You go from having a solid black & white view of things to understanding that *some times* shades of grey really do dominate.
Fair enough if that it wouldn't or might not, or would undermine Rand's development. Still, that development is so difficult and sluggish, and though we all might "go astray," Rand's astray period is just about interminable.
What I was saying was "Rand was raised by someone who would've instilled him with better coping mechanisms."
. I'm just lamenting the situation that lasted for so long.You make excellent points about Rand's mindless determination and him being injured because he's one with the land. Still, Rand has been engaging in self-mutilation for a long time - it's just internal, not external.
The Rand Standards I'm referring to are: (a) No one can get hurt; he goes a little loony whenever that can't work out for him. (b) Every death is horribly on his head and it all reflects on how awful he is/has become/more self-pitying junk. (c) No woman can ever die, ever (see above) - not if they're good and it's their choice or if they're bad and it's not. (d) He has to take care of everything. (e) These preceding standards can't be questioned or adjusted in the face of the fact that it just doesn't work.
I mean seriously, Rand blamed himself for Colavere's suicide! He spent time thinking about how vile he is because he *set a trap for soulless shadowspawn* on that Waygate. 8+ books of relentless, intense self-pity and self-loathing make me feel rather "meh" about the whole character-development of it all...
I find questioning what one believes to be one part of personal development or growth. You go from having a solid black & white view of things to understanding that *some times* shades of grey really do dominate.
Fair enough if that it wouldn't or might not, or would undermine Rand's development. Still, that development is so difficult and sluggish, and though we all might "go astray," Rand's astray period is just about interminable.
What I was saying was "Rand was raised by someone who would've instilled him with better coping mechanisms."
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
671 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