Sept. 19 #WoTWednesday: What is your favorite cultural detail in The Wheel of Time?

Jeffan Caliarthan

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This week, Rafe asked what reader's favorite cultural detail in The Wheel of Time is. Let him know either on Twitter by replying to the tweet, or on here and we'll communicate it through our account! (regardless, post here, because I'm curious!)
 

Bruce al'Kay

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Cairhienin prudishness. And the number of stripes the nobility wear corresponding with their rank. And the topless towers. Cairhien in general.
 

Leala ni al'Dareis t'al'Caleum

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That was my problem with finding something to say about the Aiel. :laugh: I've already responded to his tweet, and he even liked it back! :look:
 

Jeffan Caliarthan

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For me, I think it's all of the looks back to the Age of Legends, just because we get so little information on it, so I really enjoy what I can get. Like, the bits about Osan'gar and Aran'gar, and how there wasn't ever really any battling and sword forms were just a fun little hobby, etc.
 

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Oooo, that's a good one too. I also liked how Avendesora was all over the place, and they were called Chora trees, and the Nym were an influential race, and, and, and... :look:
 

Aduiavas Ida

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I like the Aiel. I hope they keep up the part where they are all different tribes, who in some cases hate one another, but that they all separately decide to follow Rand :look:
 

Leala ni al'Dareis t'al'Caleum

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Yesssss! :fistbump I think he mentioned today that the Aiel were pretty prominent in responses. :)
 

Nynyra Falas

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I found it very interesting to learn about the history of the Aiel. So good, to go all that flash backs back and to understand more and more.
To understand, why they are what they are and how they became that way.
 

Catt Heckathorne

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Aiel dreamwalking. I really love how RJ 1 manipulated the real world examples from the anthropology literature to create something unique.
 

Alora Sionn

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Arafellan bells, I've long theorized on the meaning and origin of the custom of wearing them :)
 

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Cairhienin prudishness. And the number of stripes the nobility wear corresponding with their rank. And the topless towers. Cairhien in general.

Totally in agreement. :fistbump

Daes Dae'mar has always fascinated me. But I also find the concept of being 'bound to the wheel' just so interesting.
 

Bruce al'Kay

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Daes Dae'mar is definitely a fantastic cultural detail! That section of New Spring when
The Tower is contemplating putting Moiraine up as a puppet in Cairhien
was abnormally fascinating for me!
 
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Daes Dae'mar is definitely a fantastic cultural detail! That section of New Spring when
The Tower is contemplating putting Moiraine up as a puppet in Cairhien
was abnormally fascinating for me!

Absolutely. I think that's part of why I like Moiraine as much as I do - not only because of this portion of the story but because of all the Cairhienisms she brings to the story, and how it affects her character (also, you know, she's just a pretty cool character).

Huh, Cairhienisms - I think I'm going to have to use that one again. :laugh:
 

Bruce al'Kay

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I'm in the Moiraine fan club, too. I think she has admirable strengths and realistic weaknesses that make her really compelling. Plus, she's the first view of Aes Sedai and the counterpoint to all of the prejudice and stereotypes that the Two Rivers men seem so comfortable with. That obviously helps lol.
 

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It seems like there are too many to name! Probably my favourite is the connection with Norse mythology (Mat is simultaneously Odin and Loki, for example, then the Horn of Valere, which in my mind is analogous--and it is not a perfect analogy by any means--of the Valkyries calling the slain to Valhalla). There are so many real-world cultures and mythologies represented in tWoT that it truly represents a "Great Pattern" to use WoT terminology.
 
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I'm in the Moiraine fan club, too. I think she has admirable strengths and realistic weaknesses that make her really compelling. Plus, she's the first view of Aes Sedai and the counterpoint to all of the prejudice and stereotypes that the Two Rivers men seem so comfortable with. That obviously helps lol.

Indeed it does. :laugh: I'm still on Knife of Dreams, and her absence is certainly felt. I can't believe I've read more books without her than with her.
 

Bruce al'Kay

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Are you on your first read-through then? I just started a re-read and I'm halfway through Eye of the World. I love it, but it isn't quite the same as the first time I met all these characters! lol
 
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Are you on your first read-through then? I just started a re-read and I'm halfway through Eye of the World. I love it, but it isn't quite the same as the first time I met all these characters! lol

It's my first read-through. I wish I had discovered the series earlier - it took me way too long to find it, and it's taken me a while to read it as well. There just aren't enough hours in the day.
 
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