Fresh Eyes

Seryse ni Cousland

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The first time I read the Wheel of Time I was 12.

I'm going for a reread over ten years later and I'm picking up on all sorts of interesting things now. First: holy cow, these are babies. Teeny tiny babies. They're barely old enough to be in college and ought to be protected at all costs. :tug

I think I related (and still relate) to Nynaeve so much because of her pain. It's clearer now that she's a) an orphan, oh my goodness b) clearly not coped very well with the loss of her parents c) she's even more of a BAMF than I recall.

Third: why is manogamy a thing in Randland? Why does Rand - at least currently in the GH - feel like he shouldn't be sleeping with someone unless he's married? It seems like a pretty Diest culture across the continent except perhaps in Amadicia, but I don't see how or why this became a cultural norm.
 

Brian Mandragon

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Children born out of wedlock is a problem when everyone has to work long hours every day just to survive. Who is going to chop firewood when a women is too pregnant to do that type of activity? Having a young child to take care of means more food is needed and less labor is available for the farming.
In large cities there are an abundance of alternative ways of earning money but it small isolated communities there are only so many non-farming labor positions available.Putting a barrier between teenage hormones and sex is typically accomplished using shame or force.
 

Seryse ni Cousland

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I think that's my source of confusion, though. Despite these reasons people have been having sex outside of wedlock for forever. But for whatever reason it seems fairly well ingrained into the Two Rivers kids.
 

Jocasta Braithe

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I think I related (and still relate) to Nynaeve so much because of her pain. It's clearer now that she's a) an orphan, oh my goodness b) clearly not coped very well with the loss of her parents c) she's even more of a BAMF than I recall.

Yes this so much! Also she craves respect. She’s been pushed into this position as Wisdom at much too young an age, and she resents that people respect her because of the position she holds not because of her accomplishments. She is angry so often because she’s learned she has to be to get her job done. She has to hit and bully people to make them do what she needs them to do (and it’s critically important for the role of wisdom that she succeeds in enforcing her authority.) it doesn’t serve her well when she leaves the Two Rivers, but she doesn’t know any other way to cope and it takes her time to learn.

She falls for Lan so quick not because he’s hawt, but because he offers her genuine respect for her skills in tracking and stealth, which she’s not used to being appreciated for. And which you can tell if you read between the lines, because she is grieving her dad and treasures the skills he taught her.

I love Nynaeve because I understand her motives so well. She is so realistically drawn.
 

Elia LePhant

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I love Nynaeve so much. The first time I read the books, I was a young teen and I didn't understand her at all. When I reread them as an older adult, I was floored by her character. She is so strong, loyal, and brave. And everything that she does is for other people.
 

Seryse ni Cousland

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I need a wisdom fan-club in my life.

A friend of mine drew this for me about a million years ago back when I was a tumblr Aes Sedai but it's still good and important and relevant.

wisdom_nynaeve_by_karaburrito_daiif5j-pre.jpg
 

Brian Mandragon

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Yes this so much! Also she craves respect. She’s been pushed into this position as Wisdom at much too young an age, and she resents that people respect her because of the position she holds not because of her accomplishments. She is angry so often because she’s learned she has to be to get her job done. She has to hit and bully people to make them do what she needs them to do (and it’s critically important for the role of wisdom that she succeeds in enforcing her authority.) it doesn’t serve her well when she leaves the Two Rivers, but she doesn’t know any other way to cope and it takes her time to learn.

She falls for Lan so quick not because he’s hawt, but because he offers her genuine respect for her skills in tracking and stealth, which she’s not used to being appreciated for. And which you can tell if you read between the lines, because she is grieving her dad and treasures the skills he taught her.

I love Nynaeve because I understand her motives so well. She is so realistically drawn.

I completely agree with you on this.
 
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