Is Rand Immortal?

[Jeffan Caliarthan]

The man who channels stands alone.
He gives his friends for sacrifice.
Two roads before him, one to death beyond dying, one to life eternal.
Which will he choose? Which will he choose?
What hand shelters? What hand slays?

There's also the fact that he can now manipulate the Pattern, which would mean that he can manipulate the bits of himself that cause you to age. Now, as to whether or not he would want to be immortal, which was the main point raised at JCon, I really do think that he would. He's someone who's gone through so much pain and heartache and all the bad things that can happen to a person, and now he's free to do whatever he wants. There's obviously going to be strife in the world, now that they're trying to rebuild everything, and I think he's going to feel compelled to help people while they do that.

Thoughts?

 

[Eluial Aldaran]

I've wondered about this, but didn't remember that exact quote. It makes sense, though. If his pattern manipulation works like it does in TAR, then as long as he pictures himself as young, he'll probably stay young (which raises an interesting side question of could he make himself look like old Rand if he wanted to. Hmm...)

I also imagine that he'll want to stick around for a while. I mean, at least two of his ladies are going to live for hundreds of years, barring any accidents. And like you said, he's been through a lot. I can see him wanting to stick around and help the people of the new age to get their feet off the ground. It's possible somewhere down the road he'll choose to die, but I see him as sticking around for a good long while.

 

[Alora Sionn]

I always thought the Life eternal thing meant that he would continue to be reborn as the wheel turns, but the other theory is interesting

 

[Ealandrelle Melyma]

I always thought the Life eternal thing meant that he would continue to be reborn as the wheel turns, but the other theory is interesting

This I read that line as the "death beyond dying" being the Dark One winning and the Pattern being unwoven and it being the end of everything. Whereas if he wins, the Pattern goes on and he can continue to be woven out.

ETA - with that said, I do agree with El that he can probably make himself any age he wants, so I suppose it is pretty much "life eternal"

 

[Jeffan Caliarthan]

I think it's plausible (moreso than my theory, probably) that the bit about "life eternal" just meaning that he'll be reincarnated again and again and again is the correct interpretation. But when you take that line added with his ability to manipulate the Pattern, it made me wonder about an alternate interpretation.

 

[Aulrick Vendour]

I think it means the battle will go on. Death beyond dying was, I think, the DO's offer to end all existence. Life eternal is an eternal war.

 

[Arecias Dezell]

I always thought the Life eternal thing meant that he would continue to be reborn as the wheel turns

Immortality means that it is impossible to ever die. Life eternal can be interpreted in different ways. It can mean the Creator remembers Rand, so Rand still "lives" in the Creator's mind. It can mean his bloodline lives on after him and never dies out. I tend to believe Alora's post above, that he will continue to live be a part of the Wheel and have eternal life in that way.