[Split] Moiraine is, in fact, human

[Deadsy 19]

I'm reposting this from DM, just 'cause I really liked the post, and DM's private messaging is down so I can't talk to the person about it. This might belong better in the "Mo in TOM" thread, but whatever.

 

 

I understand the reserved and incredulous feelings most of you are feeling, as true enough she seemed quite different from the controlled/in-charge Moiraine we've all known before. A woman that was completely and utterly dedicated to her cause (as a true Blue), who we knew had her passions and personality traits but had a firm grip on them through training and experience (she wasn't as in controlled in New Spring when she dumped an entire river on Lan's head and terrorized him all the way to her destination with trick after trick to make him uncomfortable). Moiraine has passion but it's tightly reigned in and under control. She is the ultimate warrior of the Light, dedicated to the survival of the soul over the body. That's the MO of the woman so far, and part of why she's so respected and loved by so many.

 

But she IS a woman, human. She too has her breaking point, like everyone else. A very wise, strong of character and determined woman. A woman so dedicated to the Light that she 'would' sacrifice the Dragon Reborn to keep the Shadow from claiming him (and in doing so doom everyone). The first Aes Sedai to lay down her imprinted lessons of Aes Sedai superiority and replace it with willing obedience and servitude towards Rand without the need of him demanding an Oath. The first to lay down her pride and self-importance for the good of all. She remains to this day the first and only Aes Sedai to do so willingly, out of her own choice and without being pushed to it by force or ta'veren manipulation. But out of her own understanding and insight, based on....

 

What she saw when she went to Rhuidean. No other Aes Sedai has that insight, that added information, that edge.

 

She saw her handling Rand in so many different ways in Rhuidean, saw herself fail so many times, saw her actions lead to disaster so many times. She saw and learned humility, swallowed her pride and did what needed to be done: become a follower, adviser to the Dragon Reborn instead of a guide/manipulator/user. For she 'knew' that was the only way to succeed.

 

We know that she 'knew' she would marry Thom through Min's viewing. Min's never wrong.

We know that she 'knew' she would face Lanfear and be imprisoned by the Finn, for she has seen it in Rhuidean.

We know that she 'knew' she would be rescued by Thom, Mat and one other, for she has seen it in Rhuidean. She didn't know the rescue would succeed, she only knew which attempt would have the highest chance of succes. It is not unlikely that she also 'knew' which wishes she needed to make that would be part of that highest chance of succes. It's not unlikely to assume she would have tried out different wishes in Rhuidean (just as she's tried out different ways to handle Rand) and saw them fail, leading up to the three wishes which would help create the best chance for succes.

 

All of this 'knowing' doesn't change the fact that she is human, however. Being tortured like that is extremely draining and not just in the One Power. Solitary confinement is considered one of the toughest punishments in prison because it ends up de-humanizing a person. Reducing them back to a more bestial state. And that's without any added torture, as Moiraine has had. The mind starts playing tricks on you and perspectives change and priorities alter through near-death experiences. People that were 100% work adicts are known to completely change character and personality after a near-death experience, quitting their jobs and suddenly doing things that no one would have thought possible from them.

 

Moiraine's been through worse than solitary confinement or near-death experience. She's been forced to walk in to this situation in the full knowledge of what lay ahead and in the full knowledge of it leading to her being removed from the events currently (at the time of her going through the doorway) unfolding in the world: the Dragon Reborn walking the earth, the DO getting free, the forsaken out and about, the world and the Light on the edge of destruction. And her, a Blue dedicated to this and nothing else since she was Accepted, forced to walk in to a faith that will leave her powerless to play any part in it.

 

So now she's out, having gone through all of that and knowing the world went on without her. The Dragon went on without her. The Wheel turned without her. Sobering, yet also liberating, that realisation. For the weight one might feel on one's shoulders lifts when they realise that they can share that weight and trust the Light and the Pattern will distribute the weight as it must to achieve what must be achieved.

 

In the face of all that, and with the added experiences she's been through, things like proper decorum, modesty and primness seem rather small and ridiculous. I've no doubt that once she's recovered more from her ordeal she'll return more to her former self (as interaction with community will do to a person, after all), but for now she's overwhelmed by her sudden freedom and surival, knowing the LB is at hand and realising there may not be much time left for any of them. That she does so in the presence of Mat is a bit strange, but not that strange, considered from that point of view. Why would she hold to a level of modesty or reservation in the presence of one who has read her letter to Thom? It's not like they're making out in front of him. lol

 

No, her reaction is quite human and therefore more real. She'll be epic still, despite her reduced power and she's even more a beackon of hope because of it.

 

As for throwing the angreal away, I doubt she meant that literally. She'd have gotten it to the White Tower, I'm sure. She wouldn't let that lay around waiting for one of the Forsaken to pick it up. Even if she renounced her status as Aes Sedai. This is Moiraine, after all. Give her some credit.

Edited November 12, 2010 by Deadsy

[Marie 73]

It has gotten annoying how many people are freaking out about Moiraine not being an Ice Queen.

[Kaitlin 22]

Moiraine was never an Ice Queen. I swear. People have no memories. She could pull out the bitch, but I'd call her just kind of frank instead of icy. She accepted most shit and that was that.

[Marie 73]

I figure "Moiraine is human, yo" deserves it's own special thread. Because Moiraine is special.

 

In all honesty it has began to do more than just mildly annoy me the reactions Moiraine's loooove to Thom is getting. First off, anyone not named Mat that is surprised by it needs to perhaps work on their reading comprehension. Second, anyone claiming that Moiraine acting human and showing emotion is somehow "out of character" doesn't really understand her character at all and is probably ignorant of New Spring. Call me elitist but I tend to ignore anyone trying to analyze Moiraine who seems to lack knowledge gained from what amounts to an entire novel about the chick with a few Lan sprinkles thrown in for decoration.

 

But even then, in Fires of Heaven you could see cracks form. Sure she might have still held onto her Aes Sedai mask, but clearly she knew her time was running short and certain forms of behavior she was used to needed to be done away with. Also, she was stressed with stubborn Rand. She smacks him with the One Power out of frustration, pledges to him without him needing to demand it, starts bringing him his meals just for the extra time to instruct him, etc. Jesus, Rand even sees her blush twice in the novel.

 

So now she is back and has just spent a large chunk of time without any human contact AND been treated to spiritual food for some freaky creatures. She's a strong girl and all but everyone has their breaking point. I imagine there were times when she began to doubt rescue would come, and at those moments she probably did pray for death.

 

Her proposal to Thom makes sense. She has never been in love with a man before, and feels fairly sure he loves her too. She has no idea if she will survive the Last Battle or if Thom will so why wouldn't she want to enjoy as much time as feasible with the person she loves?

 

Not to mention, if she had been rescued and acted all ice princess people would have complained that she wasn't showing any gratitude for being saved.

[Kaitlin 22]

She did seem incredibly strong to me after the rescue. There was not enough of her in the book at all, but I have to praise RJ for what was there.

 

The woman was basically tortured. Well, not basically. That would qualify. The people who want her to conform to their idea of who she is and become this legendary figure with no inner characteristics...they don't understand the complexities of this character and maybe of people in general. RJ wasn't perfect but he tried to write about humans living these heroic lives and how they cope with that. He was pretty successful.

[Ekho 52]

In the first few books Moiraine probably seemed like an ice queen because of the contrast between her and the two rivers folk (especially Nynaeve) all of whom were incapable of hiding their emotions at that point. Whereas Moiraine always seemed calm and composed. I never thought she was an ice queen but then Moiraine was always my favourite character so I paid more attention to her.

 

Considering what she went through I'm impressed at how Moiraine is. I mean look at Rand who went crazier after being trapped in a box for like 5 minutes or Egwene who still can't look at an a'dam without flinching. These reactions seemed perfectly reasonable whereas Moiraine can't be human right after being tortured?

[Marie 73]

Ah yes, I hadn't thought of Rand and Egwene's tortures/reactions. There is this double standard it seems, which is silly. Moiraine spent more time as food than Eg did leashed or Rand boxed.

[Sam 19]

dragonmount is a cesspool of idiots when it comes to anything related to Moiraine.

 

I stopped visiting when NS came out and everyone was throwing fits over M/S pillow friendship.

 

anytime she shows any humanity and isnt a complete witch some fans freak out. How dare she have emotions or mood swings!

[Erika 4]

The conflict between being the "perfect" Aes Sedai and her natural human emotions has always been what made her a wonderful character to read about and discover as the series progressed.

 

I believe that with Towers of Midnight we are perhaps seeing her have finally reached a balance between the two and is more at peace with her role in the world.

 

The fact that others cannot see this is disappointing, but they perhaps wanted her to be how they envisioned and not how she actually is.

[Sam 19]

 

I hope we see both sides of her in final book.