[Split] Moiraine's Personality

[Olivia 26]

But I agree with Travis, she doesn't seem the take-over-world type!

 

Yes, she's more the save-the-world-at-all-personal-costs type.

 

What's with that, anyways?! Why is she so eager to throw away everything she has (power, intelligence, beauty, wealth, lover like Siuan, etc.) to go and save the world?

She's a Damodred for Light's sake! Shouldn't she be ruling Cairhien or the Tower with an iron and corrupt fist? In NS, a Sitter notes that the "taint" of the Damodreds has skipped Moiraine's generation (Moiraind and her sisters), but why is that? Maybe because their parents married for love instead of power, like most nobles would. I'd like your opinions

[Kaitlin 22]

I'm not sure whether it was her parent's influence mainly, or her own personality, but I tend to think it was a combination of those things and through her friendship with Siuan actually that shaped her future personality.

 

As to why she'd rather forsake personal gain in order to serve her cause... well she's a character that is very aware of things outside of herself. That kind of attitude begins with self-awareness (which is not the same as egotism) and blossoms outward. In order to think of others you have to start by personalizing their pain. That evolves into empathy, and from there into something else again. She's had sort of a revolution of spirit, and has come to see that existence will fail if each character who can doesn't do their part. She seems to understand what that means, and that sometimes the greater good (in terms of the entire existence of life and time) is worth the sacrifice of her own needs, her life, and sometimes the happiness or lives of others.

 

I'm not saying I agree with this philosophy, but it does take tremendous strength to commit to this sort of thing. Although, many people would consider personality types such as hers to be quite mentally unstable.

 

I guess it depends on what side you're on. At least, with Momo, you would be on the winning side if you don't want the DO to win.

[Marie 73]

*ignores Siuan as lover comment* I think it's just Moiraine's personality or those weird Damodred genetics - just look at Galad. Something is wrong with this family. I also think Tower training might have amplified it, since most modern Aes Sedai seem to sacrifice things they really don't need to.

[Mea 0]

Yes, Momo sould get a love life.

[Kaitlin 22]

Siuan as lover yeah.. but there ongoing friendship afterward was what I was thinking of. It changed both of them for the good - but not by a whole lot.

 

Something is off with the family. Galad is like Momo, but way over on one end. He could do a lot of damage because he thinks of what to do in terms of how he believes it is right, not whether it actually is. Nobody can do that, though. *still finds Galad yummy* But I could see how he could irritate Elayne.

 

Momo, thankfully, doesn't seem so extremist... just rebellious. *bounce*

 

Mea, you made me laugh. A love life, yay!

[Marie 73]

The Damodreds have issues. *nods* But that's why I love them! Well, not Caraline.

[Kaitlin 22]

*gasp* Why not?!?

[Marie 73]

She likes Min for one. And she's too normal for a Damodred. Not natural.

[Ishmael Moridin 0]

What's wrong with liking min ?

 

.... and yep, she's the black sheep of the family,... she has too few issues

[Kaitlin 22]

That is the truth. Caraline needs to have more issues. She's marrying a guy whose name sounds like darling. But, not to love a Damodred (the good ones, not the Laman ones).. well that's hard to do!

 

Min is ok. It's Rand that's changing her and making her a goof!

[Olivia 26]

Min is ok. It's Rand that's changing her and making her a goof!

 

Rand is doing nothing fo the sort! He hadn't even seen her for 3 books (beginning of TDR and middle of LoC), and she went from sensible both dressing and mindset to her frilly, tight pants and blouses and make-up and her love sickness.

All Rand did was exist in the same place and time as Min...He hasn't encouraged her and (except for a few dreams) never thought of her as more than a friend before they fell on each other in book 7.

[Mea 0]

But that's why I love them! Well, not Caraline.

 

I don't like her either! No one deserves to look that much like Moiraine! No one! RJ should at least have made sure that everyone understands that she is not nearly as pretty as Moirane.

[Ekho 52]

Caraline likes Min? *is surprised* I didn't think anyone from carhien actually liked anyone else it was all just a part of daes dae'mar

As for the original question I think moiraine wasn't like the rest of the damodreds because she was out of the cut-throat politics of carhien while she was in the tower. That combined with her actual personality and she became one of the "goodies"

[Marie 73]

But the only place where the Game of Houses is played even worse than Cairhien is Tar Valon. So if anything, being in the Tower probably made that aspect worse. I'm thinking it's just like that one Aes Sedai (Kate should know her name. *looks at Kate*) said - that "taint" on House Damodred seemed to have skipped Moiraine's generation.

[Olivia 26]

I'm thinking it's just like that one Aes Sedai (Kate should know her name. *looks at Kate*) said - that "taint" on House Damodred seemed to have skipped Moiraine's generation.

 

That was Jarna Malari, a Sitter for the Gray Ajah.