Why did Elaida whoop their butts?

[Iris 0]

Okay besides the fact that she's seemingly a very bitter woman who enjoys inflicting pain on others

 

But seriously I can't puzzle out why Elaida would go out of her way to help Moiraine and Siuan prepare for the test for the shawl. In the beginning of the New Spring Moiraine refers to her as a "detestable woman," so you know there's already some animosity there. The only reason I could come up with was that perhaps Elaida really hoped she had some chance of bringing them to the Red Ajah, which would be worth it even if she hated them, b/c they're both so strong in the Power. But even that seems mildly far-fetched. I'm sure by that time it was obvious they weren't into being Reds.

 

What do you guys think?

[AshSnow 0]

I can't quite recall...but from what I do remember, I thought she viewed this as, sort of, kind of friends. In a very strange one sided sense. So she thought she was doing them a favor in helping them for the shawl in NS. (Guess she liked them in a way, so she helped them?)

 

Besides that I don't remember...or I never figured it out, lol. That was something that also "puzzled" me.

[Olivia 26]

It's mentioned in later books (IIRC) that Elaida sometimes takes "favorites" like she did with Mo and Siuan and "helps" them by pushing them to their limits. I think she maybe took it as a challenge to try to mold Siuan and Mo into better Aes Sedai. She wants strong Aes Sedai in the Tower, even if they are from a rival Ajah; Elaida does after all want the Tower to be whole and strong - she's just an idiot about how to do that.

 

Or maybe she was worried that since Siuan and Moiraine are so close to her in strength and matched her record of 6 years in training, people will think of Moiraine and Siuan as being better than Elaida, so Elaida "helped" them to save face, so she could say "they're only as good as/better than me because I made them".

 

Or it could simply be sadism, that she enjoys exerting power over people, especially people who should be stronger than her.

 

Or perhaps it's sexual jealousy ;D She wanted them both but they were too smitten with each other to become her pets so she takes it out on them with good sound beatings. And besides, who could look at Moiraine's cute little behind and not want to "whoop" it?

[Iris 0]

 

Or maybe she was worried that since Siuan and Moiraine are so close to her in strength and matched her record of 6 years in training, people will think of Moiraine and Siuan as being better than Elaida, so Elaida "helped" them to save face, so she could say "they're only as good as/better than me because I made them".

 

that's a very good point. a nice way for a rival to soothe herself.

 

 

 

Or perhaps it's sexual jealousy ;D She wanted them both but they were too smitten with each other to become her pets so she takes it out on them with good sound beatings. And besides, who could look at Moiraine's cute little behind and not want to "whoop" it?

 

lol, equally probable!

[Ekho 52]

It might simply be all the fan fic I've read regarding the subject *cough Laura's cough* but I always thought it was a sexual thing for Elaida.

 

I also think this would explain why she spends a good portion of her time later on, hell bent on getting revenge

[Cerendrallion 32]

To satisfy my wicked mind, I have always assumed it was sexually orientated.

[Marie 73]

Back in the days when there were four of us on MW there were theories (well a theory) over Elaida's behavior towards Siuan and Moi. Of course it was all sexual.

[Asmodean82 0]

She was certainly threatened by them on some level. That was my take.