Moiraine and the Wise Ones

[Marie 73]

With the Wise Ones either taking Aes Sedai as apprentices and thinking the rest deserve to be the same, I have wondered about their reaction to Moiraine when (not if!) she comes back. I think it's safe to say Moiraine wouldn't put up with their antics. Of course if she does I'll have a serious bone to pick Sanderson.

[Cerendrallion 32]

Moiraine was always an Aes Sedai that the Wise One (semi)-respected, was she not?

 

I imagine her return will only bring more respect. I imagine the Wise Ones to deem some Aes Sedai worthy of their respect, and some not - Cadsuane has their respect too, I think?

 

I think the Wise Ones are all about not respecting the whole institution merely because of its reputation, but judging Aes Sedai individually.

[Iris 0]

i always wondered how Mo got respect with them in the first place considering their racist type attitude toward "tree-killers." Aviendha cried when she "died" but then later wonders why she cares about Olver (who is just a kid!) bc he's a tree-killer. They must've at least known she was Cairhienin. Imagine if they knew she was niece of the ultimate tree-killer himself! Still, I wonder how she managed to pull it off.

[Olivia 26]

I think the Wise Ones were kinda unimpressed with Aes Sedai by TFoH, but when the Tower AS kidnapped Rand the Wise Ones saw it as really dishonorable and now pretty much hate/disdain AS in general (except for exceptions like Laura mentioned).

 

As for Momo, I hope the Wise Ones will continue to treat her with the kind of stand-offish respect she got in TFoH - I think she probably went up in their estimation after she sacrificed herself to defeat Lanfear, since they would see that as really honorable.

 

TFoH ch20:

Moiraine being Aes Sedai offset her being Cairhienin, but Rand was never sure how much.

[Kaitlin 22]

They worked with Moiraine more than other Aes Sedai I remember. At least, they were always huddled around her when she used the kesiera to listen in on Rand. Mo was often in the sweat tents with them and other stuff.

 

I think her attitude of not apologizing for herself and being pretty sensible played a big role in how the Wise Ones viewed her.

 

Out of all the Aiel I don't mind the older WO. They remind me of Cadsuane.

[Marie 73]

I am pretty sure those she did share a sweat tent with won't look at her like a piece of you know what, but the rest? I don't know, I don't have much faith Aiel logic.

 

In addition to that, I have to wonder what their goal is: to turn AS into Wise Ones?! They don't seem to be like the Shaido and wanting slaves, so at some point they have to "raise" them from apprentices.

[MierinSedai 0]

I think Moiraine being the first "real" Aes Sedai that the Wise Ones came into contact with had much to do with their acceptance of her. At that point the Wise Ones were unaware of exactly how powerful the average Aes Sedai is and what knowledge they've retained of the past. The Wise Ones have been through the same ter'angreal as Rand. They are fully aware that at a point in the distant past the Aiel were servants of the Aes Sedai.

 

It also helps that she is the bondmistress of Lan. They have a huge respect for Aan'allein so she gains by association. She also maintains and independence from the Wise Ones because she is able to come closer to Rand then any other Aes Sedai since because of her vow of obedience.

 

I think the Wise Ones came to respect her after Rhuidean and Rand's time in the waste. I have no evidence to support it but I also believe that the Aiel Dreamers were aware in some tenuous way that Moiraine was important to the Car'a'carn's survival. We know they knew that she would come to the waste.

 

As for the other Aes Sedai apprentices... just more of Rand's Mary Sueness to destroy the reputation of the White Tower. A pity the situation couldn't be resolved differently.

[Iris 0]

dang, bondmistress is a hot word!

[MierinSedai 0]

dang, bondmistress is a hot word!

 

Hehehe, it's not everyday I get to use that one in a sentence...

[Olivia 26]

I think having Egwene around also helped (hurt?) the Wise Ones' perception of AS. Momo retains AS dignity and power, but to them Egwene the "Green AS" was just a foolish Wise One's apprentice whom they could assign chores and menial labor to and insult/call down when they wanted. Having one "AS" as an apprentice probably made it easier for them to take (real) AS as apprentices later on. DAMN YOU, EGGY!

[MierinSedai 0]

OMG! Get out of my head! I just had the same thought after posting... You beat me to it though.

 

I really believe having an stubborn half trained idiot named Egwene as an apprentice definitely changed the Wise Ones outlook... or rather later justified their belief that all Aes Sedai are half trained ignorant fools with no honor. I wondered as I went through TSR wtf the difference would be in the storyline if Egwene had just admited at the start that she was NOT a fully trained Aes Sedai... it's not like they'd of treated her differently. It'd probably of given Moiraine more authority somehow... yeah mmhmm.

 

Throughout the series there are countless references to women being punished for claiming to be Aes Sedai... but there's only one actually incident that I can remember offhand (that occured off screne!) where Aes Sedai discovered the woman and brought her to "justice." Am I alone in wanting the wonder girls to get their heads deflated and submerged repeatedly in a bucket of humiliation at the hands of the Ajah's they falsely represented?

 

AAAAGH! I'm seeing Aes Sedai degredation everywhere now, it's a disease. Someday... one time... they will lay some smack down on someone...

[Kaitlin 22]

You're probably right about Egwene and that makes me even less happy with her. Stupid Eggy! >: O

 

I hope to see a smackdown too. Or many.

[Marie 73]

I'm really starting to think with this reread that the Wise Ones' goal really is to make AS into minimes. Which I guess is better than slaves in all but name, but I am really sick of the Aiel Way always being the "best way", because I know if we ever actually see an Aes Sedai finish her apprenticeship she'll be a "better" woman.

[Sam 19]

I can't stand those tall bitches.

[Dawntango 0]

*shudders* Me neither. Their high and mighty attitudes irritate me greatly. Everything has to be done THIER way and Aiel in general make me shake my head.

 

Mr. Sanderson-no Aes Sedai minions!

Edited January 22, 2010 by Dawntango