Moiraine's State Of Mind

[Erika 4]

With the approach of the next installment coming fast I have been thinking of Moiraine's current state of mind. I have never before thought of her as being very vulnerable but she has been trapped for six months or so in a tower ruled by none humans who feed off of humans emotionally at the very least as well as skin them as is the case with the Foxes, as well as being stuck with Lanfear for a period of time. There must have been a point where she began to doubt Thom would come for her. It would take incredible force of will (which I am sure she has) to resist going quickly insane.

 

And yet after rescue she will need to bounce back quickly in order to be of any use to the main plot line. The Last Battle is eminent and there is very little if any time for mental recovery. I imagine when the Last Battle is finished she will need to find time to deal with her imprisonment. It is highly unrealistic to think she is "Mighty Moiraine" enough to resist ill effects of possible torture.

[Vertex 23]

I haven't read any of that but maybe she's just really pissed off and a danger to towers everywhere. Kinda like lightning, I guess.

 

Oh, and then there is sexual healing. A few hot nights with Thom...and a couple of shameless acts in broad daylight should have her sex life restored if nothing else. Bet it'd be electric and make the hair of the people peeking stand on end. In a good way

Edited August 12, 2010 by Vertex

[Olivia 26]

I agree with you, Erika, that it's unrealistic to think she'll be completely unaffected by whatever happened during her months-long stay in Finnland, but also like you said, there just isn't time enough for her to go through a full psychological recovery from some deep trauma. For example, it's been 6 books for Rand and yet he still has claustrophobia and nightmares about being stuck in the box and beaten... But we don't have another 6 books for Moiraine to deal with similar issues, not to mention she's not the main character so we probably won't have an abundance of PoVs from her (sadly ). Also, I kind of doubt Sanderson's ability to write that kind of long-term psychological rehabilitation anyway even if he had the story time.

 

So, for plot reasons (and because I love her so), I'm hoping Moiraine will be portrayed as "damaged, but stronger for it" upon her return. Maybe she'll leap right into a romance with Thom (because, again, not much time to develop their relationship - though that never really stopped RJ, haha), but I'm hoping there will be at least a decent time for companionship/romancing before they get to the point of sharing a bed. I for one think Moiraine is likely to wait until after the Last Battle before seriously committing to Thom - after all, she's dedicated her whole life to ensuring the Last Battle will be won, and I'd be pretty offended if she suddenly put that goal second to knocking boots with Thom, even if captivity has made her re-evaluate her stance on romance.

[Kaitlin 22]

I see her as the kind of person who can put aside certain kinds of trauma for a certain period of time in order to get done what needs to be done. Of course, that kind of thing can't last indefinitely, but Moiraine has more inner resources than Rand did at that point in his life.

 

If Sanderson writes it as her and Thom getting together right away I hope that storyline doesn't become the most important for Moiraine's PoV. I want to read a lot about it because they're my favorite pairing, but it wouldn't feel true to her character to ignore her cause at the most important time. There needs to be a ton of Moiraine in the next books, is what I'm saying. :3

[Vertex 23]

For example, it's been 6 books for Rand and yet he still has claustrophobia and nightmares about being stuck in the box and beaten... But we don't have another 6 books for Moiraine to deal with similar issues, not to mention she's not the main character so we probably won't have an abundance of PoVs from her (sadly ).

 

Oh about that, Rand's obviously in the closet here. He's a pervert at heart and loves a good deal of punishment. Why else would he have three wives? His nightmares about being locked up in boxes and such are probably more like wet dreams, only he experiences them as scary because of his deeply rooted denial and shame.

[Kaitlin 22]

Since Rand was a Gary Stu maybe it was someone else's guilt ridden fantasy!

[Ekho 52]

I agree that being in that sort of situation would probably cause anyone to develop some psychological issues, but I think Moiraine will be written as coming out of the tower stronger, and maybe angrier than before.

 

Although if Mo does get it on with Thom, we can now blame it on whatever those pesky Finns did to her. Rather than just bad taste.

[Marie 73]

Maybe she'll leap right into a romance with Thom (because, again, not much time to develop their relationship - though that never really stopped RJ, haha), but I'm hoping there will be at least a decent time for companionship/romancing before they get to the point of sharing a bed. I for one think Moiraine is likely to wait until after the Last Battle before seriously committing to Thom - after all, she's dedicated her whole life to ensuring the Last Battle will be won, and I'd be pretty offended if she suddenly put that goal second to knocking boots with Thom, even if captivity has made her re-evaluate her stance on romance.

Moiraine might not see post-rescue quickie=committing.

 

I see her as the kind of person who can put aside certain kinds of trauma for a certain period of time in order to get done what needs to be done. Of course, that kind of thing can't last indefinitely, but Moiraine has more inner resources than Rand did at that point in his life.

 

If Sanderson writes it as her and Thom getting together right away I hope that storyline doesn't become the most important for Moiraine's PoV. I want to read a lot about it because they're my favorite pairing, but it wouldn't feel true to her character to ignore her cause at the most important time. There needs to be a ton of Moiraine in the next books, is what I'm saying. :3

What are Moiraine and Thom going to do while Rand is sexing Min? What is good for the goose is good for the gander I say!

 

For example, it's been 6 books for Rand and yet he still has claustrophobia and nightmares about being stuck in the box and beaten... But we don't have another 6 books for Moiraine to deal with similar issues, not to mention she's not the main character so we probably won't have an abundance of PoVs from her (sadly ).

 

Oh about that, Rand's obviously in the closet here. He's a pervert at heart and loves a good deal of punishment. Why else would he have three wives? His nightmares about being locked up in boxes and such are probably more like wet dreams, only he experiences them as scary because of his deeply rooted denial and shame.

 

I agree that being in that sort of situation would probably cause anyone to develop some psychological issues, but I think Moiraine will be written as coming out of the tower stronger, and maybe angrier than before.

 

Although if Mo does get it on with Thom, we can now blame it on whatever those pesky Finns did to her. Rather than just bad taste.

Siuan makes me question Moiraine's taste.

 

I have become the Vertex of this thread.

 

Anyway. Yeah. Well. I'm not sure what I want to see. On the one hand I don't know if I can handle a weepy Moiraine and yet if she isn't teary/emotionally disturbed I'll call foul. She should at least be having nightmares. That Thom can comfort her from. Or Nynaeve.

 

So yes, I do agree she will/needs to have some damage done to her mind/soul. But alas, I fear how that will play out.

[Vertex 23]

I still say she'll take any anger or damage out on random innocent towers in her path.

 

And I don't mind being you It'd be so great if I got to be everyone!

[Cerendrallion 32]

:/ Perhaps naively, I always thought that Moiraine would come out of the Tower in a Gandalf-esque way. Harder and somewhat distant, with her mind wholly focused on the task before. And I always imagine (cringe) Thom 'melting' away Moiraine's 'pain' that she's kind of boxed up within herself.

 

Heaven help us.

[Marie 73]

I'm kind of with Laura here: until recently I never considered Moiraine being weak at all from her experience just...experienced. I kind of would have liked her coming out all uber powerful, mostly because I want her to go head-to-head with the wonder girls. But that would be a bit much, I know. But I can dream.

[Kaitlin 22]

All I can say is that I want her to destroy all Towers like Vertex has suggested. She should go to Seanchan and destroy all the imperial palace towers there and take over that place. Then, on her white horse (with Thom riding behind her because you know he will be her bitch) she will ride up to Rand and say, "Hi. Give me two hours with my man and we can go kill the DO volcano."

 

After that would be more hours with Nynaeve.

[Vertex 23]

Awww Kitt agrees with me! Death to towers... *wonders if Vertex boy is caught by anti terrorist filters now*

[Marie 73]

I am curious is she'll want to sleep alone at first. I can imagine her waking up in middle of the night and feeling like she is back in the Tower.

 

And yes I like to think of Thom being the one there to comfort her.

[Erika 4]

Ignoring Thom for a moment....

 

There is also Siuan to consider. Their reunion is assured and for all her faults I still want to believe Siuan's friendship means much to Moiraine and can be a healing and normalizing force post-rescue.