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Just a mini Gawyn thread about why all the Gawyn hate bothers me.
1) I consider Gawyn a friend
2) Gawyn is what happens when a person with good intentions gets forced down the wrong path again and again
3) let's start at the very beginning, a privileged life, with purpose
1/12
1) I consider Gawyn a friend
2) Gawyn is what happens when a person with good intentions gets forced down the wrong path again and again
3) let's start at the very beginning, a privileged life, with purpose
1/12
4) Unlike Lan who had a sword placed in is hands as a babe to be a king, Gawyn was given the sword to become a sword for his sister
5) his whole life was in preparation to be Elayne's Sword
6) an aside, has a very beautiful older half brother who's bloody perfect (calves!)
2/12
5) his whole life was in preparation to be Elayne's Sword
6) an aside, has a very beautiful older half brother who's bloody perfect (calves!)
2/12
7) that must've put him under quite a bit of pressure. But back to him
8) all his life, he knew it's his mother with the highest authority. Then one day Elayne. As her protector, he has authority of sorts
9) forward to the white tower...
3/12
8) all his life, he knew it's his mother with the highest authority. Then one day Elayne. As her protector, he has authority of sorts
9) forward to the white tower...
3/12
10) now for the first time he's where he needs to be as Elayne's Sword, but cannot.
11) worse, she disappears. So he just failed his first test.
12) the authority he always thought to have when it was time to be Elayne's Sword cannot be had in Tar Valon
4/12
11) worse, she disappears. So he just failed his first test.
12) the authority he always thought to have when it was time to be Elayne's Sword cannot be had in Tar Valon
4/12
13) the most powerful person in the world has the authority, holds the truth and the secret, and denies him knowledge, respect or sympathy.
14) so... Failure and helplessness.
15) kept in the dark for months... Not long after Elayne returns, it happens AGAIN
5/12
14) so... Failure and helplessness.
15) kept in the dark for months... Not long after Elayne returns, it happens AGAIN
5/12
16) same person with the Supreme authority brushes aside his worry and tells him to go pound sand
17) the Tower goes coup-coup and he picks a side. There was no right side.
18) he spares the life of the person who lied to him repeatedly and put his sisters life in danger
6/12
17) the Tower goes coup-coup and he picks a side. There was no right side.
18) he spares the life of the person who lied to him repeatedly and put his sisters life in danger
6/12
19) so now he picked a side. Killed people he loved/respected. Betrayed people who were on his side. Betrayed his new boss, but remains a tool to said boss. All within the span of a couple of days
20) he's manipulated 17 different ways by Elaida and Broken Tower Aes Sedai
7/12
20) he's manipulated 17 different ways by Elaida and Broken Tower Aes Sedai
7/12
21) can't protect the one person I was supposed to protect. Oh, and mom was killed by The Dragon Reborn
22) at this point the guy is technically broken. Brain is mush. There's zero reason to expect a person in his boots to emerge normal/balanced
8/12
22) at this point the guy is technically broken. Brain is mush. There's zero reason to expect a person in his boots to emerge normal/balanced
8/12
23) clings on to a lie as truth about who killed his mother. He needed that lie. He was supposed to be better. His life was supposed to be better, but they took that away from him and someone was to blame
24) recap: the system betrayed him. Siuan betrayed him.
9/12
24) recap: the system betrayed him. Siuan betrayed him.
9/12
25) Elayne left him. Galaad left him. Elayda betrayed him. Aes Sedai betrayed him.
26) fast forward. He struggles with his inner demons. Embraces his new role. Not great from the outside looking in, but worked for him, so good on him. I would've given up in his boots
10/12
26) fast forward. He struggles with his inner demons. Embraces his new role. Not great from the outside looking in, but worked for him, so good on him. I would've given up in his boots
10/12
26) he's with the woman he loves. He saves her life. Was always meant to be a sword. Ends up being a sword but in service of another. But at least, finally, he's loved
27) foolishly goes after the kill, maybe after a bit of glory, but better men have been bigger fools
11/12
27) foolishly goes after the kill, maybe after a bit of glory, but better men have been bigger fools
11/12
28) he had the skill and the advantage of a blood knife, good arguments to convince one's self that you can best a forsaken.
29) "his fall hurt Egwene, that's selfish and stupid". Lan could've lost us the fight also had he fallen, breaking Nynaeve in the cavern
12/12
29) "his fall hurt Egwene, that's selfish and stupid". Lan could've lost us the fight also had he fallen, breaking Nynaeve in the cavern
12/12
In the end, Gawyn's story is a very sad one. Maybe the saddest.
In a world of Ta'veren and a pattern that spun good fortune, opportunity and saviors for many characters, Gawyn was left out and forgotten.
Gawyn was flawed. But I love Gawyn and weep for him.
In a world of Ta'veren and a pattern that spun good fortune, opportunity and saviors for many characters, Gawyn was left out and forgotten.
Gawyn was flawed. But I love Gawyn and weep for him.
PS: I'm not trying to prove that Gawyn is good or bad. I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything. I'm just explaining how I feel about Gawyn. Feel free to express your feelings, that's your right, but just don't tell me what I believe is wrong.
