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LunarFire

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  1. I have nothing useful to say I last minute decided to read Elantris and Warbreaker in preparation/to preoccupy myself until oathbringer. I LOVED warbreaker and so this is just the cherry on top. I hope we see Viv!
  2. This is very interesting. I think the word "insane" is never really applicable but I like where you are going with all this. The basis of Freud's ideas of trauma comes from something terrible happening around the age of 7. Subsequently, in the current psychological DSM, if a person experiences intense trauma before the age of 7 they are likely to experience Disassociative Identity Disorder (or Multiple Personality Disorder as it was once known as). If a person experiences intense trauma after the age of 7 they are likely to experience PTSD. The reason DID develops is because the brain younger than age 7 is plastic enough to create "shards", so to speak, of their consciousness in order to protect the young child. This may result in multiple different complete personalities that in turn help the person deal with traumatic situations, and then further help them cope with the rest of their lives. Shallan most likely experienced severe trauma around age 7. It is clear Shallan experiences multiple personalities. She has Radiant and Veil to help her with her tasks that she feels her "host" self is unable to accomplish. One thing that happens with DID is that the "host" person may have times of their lives they have completely disassociated and cannot remember. We see that when Shallan asks Pattern if she killed her brothers; she has most likely experienced this type of disassociation, or at least knows she is capable of it. (On a personal note, I know a person I have worked that found out years later that due to trauma that forced her to disassociate- she gave birth to a child in her early teenage years and didn't remember the experience until decades later- the brain is an incredible thing). The way people "heal" from DID is they work with a therapist to integrate their personalities into their core selves, being able to live productive lives moving forward. Many people with DID explain the personalities are a benefit to their lives when they've learned to work with them instead of against them. Shallan obviously has much "illness" when it comes to her compartmentalizing of her personalities, but we also see how they are an asset to her and may help her work through many of her issues. Sanderson has mentioned before that he uses a lot of psychology in his books (it's what draws me to them in the first place) and it would make sense he would incorporate DID. Trauma is a fascinating thing and we can see the way it plays out in both Kaladin and Shallan. The whole idea of Jungian Archetypes is that they show up in literature, culture, religion etc... over and over again. It makes sense Sanderson would utilize these archetypes and the idea of personas (masks) with Shallan. I'm so glad I found this thread, I've been thinking about this A LOT. EDIT: I realize this is being discussed in depth in the thread. I'd like to add 1. This is a fictional character, she is not going to exactly have the diagnosis of DID, however it is interesting to look at it in this context because DID is a way people work through trauma that occured at a young age. 2. People cannot develop DID past 7 years old. I think looking at the flashbacks of Shallan from WoR under the lens of her experiencing symptoms of DID and PTSD (not speaking is one I can think of off the top of my head) gives an interesting perspective on how she's dealing with stress now.
  3. I think this really downplays the intellectual role women play in their society. I actually can't remember an implication that women are solely expected to take of the children. They are engineers, scholars, scribes, ardents, artists etc... It is actually imbedded in their religion that everyone (women included-though this may only apply to lighteyes, i'm not sure) must pick an area of interest to focus and devote their lives to. We can see this easily in Shallan. Even though she has been isolated her entire life, and her father wished to control her every moment, we don't really see much about her expectation to bear children. I remember she mentions that at some point she would be expected marry someone for a political alliance, but not that her life would then be minimized to raising children. I could have remembered incorrectly.
  4. Considering how heavily involved women are in politics, it seems likely to me that there may be greater implications to this segregation of knowledge. We know there is greater negative influence on Roshar, this separation could have been specifically implanted in their society. Just a theory. Also, if reading were mearly "frowned upon" I would imagine Dalinar would have considered it to assist him along his path? With topics of great sensitivity we see him struggle to make sure he has chosen the correct and most loyal scribes. Considering he is not afraid to go again popular Alethi culture it would be much more convenient for him to learn letters.
  5. Reflecting back in it, it is a really interesting dichotomy between Vorin conservatism between men and women (the safehand for example, which frankly seems so obnoxious to deal with), and the culture they live in. For example: it was completely normal for Adolin to date so frequently. Also, we see during that first time Kaladin meets Adolin and he is coming to the aid of a prostitute. While he doesn't engage her himself, it's still "allowed" culturally. I wonder if this has to do with any outside influence on Roshar.
  6. I'm going through a re-read of both books before November, and I came across something really interesting in Way of Kings. Shallan doing some research with Jasnah and mentions the footnote of sorts, I believe it is in the context of King Galivar. The impression that I got was that the footnotes included by the women authors are something that the men in their society aren't really aware of. Commentary of text that isn't widely known. I absolutely did not catch this on my first read and the whole concept felt pretty explosive to me. Men are considered to be so important due to their place in war, however, it is women who truly hold the knowledge and the keys to the past. In fact, there are most likely SO many things that the men are not aware of that are hidden behind being unable to read, and that aren't explained by women. As I'm writing this I'm remembering that male ardents are allowed to read. Considering most of the knowledge I hold about ardents stems from Kabsal, who we later learn is not the most trustworthy, it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility that there is much knowledge being hidden or contained by women and ardents. The implications of this are profound I think. Thoughts?
  7. I laughed out loud. (Was this supposed to be funny?)
  8. I actually really liked Zane's place in WoA. I think that Vin's anxiety around herself, her strength, and her relationship with Elend are warranted. She is a teenage girl with a lot of angst and some self hatred. Perhaps because i have struggled with internal demons surrounding self-worth, I can relate to the internal conflict between choosing two men: one who is kind and partner material, and the other who appeals to my own darkness inside but is toxic. I'm not sure how much of WoA you have read so I don't really want to go any further on that, but I think the love triangle is a representation of Vins inner battle. Anyways. One thing I really enjoy about Brandon Sanderson is that his books don't seem to focus on a love interest in the same way that I've encountered other fantasy writers to do. I think sometimes focusing too intently on love can reduce the women in a series to 2-dimensional characters. Personally, I think Shallan, Adolin, and Kaladin have much more important things to worry about, but also Sanderson has certainly set the stage at the end of WoR for some complications of a love triangle. I can't really speak for anyone else but I'm hesitant about a Adolin/Shallan/Kaladin love triangle because of how much a distraction that would be from all the super badass things that are sure to be happening. Shallan is already awkward socially, and does Kaladin really need more Lighteyes angst?
  9. Alright: 1. Words of Radiance 2. Final Empire 3. Way of Kings 4. Hero of Ages 5. Shadow of Self 6. Well of Ascension 7. Bands of Mourning 8. Alloy of Law BoM and AoL are at the end because I wish all the Mistborn Era 2 books had been split up differently. Maybe I'm just used to the Sanderson Epics, but I finished Alloy of Law not really knowing why I should 'care', and it was only until towards the end of Shadow of Self did I feel invested. I have not read Elantris or Warbreaker yet, I'm debating delving into them before my TWoK and WoR rereads before Oathbringer is officially released.
  10. (I know you weren't talking to me but...) In my experience, not many authors go so deep to have something of substance to uncover this thoroughly. I'm still new to all of this but it's fairly evident considering all the people who spend so much time analyzing minute details that there is a reason for it. I've personally never been so enthralled, and it seems there is gratification coming from Sanderson for the effort.
  11. This is a very fortunate fandom. Looking into your comment led me down the rabbit hole for a while and I was able to clear some things up for myself I had been feeling confused about, thanks
  12. Thank you so much, that is very helpful. I did read the spoiler, my question is: how did you later find out who that was? Was it mentioned in the books, or is it something that was mentioned elsewhere?
  13. I absolutely get too excited as well, and as much as I try I end up skipping important details. I didn't like WoK as much as WoR, but I think that was mostly because I felt like I was getting a ton of information without much context. Having completed the second book I imagine many of the details that went over my head in the first one will make much more sense and make it for a better read.
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