Thematic stuff about the Heralds' madness

[Szeth Pancakes he/they]

One thing I noticed while reading Wind and Truth is that the each Herald seems to be insane in a way that directly twists and subverts their associated attributes. (This has probably been brought up before, but there's a lot more evidence for it now.)

Kalak's attributes: "Resolute and Builder." He's certainly no longer building anything, and in RoW he's terrified of being sent back to Braize, which makes it hard for him to make any decisions.

Nale's attributes: "Just and Confident." While he appeared confident, he was no longer confident in his ability to be just, instead turning to an unhealthy devotion to the law. To him, it didn't matter whether what he's doing is just, so long that it followed the law.

Chanarach's attributes: "Brave and Obedient." She still seems to be obedient, but she's definitely not brave when she tries to kill her own child to free herself of the Oathpact.

Vedel's attributes: "Loving and Healing." It's mentioned in WaT that she is "indifferent," which would be in opposition to being loving.

Battar's attributes: "Wisdom and Care." She becomes uncaringly focused on gaining more wealth than she could ever need, in defiance of wisdom or care.

Ishar's attributes: "Pious and Guiding." He thinks that he is God, which is directly in opposition to the idea that you should look to a higher power for guidance. He could be seen as "guiding," but I think that attribute implies an amount of wisdom to his guidance that's not there.

Shalash's attributes: "Creative and Honest." She sneaks around and destroys artwork of herself.

Jezrien's attributes: "Protecting and Leading." Instead of protecting or leading, he becomes a beggar and abuses alcohol.

I don't think we have anything on Pralla, though I could have missed something in Wind and Truth.

This isn't super concrete, and doesn't hold up for some of the Heralds, and I'm not sure if it's just thematic, or if it has something to do with the mechanics of the Oathpact. Lmk if I missed anything.

[Kairos]

I think the interlude with Battar specifically calls her out as being corrupt, which more directly reflects her role as a counsellor. 
 

I think more than dark reflections of their aspects, the Heralds are embodying dark reflections of their roles. 
 

A couple examples:

 

Nale: defender of the unjustly accused to unmerciful prosecutor. 
 

Jezrien: noble leader to blind follower of drink. 
 

Shalash: artist to art critic (well, destroyer, but I couldn’t help the joke).