Popular Post DreamEternal Posted October 18, 2015 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 (edited) "Death is my life, the strenght becomes my weakness, the journey has ended." -Dated Betabanes, 1173, 95 seconds pre-death. Subject: a scholar of minor renown. This death rattle is one of the more curious ones in my opinion, since it does not seem to alude to any particular event or to prophecise anything, instead being strutured as a parody of the First Ideal. But what does it mean? I believe the rattle is about Szeth's death, going by my personal interpretation of the three parts of the statement, and the idea that it isn't an anti-oath, but a statement of failure and potencial rebirth. Death is my life: Szath's life as a truthless was one of blood and death and a slow destruction of himself, culminating in his rebirth through death. Strenght becomes my weakness: this means his greatest virtues were turned against him. His devotion to his beliefs made him blind, and his compassion made his dark deeds wear down his sanity. And it may happen again, under his new master. The journey has ended: he died. The old Szeth is but ashes, and he is starting a new journey, wich can lead him anywhere, including back through the same road he walked as a truthless. Edited October 20, 2015 by CognitivePulsePattern 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Authweight Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 I like this interpretation a lot. Overall, the themes of a tension between life and death (when is it okay to kill? When you kill to protect), strength and weakness (only the broken can find true strength and power), and journey and destination (the best way to reach your destination is to focus on the journey) are built into these books on all levels. I'm not certain if this death rattle was meant to specifically address Szeth or not, but I think this interpretation is worthwhile one way or the other. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaladin al'Thor Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 Spoiler Also When Szeth is killed he is freed and can now live a new life. I dont know the exact quote but Darkness says something like "I waited until you were dead to revive you. Had I waited seconds longer it could have been too late. Now all ties, physical and spiritual are broken." So Szeth is freed from his sins and does not need to let them weigh him down. Death is my life. He can now live thatnks to him dying. Sorry, I am having real trouble wording this. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreamEternal Posted October 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) Spoiler Also When Szeth is killed he is freed and can now live a new life. I dont know the exact quote but Darkness says something like "I waited until you were dead to revive you. Had I waited seconds longer it could have been too late. Now all ties, physical and spiritual are broken." So Szeth is freed from his sins and does not need to let them weigh him down. Death is my life. He can now live thatnks to him dying. Sorry, I am having real trouble wording this. I wouldn't say he will ever be able to banish the guilty and psychological damage he caused to himself, or that he should. But I do think his "rebirth" could allow him to live with the guilt without being crushed by it. Or it could allow him to make the same mistakes . Edited October 20, 2015 by CognitivePulsePattern Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taveren he/him Posted November 11, 2015 Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 i think its just the opposite of the imortal words Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battar Posted November 11, 2015 Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 i think its just the opposite of the imortal words Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination I think you're right, but that isn't the whole story. I think "death is my life" makes this pretty clearly about Szeth because of how entangled Szeth's life has been with the deaths of others. It also says to me that Szeth will become Odium's champion through how much death he has caused and how much hatred he has felt, both for himself and his enemies. I'm of the opinion that Szeth won't become a Skybreaker because of his ties to Odium, and that Nalan will have somehow solidified him as Odium's champion rather than help cleanse him. The spiritual and physical ties of Szeth to life have been broken, and that brings him closer to what I would think of as an Unmade than anything, something that will put Voidbinding to use rather than Surgebinding (which I'm of the opinion will use death as a central point of power). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charononus Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 I think you're right, but that isn't the whole story. I think "death is my life" makes this pretty clearly about Szeth because of how entangled Szeth's life has been with the deaths of others. It also says to me that Szeth will become Odium's champion through how much death he has caused and how much hatred he has felt, both for himself and his enemies. I'm of the opinion that Szeth won't become a Skybreaker because of his ties to Odium, and that Nalan will have somehow solidified him as Odium's champion rather than help cleanse him. The spiritual and physical ties of Szeth to life have been broken, and that brings him closer to what I would think of as an Unmade than anything, something that will put Voidbinding to use rather than Surgebinding (which I'm of the opinion will use death as a central point of power). I agree. I think Nalan is either duping Szeth or is just crazy and wrong. I lean towards the crazy though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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