Moist_von_Lipwig he/him Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 As stated in the title this isn't so much a theory as it is random speculation. It pertains to Dalinar's to what boon and curse Dalinar may have received from the Nightwatcher when he sought out the old magic. We know from tWoK that Dalinar believes his inability to remember anything about his wife, is the curse he received when asking for his boon. However, we have no idea what this boon may be. My wild speculation is thus: Dalinar may have been responsible for his wife's death 10 years ago, or at least believed himself to be. In an effort to remove his guilt, he sought out the Nightwatcher and the Old Magic. Dalinar received his boon, removing his guilt, but his curse was to also forget everything he knew of her. Dalinar's boon and curse may in fact be one in the same. While this does seem unlikely. I think this would be a very interesting twist when we see Dalinar's flashback chapters in a book 5. Thoughts anyone? -Postmaster Lipwig 2
11thorderknight Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 I don't remember the exact quote but I think there was something about not being able to remember his wife was actually the boon. we don't know what the curse is.
WeiryWriter he/him Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 Actually we don't know whether Dalinar forgetting his wife was his boon or his curse. All we know is that it is a result of the Nightwatchter and the Dalinar knows what his boon and curse are. 1
Moist_von_Lipwig he/him Posted January 18, 2014 Author Posted January 18, 2014 (edited) I remember Dalinar telling Adolin that he knew what both his Boon and his curse were. But I thought it was confirmed that Dalinar knew forgetting his wife was his curse, or at least believes it to be. I believe he mentions it during an inner monologue. I cant find the exact quote from the book but this is what is on the wiki. en years ago his wife passed away. Sometime after he seeked the Old Magic whose curse wiped all his memories of her. I suppose Dalinar knowing his boon would be a problem anyway. Since he would surely have to have no knowledge of having his guilt removed for it to be effective. Edited January 18, 2014 by Moist_von_Lipwig
Meg Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 Dalinar said, he knows exactly what his curse was, but he didn't specify them, when asked by Renarin: "... Father, I assume you know what both of those things are?" "Yes," he said. "I know exactly what my curse was, and it does not relate to this." TWoK Chapter 61 I don't remember one part in TWoK that can be brought in as an evidence whether forgetting all about his wife is the boon or the curse. Also I can't remember any quote on this question (if there was one it would not clarify our confusion). We will have to wait, I think. 1
duladen he/him Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 I always assumed forgetting about his wife was the boon, to aid him in his grief. The way he thinks about it in his POV chapters just strikes me that way. I guess there isn't any really hard evidence for it though. I wonder when we will learn the secret and what implications it will have! Maybe Cultivation saw his potential and so gave him a 'curse' that will end up saving the people of Roshar?
Asha'man Logain Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 I believe that Ranarin's sickness was life threatening at some point. Dalinar went to ask the boon of not losing his son, and was granted it, but in return lost all memory of his wife. Saving a loved one, yet losing the memory of another. I also think however that he thinks the curse was his son's weakness and the boon was forgetting his wife. I'm not sure how the two could be together, but that is the impression I've always gotten for him. 6
Crysanja Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 i kind of think his boon is being honorable in most ways. there is also a problem mentioned in the beginning of WOR with Dalinar which could fit too, or just go with strong character.
Maresia he/him Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 I believe that Ranarin's sickness was life threatening at some point. Dalinar went to ask the boon of not losing his son, and was granted it, but in return lost all memory of his wife. Saving a loved one, yet losing the memory of another. I also think however that he thinks the curse was his son's weakness and the boon was forgetting his wife. I'm not sure how the two could be together, but that is the impression I've always gotten for him. I was going to say that too, nice theory. I also thought about that "special spren" renarins going to have. Maybe thats the source of his spren too. idk ( nightwatcher/cultivation )
Moist_von_Lipwig he/him Posted January 18, 2014 Author Posted January 18, 2014 (edited) I'm going to agree with you guys. Dalinar asking for Renarin's live to be saved is a better theory than my original one. Him losing memory of his wife in return has a nice duality to it like Asha'man pointed out. Was there any indication of when Dalinar sought out the Old Magic? I believe it was after his wife's death 10 years ago, but was it after Gavilar's assassination? Edited January 18, 2014 by Moist_von_Lipwig
Meg Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 Gavilar was murdered some six years ago, Dalinar's wife died some ten years ago, so, no, it happened prior to Gavilar's assasination. 1
Swimmingly he/him Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 Perhaps he assumes that Ren's weakness was the curse, and so assumes that forgetting his wife was the boon - because he can't remember her, he assumes she did something terrible that he would make himself forget.
Crisapx he/him Posted January 19, 2014 Posted January 19, 2014 Can the boon even afect another person? I thought the boon and the curse were limited to the person that asks
Plastic Misting Posted January 19, 2014 Posted January 19, 2014 It seems very likely that it has some connection to his wife. I'm assuming that once we get to the book with Dalinar flashbacks his entire past will be clear. Therefor all unknown elements of his past have to fit into one continuous story. His wife died and then he went to the Nightwatcher. Another thing to note is that it's the old Dalinar who got his boon. The killing and drinking Dalinar. 1
Natans he/him Posted January 19, 2014 Posted January 19, 2014 (edited) Knowing Dalinar as a "Man of extremes" i kind believe that him asked to the nightwatcher to easy the pain he felt after his wife died and both the Boom and Curse are that he forgot his wife, he no longer suffer but now he can't remember a thing. Bonus point in Irony if he loved his wife more than Navani and know he can't even remember that. Triple points if he latter remember that see the mistake that he made. But a believe thatwe only will have the aswer to that question in Book 5 where he will have his flashbacks. PS: Side note by WOB Renarim have a spren and we know by Lift example that the Nightwatcher can give surge/spren related boons, so maybe the Renarim blood weakness his spren and the curse are all related, after all Dalinar asked himself what especially Renarin would think about this. Edited January 19, 2014 by Natans
dyring Posted January 19, 2014 Posted January 19, 2014 Are we sure he went to the nightwatcher right away? I mean, its extremely likely, but its not certain he did it before Gavilars death. Might have been one of the resons for the drinking, and once he started following the codes it ended up being to much. The codes don´t mention the nightwatcher(as far as I know), but I supose he tries to be honorable in other ways aswell... So yeah, extremely unlikely, but unless there is something else wich I don´t know, its not known for sure that it was before?
Moist_von_Lipwig he/him Posted January 19, 2014 Author Posted January 19, 2014 No it's not confirmed that he went before Gavilar's assassination, but after the assassination he would have been at the Shattered Plains fighting the Parshendi almost constantly. I don't think he would have found the time to travel all the way to the Nightwatcher to ask for his boon. So that seems to give us a 4 year window between his wife dying and Gavilar getting killed. Like Plastic Misting said, this wasn't the honorable Dalinar we know, this was the Blackthorn. So him flying into a rage over something and accidentally killing his wife may not be that surprising for the man he was. And I like the irony of him losing all memories of her in order to remove his guilt. If this or something similar did happen it could be the event that 'broke' Dalinar. Since we know that someone's soul has to be broken in someway for them to become a surge-binder and bond with a spren.
Grayv he/him Posted January 19, 2014 Posted January 19, 2014 I thought he went there to get rid of his jealous nature. He did contimplate killing gavilar for both the throne and Navani. Although I think Navani was the main reason.
Meg Posted January 19, 2014 Posted January 19, 2014 I don't think that Dalinar's boon and curse was the same (i. e. one) because I hope that BS doesn't repeat such results and we already know that Taravangian's unstable IQ is his boon and his curse.
hoser he/him Posted January 19, 2014 Posted January 19, 2014 I know nothing, but I am in the camp of curse/boon only affects supplicant, so I can't see it affecting Renarin directly. Knowing ... after all Dalinar asked himself what especially Renarin would think about this. He does ask about Renarin thinks, but leaving out Adolin could be because Adolin had left to collect highstorm damage reports. OTOH, he also doesn't worry about what Navani thinks, so it might be significant.
Crysanja Posted January 20, 2014 Posted January 20, 2014 hmm killing his wife sounds somehow fitting - idk if the timetalbe allows this - but it would have been after the assesination from The King. he could have either asked to forget doing this, and was change to be allways honorable. or he wanted to face justice, but couldnt brin himselfe todo so, he asked to be more honorable to face it, but lost all his memories of his wife as curse. i realy think that his behavior has changed after The Kings death, it being the curse/boon would be fitting.
Chlehrma Posted January 20, 2014 Posted January 20, 2014 I was torn between the idea that his boon involved Renarin and that it involved his feelings for Navani.
EvilKetchupCow he/him Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 Dalinar seems reluctant to marry Navani in the WOR 1-5 chapaters What if his curse is to forget everyone that he marries?
Natans he/him Posted January 21, 2014 Posted January 21, 2014 Dalinar seems reluctant to marry Navani in the WOR 1-5 chapaters What if his curse is to forget everyone that he marries? Man that would make success in earth LOL =) Nightwatcher make forget all my wives(ex-wives included) =)
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