Kelsier is Worrisome [Secret History Spoilers]

[Jazzy Kandra she/her]

I'm just going to throw this out there, part of being a psychopath is having a very strong survival instinct. They tend to do anything it takes to survive in life threatening situations. It also fits in the whole 'Survivor' persona of his.

 

Still more like a sociopath considering how close he is to his crew, but yeah, his need to prove he hasn't been beaten is perhaps the biggest sign of it. He puts himself above all others, if he were to become 'evil' it would be because he feared that there was no other way for him to survive (though considering he thought death would be the end the first time, it can ALSO be seen, I think, as a "wait, I...don't have die?" situation for him.

 

I'll admit, I'm really not for the whole "Kelsier is evil thing" or "Kelsier is Trell". I mean, I rationally realize that those are possible, but I hope it's not so. I would also have to be convince that it makes sense too...

 

Also, if an idea as powerful as Kelsier/the Survivor did not have that person behind it, what might form in its place? It's not Roshar...but I can't imagine that as powerful an idea as a whole belief system wouldn't have some implications in a similar direction...

[Vissy]

What do you mean, it's not Roshar? Could you explain your last paragraph? It seems interesting, but I can't really parse together what you mean.

[Otto Didact he/him]

What I think Kandra means is that on Roshar, concepts that are strong enough can survive as cognitive aspects (spren) such as the Stormfather, but that doesn't really happen on Scadrial.

[The Ninja Yodeler he/him]

I got the feeling he was up to something. Not necessarily "no good", but maybe not something altruistic either. Either way, I need to see more of Kelsier. I was hoping to get some understanding of the spike in his eye from SH, but no such luck.

[Vissy]

Kelsier is probably up to making himself better, faster, stronger, more Cosmere-aware etc... kind of like Hoid, except with no plans to save the universe whatsoever. 

Edited May 5, 2016 by Varangian

[Kingsdaughter613 she/her]

I actually find Brandon's comment fascinating. (I've never seen the original before.) The implication is that Kell is aware of his psychopathy, even if he doesn't call it that, and actively suppresses it most of the time. Which actually makes me like him more than I already did.

We also know, via his viewpoints, that he chooses to leave his empathy on and is capable of both love and guilt. Since those are two of the biggest things psychopaths need to work on Kell is actually pretty well off. We also know he IS capable of self-sacrifice; whatever his motivation he was willing to give up his life twice to save others. Once when he died in the square, and again when he gave Preservation to Vin.

All of which is VERY reassuring. Kelsier knows what he is - on some level anyway - and chooses to control it. He only lets himself loose in 'appropriate' situations. (How appropriate depends on whether or not your a noble...) Quite a few law abiding psychopaths have joined militaries or similar professions.

Sooo... this thread has actually managed to reassure me about Kell... somewhat. I am worried about those he decides are his/Scadrial's enemies. (I think for Kelsier that's one and the same.) If a whole lot of Elantrians die via coin I will know who is responsible...

Edited May 6, 2016 by Kingsdaughter613

[Nyali she/her]

Just after the bit in the epilogue of BoM with Kelsier's coppermind, I was convinced that Kell was Trell. And then I read SH, and reread the bit of the epilogue with the Trellian Kandra, and I'm utterly convinced that Kell CAN'T be Trell. Kell would never destroy Scadrial. Even if he went evil, I just can't see him destroying Scadrial or working directly against Sazed, and Trell definitely doesn't care one whit about Scadrial.

 

Now I'm back to the obvious theory of "Trell = Odium." Before it was revealed that "The Sovereign" was Kelsier, I was convinced it was Odium's Vessel on Scadrial, the spike through the eye being a sign that he'd integrated himself with the local investiture the way he did on Roshar in order to tie himself to the planet.

[Vissy]

Trell might also be Autonomy, believe it or not. I didn't.

[Nyali she/her]

Trell might also be Autonomy, believe it or not. I didn't.

 

I haven't yet read White Sand, so I can't say anything about Autonomy. The red eyes of the Trellian Kandra and the red haze surrounding the world full of dread and destruction really sound like Odium to me though.