IntentAwesome Posted May 2, 2017 Posted May 2, 2017 (edited) Can we just take a moment to appreciate the irony in the Stormlight Archive so far? The Parshendi entered a sort of exile millennia ago to avoid their gods, then assassinate a king to stay away from them. But the war they started by assassinating the king eventually drives them into such desperate circumstances that they return to their gods anyway. Spoiler Eshonai, out of fear of the old gods, was the one who told her leaders about what Gavilar was doing, prompting the assassination, but she is the first one to change to storm form. Dalinar is trying to unite the Radiants and prevent the Everstorm. But his actions in doing so drive the Parshendi into even greater desperation, eventually causing them to summon the Everstorm. Kaladin only wants to protect others. But revealing his powers to the Parshendi at the Tower is just another driving force that pushes the Parshendi towards the forms of power. And, especially, his rescuing Dalinar and preventing Eshonai from suing for peace before it was too late, was a huge factor in the arrival of the everstorm I know that's a simplified view of what's going on, and there are a lot of factors at play here. The Everstorm was probably inevitable regardless, but still. That is some beautiful irony. And so depressing. Edited May 2, 2017 by IntentAwesome 4
Farnsworth Posted May 2, 2017 Posted May 2, 2017 It probably has something to do with the symmetry in Vorinism. That or Sanderson felt like writing a Shakespearean tragedy. 1
Fulminato he/him Posted May 2, 2017 Posted May 2, 2017 (edited) "Nightform predicting what will be, / The form of shadows, mind to foresee. / As the gods did leave, the nightform whispered. / A new storm will come, someday to break. / A new storm a new world to make. / A new storm a new path to take, the nightform listens." Song of Secrets, 17th stanza source so, yep. the everstorm was inevitable. all Stormlight archive are deep in fate and predistination. for example in the same kaladin's bridge crew we found the hoid's apprentice, (probably) the last alethi who know the power of the knight radiant and one man who had the life riuned by the same person destroyed kaladin's family. Edited May 2, 2017 by Fulminato
dionysus Posted May 3, 2017 Posted May 3, 2017 I just think Stormlight Archive is a story of many tragedies. The hubris part of tragedy is not played up much, but the recognition of the tragic error and the attempt to resolve the tragic error in a honorable way is going to play a big role for many of the characters I believe. Lets just hope it doesn't strictly follow the Shakespeare formula and all our protagonists are already doomed. In world, we also have a pseudo god pulling the strings. Until our characters gain the knowledge (most important) and power I would imagine almost everything they do will be subverted to Odium's goals. Interestingly enough, we are about to have book 3 of 5. If we assume this is following the Shakespearean formula, book 3 should include our characters gaining a lot of knowledge about the world and their own errors caused by their hubris and ignorance, acceptance of those errors, and the resolve to try to right the wrongs no matter the personal cost. I'd bet from here on out there will be less and less ironic subversion of intent vs. outcome. The protagonists knowledge will grow such that it will be harder for Odium to bring about unintended consequences. 2
IntentAwesome Posted May 5, 2017 Author Posted May 5, 2017 On 5/2/2017 at 5:07 AM, Fulminato said: "Nightform predicting what will be, / The form of shadows, mind to foresee. / As the gods did leave, the nightform whispered. / A new storm will come, someday to break. / A new storm a new world to make. / A new storm a new path to take, the nightform listens." Song of Secrets, 17th stanza source so, yep. the everstorm was inevitable. Only if you take prophecy as inevitable. Prophecy is a little overused in fantasy, and so far Brandon has been good at at least subverting the prophecy. I think the more important factor is the godlike, hatred shard trying to ensure the Everstorm happens. On 5/3/2017 at 9:42 AM, dionysus said: I just think Stormlight Archive is a story of many tragedies. The hubris part of tragedy is not played up much, but the recognition of the tragic error and the attempt to resolve the tragic error in a honorable way is going to play a big role for many of the characters I believe. Lets just hope it doesn't strictly follow the Shakespeare formula and all our protagonists are already doomed. I know I'm probably hoping against hope, but I'm really hoping Stormlight doesn't get completely dark and depressing. I like that, right now, SA deals with some very tragic events without becoming overly depressing.
Fulminato he/him Posted May 5, 2017 Posted May 5, 2017 7 hours ago, IntentAwesome said: Only if you take prophecy as inevitable. Prophecy is a little overused in fantasy, and so far Brandon has been good at at least subverting the prophecy. I think the more important factor is the godlike, hatred shard trying to ensure the Everstorm happens. mistborn series spoiler the end of the hero of the Ages are alredy written in the final empire first chapter epigraph, for fulfill the prophecy ALL event in the three book are mandatory, even the slightest devation can make the prediction untrue. but in the end all pieces come together in the exact form told in the EoA prophecy. So, yes, all are inevitable, in the mistborn series, and stormlight archive as well
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