Thinking about Words and SA's Endgame

[Frostlander]

So, this is a very theoretical post. It's not mega-sourced (which I hope is ok), because it's more about how we look at larger, more abstract concepts related to language and literary themes. I don't believe there are any spoilers here. Here goes.

As I’ve been thinking about SA’s language, I’ve realized that a lot of the terms it uses sound like they could be part of a standard fantasy series with stock villains who have generic goals. We often take them for granted. But we see in some of the archaic meanings of words in in-world songs and texts, the terms can be opaque or have a second, often older meaning. Sanderson has had some fun with misunderstood words in other series, too...

This led me to try a linguistic analysis of SA’s in-world terminology and to contextualize it with some of the major thematic elements of the series. 

Major Themes:

Loss, Corruption, Recovery of Knowledge

The Integrity, Durability (or Fragility) of Bonds, Barriers, Seals, and Oaths

Terminology:

I, and perhaps others, have been thinking about “Desolation” in terms of a goal of essentially sending Rosharans “back to the stone age” and wiping out civilization. It’s a familiar goal in an ordinary fantasy series. Additionally, because of the theme of the loss and gain of knowledge, this makes even more sense to the reader in the early stages of the series. But “Desolation” can also mean forsaken or abandoned (the Latin root).

The word “Void” also sounds like it would be a cliché end-goal of a “big bad” in a fantasy novel. More like emptiness, the void of space, etc. But “Void” also means the breaking of a contract or agreement, or even a hole or breach in a wall meant to shelter or protect.

What I’m suspecting, is that these terms—and their compound and modified forms—are interconnected. Some of these connections are familiar, but I think that they are much more complex and work on more levels than we realize. I’ve thought of a few ways that these terms apply to the series, but I imagine there are many more. This is in no way comprehensive. It’s more about looking at the series through a lens that I suspect the author uses. Here are a few:

Shards and their goals:

Odium is the “Broken One.” He breaks bonds, vows, oaths, he renders them void. He shatters. What helps the Broken One break/void pacts and oaths? Voidbringers and the Unmade. Honor is the shard most associated with oaths, bonds, fulfilling/adhering etc. He creates walls to protect, walls made out of humans, spren, and oaths. Here, we see the root of their opposing interests.  

Stormlight, bonds, and cracks:

We know that Honorblades let too much stormlight in, perhaps making the user more susceptible to malicious influences.

Quote

It leaked away, the human body too porous a container. He had heard that the Voidbringers could hold it in perfectly. But, then, did they even exist? His punishment declared that they didn’t. His honor demanded that they did.

Sanderson, Brandon (2010-08-31). The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive) (p. 24) Kindle Edition. 

 

Knights Radiant, too, have cracks, but the symbiosis of the Nahel bond protects in most cases.

And Voidbringers (whoever/whatever they are) are perhaps the “Knights Radiant” of Odium, though without patterns, laws, and can include species that have an affiliation with gems, stone, or are actual stones. They are able to hold in stormlight because Odium’s influence has corrupted them, sealing the cracks to only his influence, and making them like stone. 

Quote

“Know you nothing of Patterns, old human?” Pattern said, huffing. When had he picked up how to huff? “Voidbringers have no pattern. Besides, I have read of them in your lore. They speak of spindly arms like bone, and horrific faces. I should think, if you wish to find one, the mirror might be a location where you can begin your search.”

Sanderson, Brandon (2014-03-04). Words of Radiance (Stormlight Archive, The) (p. 982). Tom Doherty Associates. Kindle Edition. 

2

Misunderstanding the purposes of Stonewards and “Dustbringers”:

I suspect that Stonewards, in particular, have become confused in popular understanding, at least in the past. They may be strong like stone, but more important, they guard and protect against things made of stone or like stone/rock. They “ward” against stone-like bonded Voidspren.

“Releasers” or “Dustbringers” may turn animated stone enemies, perhaps even VoidListeners, to Dust, releasing—and hopefully destroying—the bonded Voidspren. Part of the reason they are feared, even though they are needed, is because they break bonds, not unlike the Broken One and his friends.

An example of language and double meanings from the Listeners:

Quote

Mediationform was made for peace, it’s said, a form of teaching and consolation. When used by the gods, it became instead a form of lies and desolation [causing the shattering or abandoning of bonds and oaths??]. —From the Listener Song of Listing, 33rd stanza

Sanderson, Brandon (2014-03-04). Words of Radiance (Stormlight Archive, The) (p. 279). Tom Doherty Associates. Kindle Edition.

 

Conclusion:

Perhaps the conflict, at least for the first 5 books, is about Odium’s attempt to shatter bonds, pacts, and oaths, layers upon layers of these protective forces that put up a barrier between Roshar and Odium. Should Odium render these protective bonds void, perhaps weakening them with the help of a loss of knowledge about the larger conflict and the less abstract assistance of the Unmade and Voidbringers, he will break through and fully touch Roshar and destroy its shard and cognitive shadow shard.

The True Desolation involves a final forsaking or abandoning of the vows and bonds that protect Roshar and the more literal, catastrophic abandoning of its inhabitants, by shards, heralds, and others sworn to protect Roshar from Odium’s influence.

This may not all be new, but I think that really digging into words that Sanderson chose for very specific reasons could lead to some fun ideas...

[Pagerunner he/him]

Some of us like posting mega-sourced stuff, but it by no means is a requirement to begin a conversation. Even by including passages, you've gone farther than many others!

I really like your interpretation of 'Void.' It's a concept I've been struggling with for a long time, since the lack-of-existence aspect of Void is really covered by another Shard over in Mistborn, so I wasn't sure how to connect it to Odium. I had never considered the legal usage of the term, for broken promises, and even though I don't think Odium is primarily about breaking promises, I do like the idea that the Voidbringers/Voidbinders are specifically in opposition to Honor and his focus on Oaths. (I think Odium's ultimate goal, to be the only remaining Shard, is the primary thrust of his Intent.) I don't think his opposition to Honor is the true meaning of "the Broken One," however, since the name means Odium is the object of breaking, not the breaker himself. He's not called the "One Who Breaks," or something like that.

I'll also disagree on your interpretation of Stonewards and Releasers. Taln was referred to as the Ancient of Stones (I believe in the Diagram), which seems to indicate that this is a positive metaphorical meaning for Stonewards. Furthermore, their Surges of Tension and Cohesion may provide a more literal meaning to their name, letting them make things more or less like stone, although we'll have to wait and see these Surges in action to know exactly how they work. Releasers, I think you're focusing on the wrong kind of bond being broken. From what little we know of Division, it involves breaking chemical bonds, which is an altogether separate phenomenon from the Realmatics of spren interactions. So, yes, I agree that their name may come from how they "release" molecules and energy, or how they will cause enemies to vaporize (turn to dust), but I doubt it's connected to the effect they would have on Voidspren.

[The One Who Connects he/him]

Not too shabby. It's a pretty good write-up, and quotes from the books are essentially sources. All things considered, I like the theory

---

There's a few slight misconceptions in there, but they aren't game-breaking ones.

• Voidbringers cannot hold Stormlight in perfectly.

Quote

Brandon Sanderson

Yep. And even though Szeth says that he thought Voidbringers could hold it they can’t. Like it is just not the way that it works.

Argent

Can they just hold it better?

Brandon Sanderson

They can hold it better. It’s not permanent. Now there are things that can do it permanently but--

• Have the entry Pagerunner is talking about for Division

Quote

Q: The Division Surge: does it actually split atoms or does it split the bonds of molecules?
A: It splits the bonds of molecules, it does not split atoms.
Q: That would be completely overpowered.
A: I have done an atom splitting magic originally in Dragonsteel. And wooow it was overpowered. So really, this is fiddling... You'll see what it does when I use it, but we'll not be splitting atoms. There won't be nuclear reactors, nuclear fission, so.

[Calderis he/him]

1 hour ago, Frostlander said:

The word “Void” also sounds like it would be a cliché end-goal of a “big bad” in a fantasy novel. More like emptiness, the void of space, etc. But “Void” also means the breaking of a contract or agreement, or even a hole or breach in a wall meant to shelter or protect

With how adamant I am about bonds as Roshar's focus, I'm surprised I never noticed this. 

Very nice catch. 

Everything I want to contribute has already been said. 

I love the approach you used even if I don't fully agree. 

Well done. 

[Frostlander]

45 minutes ago, Pagerunner said:

(I think Odium's ultimate goal, to be the only remaining Shard, is the primary thrust of his Intent.) I don't think his opposition to Honor is the true meaning of "the Broken One," however, since the name means Odium is the object of breaking, not the breaker himself. He's not called the "One Who Breaks," or something like that.

1

Thanks so much for the thoughtful responses! Just to throw this out there, is it possible that Odium adjusts his strategies to the situation? Facing Honor, he’d need to void oaths, pacts, etc. If he were facing Cultivation, he may chip away at the learning, civilized, educated qualities associated with the word. This might be part of the series’ interest in forgotten knowledge and scholarship. And why the bits with Lift and Wyndle work so well, given her order. 

Cultivation might be stretching it, but we've certainly seen shards on other planets tailor their approaches to shard destruction. And I've always really appreciated the layers upon layers in Sanderson's writing, especially when it comes to wordplay and themes.