Re-Reading "The Dragon Reborn": Chapter 40: A Hero in the Night," "Chapter 41: A Hunter's Oath," and "Chapter 42:Easing the Badger"
Both Mat and Perrin find themselves in no small amount of perils in inns, even as the world around them becomes ever more uneasy, unsettled, and unstable.
Hello, dear reader! Do you like what you read here at Omnivorous? Do you like reading fun but insightful takes on all things pop culture? Do you like supporting indie writers? If so, then please consider becoming a subscriber and get the newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. There are a number of paid options, but you can also sign up for free! Every little bit helps. Thanks for reading and now, on with the show!
Hello, readers, and welcome to another installment of Wheel of Time Wednesday. I’m still making my slow but steady way through The Dragon Reborn, and this week we’re taking a closer look at three chapters, which bring us back to Mat and Perrin, both of whom have very perilous encounters at inns. While Mat shows that he is more than capable of helping someone even when there’s nothing in it for him, Perrin continues to deal with the presence of Zarine/Faile, as well as the anger that Moiraine feels at him for keeping some valuable information from her.
I know I like to hate on Mat a lot here at Omnivorous, but I have to admit that this chapter did make me like him at least a little bit more. Not only does he give some money to a starving woman and her children; he also goes out of his way to save Aludra from the men who want to kill her. For all that he might like to insist that he’s only in it for his own advantage, and for all that he can sometimes be a real brat, the truth is that Mat really is a good person. I just wish that he could admit that rather than continuing to insist–beyond all reason–that he’s really a selfish asshole. As with so many other elements of Jordan’s work, a little of this goes a long way, and one can be forgiven for wishing that he’d just get his characters to grow a little bit faster.
I also appreciated that we got at least a bit of insight into the Guild of Illuminators. Aludra is one of those fantastic secondary characters that Jordan excels at creating and, for all that she’s only in the stable for a few minutes–long enough to throw Mat’s life into some chaos–she still leaves quite an impression. At his best, Jordan allows us to see how even these side characters have their own lives and inner personalities, and his ability to do so throughout The Wheel of Time is one of his greatest strengths as an author.
While Thom isn’t given a lot to do here, it’s nevertheless clear (again) that he has a deep history with Queen Morgase, one that gives him some important insight into her personality. She may be quite a tempestuous woman but, as Thom remarks, she is also kindhearted, least when it comes to people and their well-being. The fact that she seems to have changed is yet another harbinger of change to come and how even the mightiest of rulers are falling beneath the influence of the Shadow, even if they don’t realize it yet.
Zooming out, this whole incident reveals the extent to which political and social instability is becoming ever more endemic to the continent. Cairhien is in some ways the focal point of all of this, but Morgase’s actions reveal that Andor is also undergoing its own struggles (though the sources of her change in personality won’t become clear for some time to come). Of course, none of this is an accident, and it’s clear the extent to which the Dark One–and the Forsaken–flourish when they are able to exploit the differences that already exist between the various nations. One of Rand’s greatest challenges as the Dragon Reborn is going to be forging these disparate and feuding nations into some kind of united front in the Last Battle.
Perrin, like Mat, finds himself in the midst of some very dangerous political waters, particularly once the party makes their way to Illian. Even though it won’t become clear why just yet, there’s still something very sinister about the city of Illian. The people have begun to turn against one another, getting into violent fights, clawing at one another at the least provocation. By this point we as readers know enough to identify the source of all this: a Forsaken, though it’ll be a while before we realize that it’s Sammael. Moiraine, though, certainly seems to sense that something more than just social unrest is at work in this city of canals and merchants and squabbling nobles, which helps to at least in part explain her general tetchiness (well, that and the fact that she has to deal with both Zarine/Faile and Perrin’s obvious feelings for her).
Moiraine also has to deal with Lan, who is clearly chafing under the idea that he is going to be bound to another Aes Sedai in the event of her death. Of all of the things that Moiraine does–and as morally questionable as her actions often are–I’ve often thought that her attempts to keep Lan alive are some of the most vexing. You can certainly see where she’s coming from but, at the same time, it’s really quite extraordinary to take so much of his agency away from him. Lan being Lan, though, he’s going to obey her as much as he can while also making sure that she stays safe and alive.
And then there’s Zarine/Faile (she prefers the latter name, since it’s one she took on herself). Say what you will about her, but she is not someone to be taken lightly. Anyone with a less solid and iron-clad constitution almost certainly would have quailed under the gaze of someone like Moiraine, a formidable Aes Sedai and personality who has been known to bend many others to her will. As time will tell, she’ll have to keep that steely constitution if she’s going to contend with Perrin who, for all that he seems like a softy on the outside, has the same tough core as the others who hail from Emond’s Field. However, given that she was willing to swear an oath to
Lastly, it’s worth praising Jordan for his remarkable ability to create the city of Illian, to make it feel as if it’s somewhere in all our world. It obviously draws on some real cities–most notably Venice, what with the canals and all–but it also has a life and a history and a personality all its own. The conflict between the king and the nobles is one that has echoes in many other monarchies, and I’m sure I’m not alone in being a little amused by the Council of Nine’s pettiness in building a palace that’s just fractionally smaller than that of the king.
All in all, I found myself quite enjoying these three chapters. While I’m loath to admit it, I have to say that I’m far less annoyed by Mat and Perrin than I have been in past readings, which is perhaps the best thing to come out of this much more deliberate approach. Perrin, in particular, is as heroic as always, and it’s probably only thanks to his wolflike abilities that he’s able to see the Gray Men before it’s too late.
That’s all for this week. Join me next week as we continue our journey through The Dragon Reborn.