Re-Reading "The Eye of the World": "Chapter 41: Old Friends, and New Threats" and "Chapter 42: Remembrance of Dreams"
Though Rand is at last reunited with Moiriane and the others, it's clear that all of them are on a path from which there is no return.
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In today’s two chapters, Rand finally gets what he has most desired: a reunion with his friends. Before that, however, he has a remarkable conversation with Basel Gill and Loial, in which it becomes clear that he is going to have to get out of Caemlyn before things become even stickier for him. Though the arrival of Moiraine and the others is a welcome change, it also means that they have to decide what to do next, as they learn that the Dark One plans to make an attack on the Eye of the World.
There’s something particularly heartwarming about the long-awaited moment when Rand is at last reunited with Perrin and Egwene (and Moiraine and Lan, of course). By this point he has endured so much–being pursued by Trollocs and Fades and Darkfriends, witnessing Thom’s apparent death, having to take care of Mat as he plunges further into darkness–and you can’t help but want him to finally have some good luck. There is still a long way to go ahead of them, but as a reader it’s nice to have this little moment of peace and tranquility before things once again start moving at a breakneck pace. What’s more, it’s also touching–and even a little amusing–to see both Nynaeve and Egwene fall right back into their old patterns where the boys are concerned, whether it’s trying to Heal Mat (Nynaeve) or asking about who Elayne is (Egwene). Though their fates will ultimately take them on very different paths, for now they’re what they’ve always been: several young people from the same town thrust into the midst of great events.
At the same time, however, there’s also an undertone of darkness to these two chapters. It’s there with the way that Perrin refuses to lift his head so that his eyes can catch the light, and it’s particularly notable in the scenes involving Mat, in which it’s clear that the dagger has quite thoroughly poisoned him. These two incidents help us to recognize the increasing stakes involved in this story, and they remind us that, while this might be a reprieve of sorts, it’s also the prelude to much to come. None of them are going to emerge from this adventure unscathed, and the further they go along, the more notable the effects are going to be.
As always, Moiraine knows far more than she is willing to let on. Don’t get me wrong. I continue to think that Moiraine is one of Jordan’s best creations, and even though we don’t get any chapters from her point of view in The Eye of the World, I still think she’s the best character in the entire book. The appeal, I suspect, stems from the fact that she is just so damn unknowable. Despite the fact that she has been there since practically the beginning, the reader doesn’t really know any more about her or her real motivations than Rand does. And, unlike other wise characters–I’m thinking here of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings or the Druid Allanon in Terry Brooks’ Shannara books–we as readers still aren’t quite sure what to make of her. Is she really aiming to fight against the Dark One, as she has repeatedly asserted, or is this merely a long con meant to lull Rand and his friends into complacency? This is a question that will haunt the series almost right up until the end, but the seeds are sown very early.
This chapter marks a key moment for Perrin, Mat, and Rand, all of whom finally come clean about the fact that they have been visited by Ba’alzamon in their dreams. I’m sure I’m not the only reader who wants to shake them for having kept this from her for so long. Even if they’ve been raised to distrust Aes Sedai and their motivations–not entirely a bad attitude, to be honest–one can’t help but wonder what would possess them to keep such an important thing secret from the one individual who seems to actually have the power to keep the influence of the Dark One at bay.
Narratively, this is a very complex chapter, resolving one plot dilemma (the division of the company) and setting up at least two others (the journey to the Eye of the World and the curing of Mat’s dagger-induced affliction). It’s also clear that all of the characters are laboring under a great deal of strain, though Mat’s seems the most intense and the most long-lasting. It’s certainly refreshing to see him returned to his old self but, much as Frodo never really heals from the wound delivered by the Morgul blade in The Lord of the Rings, so Mat won’t be free of the dagger’s influence until he goes to Tar Valon.
Loial continues to be largely a background character in these two chapters, but it’s already becoming clear that there is far more to him than meets the eye, particularly when it comes to the use of the Ways. I daresay that the poor Ogier is learning very quickly that it’s a dangerous thing getting involved with ta’veren and Aes Sedai. Say what you will about Moiraine, but she doesn’t take very long to immediately see the use to which this new acquaintance can be put. From his love of languages and lore (and travel) she deduces that he could be of use in using the Ways. Like all Aes Sedai, she’s not one to let a tool pass out of her hands when she can make good use of it.
Overall, I quite enjoyed these two chapters. By this point in the book Jordan still has a pretty firm grasp of the plot, and it’s clear to the reader that it’s not going to be long before things reach a climax. There’s still much that we don’t really know for sure–what is the Eye of the World? Why is it so important?--but the suspense is building. It won’t be long until all of the characters, from Moiraine to Rand, will have to contend with a world that will never be the same.