Re-Reading "The Eye of the World": "Chapter 43: Decisions and Apparitions" "Chapter 44: The Dark Along the Ways," and "Chapter 45: What Follows in Shadow"
The plot continues to thicken as Rand and company set out for Fal Dara using the Ways, which prove to be even more dangerous than anything they have yet faced.
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A lot certainly happens in these three chapters, which sees Rand and company finally get out of Caemlyn, though the method by which they do so–the sinister Ways–proves to be more perilous than any of them would like. However, the stakes are very great indeed, since it now seems that the Dark One has his sights set on the Eye of the World, which would potentially give him the power to break out of his prison and finally break the Wheel. So Moiraine does the one thing that will help them to get there in time: she takes them through the Ways, a dark and forbidding area that allows one to travel great distances at a significantly faster pace than in the real world.
Though some might disagree, I actually like that Jordan leaves the exact nature of the Ways ambiguous. From Loial we learn that they were made by male Aes Sedai, who wanted to give the Ogier a gift for their protection from the madness–an Aes Sedai can’t access the True Source while they are within the boundaries of a stedding–but other than that there isn’t much known about them or how they work. Even Moiraine, though she is a true fount of knowledge, doesn’t seem to know. What is clear is that they are an area that doesn’t follow the normal rules of reality, which is what makes them so terrifying, even if they are an invaluable plot device that enables Rand and his friends to make their way to Fal Dara (and thence to the Blight).
It doesn’t take much squinting to see how this entire sequence maps very neatly over The Lord of the Rings, particularly when the Fellowship goes into the deep dark of Moria. Like the ancient kind of the Dwarves, the Ways have become corrupted and dangerous to anyone who sets foot inside of them, presumably because they were made with saidin and have thus fallen under its baleful influence. Then again, considering that they are characterized as being alive in some strange way, it might be, as Moiriane says, that the malevolence that haunts them–known as Machin Shin–might be something akin to a parasite. The difference between The Eye of the World and The Lord of the Rings, of course, is that Moiraine, unlife Gandalf, doesn’t fall, though it’s a very close thing when Machin Shin finds them and nearly overwhelms them before they manage to escape.
Like all great fantasy authors, Jordan has a keen eye for horror, and the very brief glimpse we get of Machin Shin–which comes courtesy of Rand, who hears it speaking in its own foul language–is enough to send shivers down one’s spine. Given the way that this horrible force speaks of the pleasures of destroying flesh, it doesn’t take a huge leap of the imagination to think what it would be capable of doing if any of the company were fortunate enough to fall into its grasp.
While the navigation of the Ways is certainly the centerpiece of this chapter, there’s a key moment in Caemlyn when Rand once again finds his dreams visited by Ba’alzamon, who torments him with the possibility that Moiraine might not be the ally he thinks she is. Of course, it’s been clear from the beginning that Moiraine isn’t all she seems, and that indeed no Aes Sedai, no matter how kind or helpful they might seem, are ever anything simple. There are always plots-within-plots-within-plots, and this is something Rand (and the reader) will have to contend with as the series goes on. Ba’alzamon clearly seeks to exploit this uncertainty on Rand’s part, since he proposes that the Black Ajah have already managed to establish themselves in the heart of Tar Valon. This is certainly one of the earliest and most substantive mention of this little enclave of darkness in the heart of one of the most powerful institutions in this fictional world. As such, it’s a terrifying reminder of just how much influence the Dark One is already able to wield on the world, as well as how heavy a burden Rand will have to bear as he reckons with his destiny.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our dear Ogier, without whose help Rand and company would never have been able to find the Waygate, let alone be able to use the Ways. Loial certainly does prove the truth of his name in this chapter. Even though it’s clear that he is absolutely terrified of the Ways and what they have become, he never leaves his new friends behind, even when the malevolent force of Machin Shin comes perilously close to destroying him. I’ve always thought Loial was one of the best characters that Jordan ever created, and this chapter confirms me in this belief.
As I noted last week, by this point in the novel things are really picking up, as the company realizes that there is a dwindling amount of time in which they can save the Eye of the World. Say what you will about Moiraine, but this is a woman who refuses to give in to despair or despondency, even when it would be very easy to do so. She continues to hold out hope that there is still time to defeat the Dark One, and it’s hard not to admire her simple stoicism even if, at the same time, this causes her to be quite ruthless when it comes to driving the others.
If there’s one fly in the ointment in these chapters, it’s that it features a bit too much of the “I wish X was better with women” problem. It’s not nearly as glaring or as irritating as it will become later in the series, but it’s getting there. Even so, it’s still nice to see all of the characters in the same place again, though it’s clear that Perrin, at least, is not quite the same person he was when they parted ways several chapters ago.
The stage is set for the final journey, and I can’t wait to explore it with all of you!