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TT's madness

by Sinnamoon: 2003-03-14 | 4 out of 10 (4 votes)

Previous Categories: Who is the other person in Rand's head?

Just curious.. Why does everyone seem to assume that the voice in Rand's head (LTT) is insane because of the taint? From what I understand is the taint made LTT simply oblivious of what he did...he after all didn't even realize he had killed his wife until after he was healed. Before Sammy heals him doesn't he say something like ‘Too bad one of your sisters is not here; that is if you didn't destroy them'... (I know that's not an exact quote don't happen to have my book with me atm). Then after LTT is healed he brings up dragonmount to swallow him.

Basically getting to the point, I think that the taint made LTT ignorant (so ignorant he seemed crazy); then he was healed (enlightened?) and goes insane from grief. I would argue that his madness (while in Rand's head) is only indirectly related to the taint. So wouldn't it make sense for the madness that other channelers to suffer from to be a kind of ‘ignorance type'?

Mk.. so the voice in Rand's head is insane, but only from grief and not the taint (thus why he always cry over Illy while, when he was suffering from the taint he didn't even know who she was) and that's not exactly the same type of madness other male channelers suffer from.

BTW I hope you can see my point in there somewhere kinda tired atm. Just tryin to get ya thinkin.

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Comments

Tamyrlin: 2003-03-18

I do see your point, and I have thought about that too. For example, we have no reason to believe that a soul would carry on the "madness" associated with its previous life and the "madness" wasn't present in the first 18 years of LTT's new life as Rand. But, from the way that LTT screams, cries, etc...it seems that a better case can be made that the "voice" is not quite sane. Which is the point of Jordan's "two personalities" thing. Rand associates all of the characteristics of the taint he is feeling with this second personality, so maybe that part of the personality was created by suggestion? Just a thought, thanks for your theory.

Great Lord of the Dark: 2003-03-18

I always believed that Lews Therin was not really in control of his emotions. He goes wild at certain times, weepy at others. I believe he had voices from his previous lives in his head as well, just as any male channeler will eventually get. cadsuane's comments seem to support this. For whatever reason, Rand is getting to hear his "little voice" much quicker than the average male channeler does. Rand's advantage is in knowing who his previous life was, whereas other male channelers just hear some long-dead king or warrior, or blacksmith in their heads. Eventually the line blurs, the voice tries to take over the body, and the result perceived by outsiders is insanity.

Perhaps the channeler's death cures him of madness, completely or partially, so that it's more or less lucid when it becomes a voice for someone else.

So I think Rand's madness, and Lews Therin's and any male channelers are exactly the same type, just the details of who your "little voice" is affects how badly the insanity affects you. Also, understanding who the voice is can make the whole experience less maddening. Cadsuane may teach them how to embrace the voice, as though it was just another bonded person, albeit one that is mental rather than physical.

Great Captain: 2003-03-30

From the prologue tEotW I'm sure that Ishy said that he could only restore Lews sanity for a period of time after which the insanity from the taint would return. Sure that it was only temporary.

Anubis: 2003-04-07

"Tossing back his black cloak, Elan Morin flexed his hands. 'A pity for you,' he mused, 'that one of your sisters is not here. I was never very skilled at Heasing, and i follow a different power now. But even one of them could only give you a few lucid moments. What I can do will serve as well, for my pourposes.' His sudden smile was creul. 'But I fear that Shai'tan's healing is different from the sort you know. Be healed, Lews Therin!' He extended his hands, and the light dimmed like a shadow had been laid across the sun."

not too clear on the permance of the healing. though \he did die sane so that condition is probably fixed. and crazy people arent reborn insane. so we have 2 to 3 against lews insane. and recall that he died knowing he had just killed everyone he ever loved. darkone or no, that has gotta mess with your mind and make for some SERIOUS depression/anger etc.

believer2: 2003-04-09

In the discussion on LTT's sanity, it seems to me that we are not considering the amount, and duration, of the True Power that he used to start the Breaking of the World, and create Dragonmount. Elan Morin (Issy) may have healed him (whether it was permanent or not), but LTT may have partially caused the effects from the taint to return.

After all, this was no small feat.

Aelfinn: 2003-12-12

No, I think that madness from the Taint is just plain madness. When LTT was healed by Ishy, he was cleared of TAINT madness, but when he was told what he'd done, he went mad from grief, guilt, et cetera.

BTW, I think that's a good explanation for how mad he sounds in Rand's head. When I'm real upset about something, get away FAST!! You could say that's being temporarily insane. I think the only thing different about that is how quickly I reach that state.

Lews Therin is crazy or something because he killed his family and knows it. It's emotional, so I'd say no healing would be able to get rid of it. ((unless they have psychiatrists in that age.... ;) ))

SuchIsLife04: 2005-08-19

I think its a combination of three things. One being trapped inside somebodies head that is going crazy, two he killed his family, and three when he turned himself into a mountain that must have re-introduced a lot of the taint.

JakOShadows: 2005-08-20

I've always believed that Rand's power stems from being tDR and having to save the world. Once he loses the power to channel(if it happens that way) and his reason for being king of the world, people will not be as nice to him becuase they are afraid the second breaking that will come. Hence, there will be a power struggle and he will be forced out or voluntarily resign. But he will not be allowed to stay in power. The pattern just doens't have room for it. And I actually think that he has to die for the world to move on, but there are different beliefs on specifics. He just can't have an effect in the nationwide picture of things.

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