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iving up the Axe

by Darren: 2003-01-11 | 4 out of 10 (2 votes)

Previous Categories: Faile and Perrin's Rescue

I know there was a lot of buzz in the earlier books about Perrin choosing the Axe or the Hammer, but what does everyone think the significance is of Perrin giving up his axe?

It can't just be that he starts wearing a hammer at his belt and killing people with that, or what's the difference, really?
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Comments

1

Tamyrlin: 2003-01-11

There hasn't been a ton of discussion about this. Did he really leave it there for good? Will he go back and get it? Will Elyas grab it for him or Aram? Or is that the end of the axe? I guess we may see Perrin try to take command without killing...although how he will accomplish this rescue without "violence" on his part is beyond me.

2

dionysus: 2003-01-12

The way I took it, the question of the axe or the hammer has meant will Perrin be one who just destroys, or one who builds, i.e. a killer or a blacksmith.

Perrin used his pure killer instincts to get the Shaido Aiel to talk. By abandoning the Axe, he is abandoning that method. Now Perrin will lead through an attempt at building. In this case, he will save Faile and defeat the Shaido by forming an alliance with the Seanchan.

My two coppers.

3

Darren: 2003-01-12

That's a good answer, Dionysus, but I still think there is more, perhaps only simpler... Perrin was building in the Two Rivers, after all, albeit somewhat reluctantly (this always sturck me as a little disingenuous, but I digress.)

The choice is between the hammer OR the axe, not which is more dominant.

4

dionysus: 2003-01-13

Well, things aren't always so black and white when RJ's concerned...

For a hammer to work, it still has to be applied with force to the steel. However, it isn't as uncaring or biting as an axe.

And Perrin has been swaying from the axe to the hammer back and forth for several books: this is visible in both his actions and in his and Egwene's dreams. Now, however, it seems he has made a final decision.

That's how I read it, at least.

5

Dedicated: 2003-01-28

Quick question. Doesn't the ever-mysterious Verin ask Perrin if he what he will choose (between the hammer and the axe, of course)?

6

jaellon: 2003-02-26

I don't think Perrin will ever abandon one and use the other exclusively. I do think that his struggle between the two has become symbolic of his Ta'verin struggles, and that each approach gets screen time in his methodologies, depending on the situation and his frame of mind at the time. I think that his abandoning the axe this time is a foreshadowing of how the rescue of Faile will be played out. I think he will lead a direct attack on the Aiel, but the end result will be something constructive, such as returning the Shaido to Rand, uniting the Seanchan to Rand, uniting the followers of the prophet to Rand, etc.

7

iced: 2004-02-23

Perrin only gave up the axe cause in teotw Perrin was going to throw the axe away but Elayas stops him and says not to but you will know when to give it up, When you start to like using the axe.As for the Hammer i think it is just used as reference as to rebuilding after the last battle.

8

waterbucket: 2004-05-01

The concept of the axe will definitely come back in the future. Not necessarily Perrin's specific axe, but its inevitable that Perrin will have to fight in the future. Perrin's throwing away of the axe is symbolic of his final decision to be a blacksmith and not a soldier, but that's just not possible in the situation he's in. Combined with Egwene's dream of the axe chasing him and we know Perrin's gonna have hammer trouble in the future.

9

Flinn Sedai: 2004-05-07

I think that Perrin will keep trying to get rid of the axe, but he keeps finding himself in situations where he has to use it. Hence, the axe chasing Perrin.

10

Lord of Morning: 2004-11-23

How about Aram hurts Perrin really bad by finding his axe and give it back to him. This hurts him badly emotionally as he has never liked or wanted the axe and the things it entails.

11

Canan Urgas: 2006-04-10

perrin choosing the hammer is a harbringer of the last battle. "the final days are known when the wolf king carries the hammer" from KoD