Explaining Egwene
In a moment of intense self-reflection and contemplation that includes comparisons to others, Egwene al'Vere defines herself through metaphor. The self-characterization is constructed not upon physical attributes or what she can do, but rather, perversely beautiful in its way, what she doesn’t have:
“She wanted to learn. Sometimes it seemed an unending thirst; however much she absorbed, she could not quench it.”
Darkness
The metaphor that defines the modern age (from the late 1800’s onward) pops up frequently in this series of novels and with the word “Shadow” in the title one can expect to find it relentlessly popping up here. That said, there is one singular occurrence that is not just the most resonant use of darkness as a metaphor in this entry, but may well be the single most effective use of it in the entire series:
“It seemed that all the darkness in the world rested there in Rand’s side, all the world’s evil in a festering sore only lightly covered by tender scar tissue.”
Lan and Nynaeve
Amidst all the darkness and shadows and fighting and preparations for the apocalyptic showdown between good and evil, some characters still managed to carve out a few minutes to make expressions of love. And considering all the situations they must face and circumstances they must contest, many of these expressions are surprisingly tender and poetic in their use of metaphor:
“You have made a place in my heart where I thought there was no room for anything else. You have made flowers grow where I cultivated dust and stones.”
It’s Like the Old Joke
There is a cartoon about the way that democracy works which shows two wolves and a sheep voting on what to eat for dinner. The point is made, but it’s a little facile and simplistic. The truth about the nature of democracy is more complicated and, in fact, even though it doesn’t really apply here at all within the context of the assertion, a metaphor about an impossibly bad choice does actually also fit quite nicely as a metaphor of a two-party system. Which, come to think of it, is kind of redundant:
“If you ask the lion to protect you from wolves, you have only chosen to end in one belly instead of another.”
Rand Dragon Tattoo
Oh, the writing that fantasy literature can get away with! Surely writers of police procedurals must be pea green with envy somewhere deep down inside if you ask them. While it is true they can get away with the fantasy of having cops actually solve crimes, even that may not quite be up the level of fantasy of dragon tattoos almost seeming to be the real thing (if dragons actually existed, that is).
"Around his forearm wound a shape like that on the Dragon banner, a sinuous golden-maned form scaled in scarlet and gold…The thing looked like a part of his skin, as though that nonexistent creature itself had settled into him. His arm felt no different, yet the scales sparkled in the sunlight like polished metal; it seemed if he touched that golden mane atop his wrist he would surely feel each hair.”
