Rand al'Thor
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Rand al'Thor is the protagonist and main character of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan. Jordan has admitted that Rand is based on Tyr, the Norse god of strife.
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History
On the continent he is known as the Dragon Reborn. To the Aiel, he is He Who Comes with the Dawn, the Car'a'carn (Chief of Chiefs). To the Atha'an Miere, the Sea Folk, he is the Coramoor. His main titles are Shadowkiller, Lord of the Morning, Prince of the Dawn, True Defender of the Light. His birth was heralded by Gitara Moroso, Aes Sedai and Keeper of the Chronicles. Her Foretelling of his birth is this: "He is born again! I feel him! The Dragon takes his first breath on the slope of Dragonmount! He is coming! He is coming! Light help us! Light help the world! He lies in the snow and cries like the thunder! He burns like the sun!" Gitara Sedai then died.
Rand was born on the last day of the Blood Snow, 978 NE, the famous battle at the end of the Aiel War, on the slopes of Dragonmount, as prophesied. He was born to Tigraine Mantear, the former Daughter-heir of Andor who had fled to the Aiel Waste to become a Maiden of the Spear, a woman warrior of the Aiel race. She had been convinced to flee by none other than Gitara Moroso herself, who said the world would be doomed if she did not. Tigraine, who renamed herself Shaiel, died moments after giving birth. His father was Janduin, an Aiel clan chief (the youngest in memory), who led the Shaarad, Reyn, Nakai and Taardad clans to kill King Laman Damodred of Cairhien for his sin. When he heard Shaiel had died, he relinquished his leadership and went off to the Blight to fight Trollocs. He was killed by Slayer. Rand was found by a young Tam al'Thor, a man who, seeking adventure, had joined the Illian army and fought at the Blood Snow. He and his new wife, Kari al'Thor, took Rand back to Tam's home village, Emond's Field.
On Winternight, 998 NE, Trollocs attacked Emond's Field. Rand, his two friends (Perrin Aybara and Mat Cauthon), Egwene al'Vere, Nynaeve al'Meara, and Thom Merrilin were led out of Emond's Field by Moiraine Damodred and her Warder, Lan Mandragoran. Lan began teaching Rand the sword; he has since achieved a high enough level of skill to be known as a blademaster. Along with Loial, the Ogier, Moiraine led them to the Eye of the World in the Blight. Rand killed Aginor there, tapping into the Eye's pure saidin. They proceeded to Fal Dara, where he was told he was the Dragon Reborn. Rand did not believe this. After the Horn of Valere was stolen, Rand, Mat, Perrin and Loial accompanied Lord Ingtar and the Shienarians to reclaim it. At the battle of Falme, Rand and Ba'alzamon fought in the sky, and he was proclaimed Dragon Reborn after his victory.
That winter, he camped with Moiraine, Perrin, Min Farshaw, and the Shienarians. Rand did not accept his fate. He journeyed to Tear alone, deciding this quest would end or begin his life. In the Stone of Tear, he took the blade Callandor, the Sword That Cannot Be Touched, and fulfilled a major prophecy, affirming his identity as Dragon Reborn in the minds of many. He then set out with Mat, Egwene and Moiraine to the Waste, seeking the endorsement of the Aiel as their Car'a'carn, literally a "chief of chiefs". He and Lanfear trapped Asmodean while there, and forced the male Forsaken to teach him to use saidin. He travelled to Rhuidean, where he learned the true origins of the Aiel. Leading the Aiel out of the Waste, he took Cairhien and Caemlyn, killing Rahvin.
He was then approached by embassies from Elaida and from the Salidar faction. Elaida's embassy kidnapped him and shielded him. He escaped at Dumai's Wells. He has since forced many Aes Sedai on both sides to swear fealty to him. He captured Illian with the help of Davram Bashere and was crowned it's king, re-naming Illian's Laurel Crown the Crown of Swords. Mazrim Taim, a former false Dragon, has aided Rand by establishing the Black Tower, which trains men to channel, becoming Asha'man. It is Rand's answer to the White Tower. Taim is the M'Hael, leader of the Tower, although his true intentions have yet to be revealed; it is speculated he is a Darkfriend, although it has been stated by the author that he is not Demandred (a favorite theory among many readers).
Rand is bonded to his three lovers, Min Farshaw, Elayne Trakand, and Aviendha of the Nine Valleys sept of the Taardad Aiel. Elayne is pregnant with his twins. He is advised mostly by Cadsuane Melaidhrin of the Green Ajah, and Sorilea, an Aiel Wise One. They have pledged to teach him "laughter and tears".
Rand had changed a great deal from the boy who left Emond's Field two years ago. He has gone from the stubborn boy who refused to accept he was anything more than a simple sheepherder, to an arrogant iron-willed man who sometimes seems to have lost all trace of humanity. Having grown up with the belief that men should protect women, he has memorized the name of every woman who has died for him (at one point spending an entire night among the corpses in the aftermath of a major battle) and often berates himself with the list and the associated guilt. Many worry about his sanity; others (most notably the aforementioned Cadsuane and Sorilea) worry about his humanity. Finally, it is interesting to note that as the books have progressed, he has become less involved in the narrative, though he remains the central character. Book 3, The Dragon Reborn, was in fact told almost exclusively from the points-of-view of Mat Cauthon, Perrin Aybara and Egwene al'Vere, despite the fact that it is undoubtedly about Rand (all three parties eventually follow him to Tear and are present when he pulls the sword Callandor from the Stone and proclaims himself the Dragon Reborn), and the following books have continued in following the adventures of other characters besides Rand. It is strange that he is known as Rand al Thor when Tam al thor is not really his father and should be known as Rand Mantear, as hs mother was from the House of Mantear
Reincarnation
Rand al'Thor is special in that he is the only known soul to be woven out by the Wheel of Time for a specific Rebirth. Although there are other known cases of rebirth (such as Birgitte Silverbow and Gaidal Cain), only Rand al'Thor's rebirth has been predicted. Most think of his soul as being Lews Therin Telamon, a male Aes Sedai from the Age of Legends who gained prominence in the Hall of Servants as the Dragon, the leader of the Forces of Light against the Shadow during the War of Power. This is, of course, why al'Thor is generally known as the Dragon Reborn.
Other evidence is showcased in the prologue to The Eye of the World: Ishamael comments that he and Lews Therin have battled each other since the dawn of mankind countless times, suggesting that the Dragon is a prominent figure every time the War of Power occurs. Rand, however, hears Lews Therin's voice in his head, something that Lews Therin himself may not have experienced during his tenure as the Dragon; it is possible that Lews Therin and Rand are more strongly connected than were any previous forms of the Dragon.
Similarities to heroes both fictional and non fictional
To Paul Atreides
- Rand al'Thor is similar to Paul Atreides in Frank Herbert's Dune in that they are both men who possess powers usually wielded by women.
- The Aiel, who become Rand's most loyal fighting force, are similar in habit and style to the Fremen of Dune.
To Tiwaz, Tyr, Zeus, and Jupiter
- Over the course of the story, Rand has been shown to have many similarities to Tiwaz, the prototypical deity from which was developed Tyr, Zeus and Jupiter.
- Tyr's hand was bitten off by the wolf Fenrisulfr. Rand recently lost his left hand fighting the Forsaken Semirhage.
- Rand's love for three women (Elayne Trakand, the mother of his two children; Aviendha, an Aiel and former Maiden of the Spear; and Min Farshaw, who has the ability to see the future, is similar to Jupiter of Roman mythology, who loved three mortal women with similar traits (all of whom are now referenced among the moons of the planet Jupiter).
- Finally, Tyr, Jupiter and Zeus were all gods of justice. This ties in with Rand uniting most of the world under his rule, breaking some traditions and starting new ones.
To Wiccan archetypes
- Rand's "three women" also echo the Wiccan tradition of the triple goddess (Maiden-Mother-Crone). This would make Rand the equivalent of the Celtic deity Cernunnos, a point which is reinforced by a prophecy which speaks of him singing "that the fields will bring forth lambs and green things".
To Jesus
- Rand al'Thor, like Jesus Christ, is considered to be as a savior, sent by a supernatural force (the Wheel of Time itself in Rand's case, and the Christian God in Jesus's case) to save all of humanity from the forces of darkness.
- It has been suggested, several times, that Rand will die in the process of saving the world. Unlike Jesus, however, no one has yet forecast his resurrection (In Lord of Chaos Rand revealed one part of an answer he had from the Aelfinn: 'To live, you must die.').
- Rand, like Jesus, has a habit of striking down unfair laws and reforming societies to benefit all, instead of only the powerful few. Both were seen by many of their contemporaries as being agents of chaos and disorder.
- When Rand dies, it is said that his body will be watched over by three women (his lovers, Elayne, Min and Aviendha); when Jesus died, his body was watched over by three women (generally reported as Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Mary the mother of James the Less).
- Many of the markings on Rand's body are similar to the wounds inflicted on Jesus during the crucifixion: His hands were nailed to the cross, he was stabbing in the side by a spear, and wore a crown of thorns. Both of Rand's hands have been branded with the heron mark, he was stabbed in the side by Ba'alzamon's staff, and he wears the Crown of Swords, similar to the crown of thorns Jesus wore.
To Luke Skywalker
- Rand lost his left hand in the book Knife of Dreams, similar to Luke Skywalker losing his hand in The Empire Strikes Back.
- He can control the One Power, which is similar to the Force depicted in Star Wars.
- He raises an organization that was destroyed in the past (Men channeling in a group) as Luke recreated the Jedi.
- After his sword melts when he stabs Ba'alzamon, Rand temporarily uses a sword of fire made with the Power, which is similar to the lightsaber Luke carries.
- Both are fighting "the dark side", although this is a common theme in fantastical fiction.nl:Rhand Altor