Rhythm of War

“One might assume that—in deciding to learn how to read—Dalinar would no longer worry about what was traditionally considered masculine or feminine. But the male ego could be as complicated as the most intricate fabrial.”

Navani’s observations reveal how difficult many people find change to be. Dalinar has chosen to break the socially dictated rules about reading and has offered major challenges to the Vorin Church, but he still makes decisions like having the Windrunners carry him in the cold, open air instead of riding in a traditionally female conveyance—worried that this vehicle would be emasculating.

“I didn’t like the idea of killing people who showed us honor, sir.”

Kaladin sees an unexpected reality on the battlefield: There is honor among his enemies, despite Alethi dehumanization of the singers and the Fused. Recognizing that truth, Kaladin’s knightly code does not allow him to kill those who show him honor and respect on the battlefield.

“‘This,’ Dalinar said, ‘is what war does to all of us. It chews us up and spits us out mangled. There’s no dishonor in taking a step away to recover. No more than there’s dishonor in giving yourself time to heal from a stab wound.’”

As a commander, Dalinar shows great wisdom and understanding; rather than treating Kaladin as weak or compromised, he commends Kaladin for his service and reassures him that many men return from war changed. This reveals how far Dalinar has come since his more brutal younger days and how much more compassionate he is.

“Yet the misery did lessen around others, and it required Kaladin to keep up a semblance. To pretend. It might be a front, but he’d found that sometimes the front worked even on himself.”

Kaladin and Shallan are often compared to one another in the novel because both have mental health challenges. Here, Kaladin is described as having to put on a mask of psychological wellness to be accepted by others. The figurative image echoes Shallan’s literal masks—the personas she has created to take control of her body.

“Fortunately, he didn’t make any of the expected comments. No simple affirmations, no encouragement for Kaladin to cheer up or soldier on. The two of them sat quietly in the loud room for a long pause.”

Adolin is a caring presence in this moment of sitting quietly with Kaladin. Kaladin expects to hear the same platitudes he has received from others, but Adolin simply accepts him without needing to resort to unhelpful toxic positivity. Despite very different backgrounds, the men have created a strong friendship.

“If you forget why you are fighting, then victory itself becomes the goal. The longer we fight, the more detached we become. Both from our own minds, and from our original Passions.”

Leshwi, Venli’s Fused commander, shows wisdom that Venli does not expect from one of the Fused. She understands that many of her fellow Fused have become obsessed with war, rather than committed to creating a free Roshar for the singers under their command. Comments like this make Venli wonder if she could trust Leshwi with her plan to flee with as many singers as she can.

“When Gavinor had finally been recovered [from Alethkar], he’d been so frightened and timid he had cringed when Navani tried to hug him. That trauma, now a year past, was finally fading from the boy. He was often solemn—too solemn for a boy of five—but at least with her, he’d learned to laugh again.”

While Kaladin and Shallan’s mental health challenges are the primary representations of the theme of Understanding and Treating Mental Illness, many other characters face the physiological repercussions of war, including Navani’s young grandson, Gavinor, traumatized by being trapped with his mentally deteriorating mother and then having to flee the Fused.

“‘The enemy,’ Navani said to Rushu, ‘has abilities we can only guess at—and the powers we do know about are dangerous enough. Masked Ones could be among us and we’d never know it.’”

This is a moment of foreshadowing. By recognizing that the Fused, like humans, have been developing technologies or strategies to get through human defenses, Navani unknowingly predicts Raboniel’s successful invasion of Urithiru, but her realization comes too late for humans to resist the attacking forces.

“Never be afraid to show a little respect to those you depend upon, friends.”

Despite Adolin’s boyish personality and lighthearted charm, he shows wisdom in moments such as these: He consistently cares for his trusty horse and devotes attention to his deadeye spren, who is presumed dead and unable to heal.

“‘I think I’ve stayed the same person,’ Adolin said. ‘I’m just more willing to let you be disappointed by that person.’”

This moment reveals the inner struggle building in Adolin over the past several years. He has always wanted to impress his father, but—tired of feeling like a disappointment and as if he cannot be himself—he has begun choosing to behave how he likes. This, combined with the revelation that his father accidentally killed his mother, strains the father-son relationship.

“‘Someone needs to do better for these people,’ Kaladin said. ‘Someone needs to talk to them, try different treatments, see what they think works. What actually helps […] We need to study their responses, use an empirical approach to treatment instead of just assuming someone who has suffered mental trauma is permanently broken.’”

This moment is a turning point for Kaladin. Despite the peace he has found as a surgeon rather than a soldier, he does not feel fulfilled or like he has reached his full potential. When he realizes that finding effective ways to manage mental illness could be his purpose, he realizes that he can still fulfill his protective Radiant oaths.

“The quickest changes in history often happen during times of strife, and these are important moments. But you’re important too. To me. Thank you. For always being you, despite the rise of kingdoms and the fall of peoples. I don’t think you can understand how much your constant strength means to me.”

This is an important moment in Jasnah’s character development. In previous novels, she was often isolated from everyone, even her family. Here, however, she finds the words to tell her mother, Navani, how much she means to her.

“Was it selfish to want something more? This was what she seemed to be good at doing, and it was where the Almighty had placed her. She was one of the most powerful women in the world. Why would she think she deserved more?”

Navani struggles with self-doubt about her always growing desire to be a scholar. This moment reveals that she also often believes she does not deserve to ask for more, especially because of her privileged position. She does not give herself permission to find fulfillment.

“I hate humans, the Sibling eventually said. Humans twist what is said and always make themselves out to be right. How long until you demand that I bond a human, give up my freedom, and risk my life? I’m sure you’ll have wonderful explanations as to why I should absolutely do that.”

Navani uses sound logic to convince the Sibling to reveal the locations of the gemstone nodes powering the tower shield so that Navani can protect this ancient spren from Raboniel’s efforts to corrupt her. The Sibling, however, believing humans unworthy of trust and believing Navani to have committed atrocities with her fabrials, thinks that logic is manipulative and controlling.

“‘We’d do well to learn from them.’ She eyed him, thoughtful. ‘The days of absolute power in one person’s hands will likely soon pass us by. I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m the last true Alethi monarch.’”

While Dalinar believes some elements of Alethi society must change, he is a strict monarchist and committed autocrat. Jasnah, however, has a more progressive take on political power, representing a more radical perspective and hinting at the idea of shared governance between a royal head of state and an elected body—something akin to a constitutional monarchy.

“You are not merely a storm! Dalinar bellowed, his voice changing to rumbles of thunder. You are capable of choice! You hide from that, and in so doing, you are a COWARD!”

In The Stormlight Archive, there is a running motif of humans and listeners questioning their beliefs about one another and challenging their biases. In this novel, this rejection of stereotypes spreads to the notion of spren. Dalinar knows that spren are not single-minded ideas but instead sapient beings who can make decisions. Here, he attempts to get the Stormfather to make a choice about bonding, and the Stormfather’s refusal angers him.

“‘I…I was born different.’ ‘You mean born…you know…an idiot?’ Rlain said. Dabbid winced. He hated that word, though Rlain didn’t use it hatefully. It was just a word to him. […] ‘You shouldn’t feel that you have to hide what you are though.’ ‘I will be fixed,’ Dabbid said, ‘when I get a spren.’”

The Stormlight Archive often attempts to create fantasy versions of a variety of disabilities; here, Dabbid’s experience is akin to an intellectual disability. The use of offensive language to describe Dabbid’s condition echoes the terrible treatment of people with mental illness Kaladin confronted—both are mirrors of the way people with psychological or intellectual challenges are seen in the real world.

“Some I can persuade. But they’re afraid of dying, and I find myself uncertain. Not everyone is suited to war, and that’s what I’m recruiting them for. I can’t truthfully promise them they’ll live, that their Radiants won’t betray them. Maybe it’s not right to demand they join us.”

Adolin’s experiences with spren open his eyes to what the humans are asking of this species. Roshar may need to save itself from Odium, but there must be a sense of responsibility when asking a people to join a war and risk their lives.

“I like confusion. Too often we belittle it as a lesser Passion. But confusion leads a scholar to study further and push for secrets. No great discovery was ever made by a femalen or malen who was confident they knew everything.”

Raboniel again shows greater wisdom than is typical of the Fused. She values the opportunity and possibility inherent in “lesser Passions” like confusion because they provide occasion for further exploration and discovery. Raboniel is much more open-minded than many of her fellow Fused.

“‘You. Cannot. Have. My. SACRIFICE!’ she shouted. ‘Mine. My sacrifice. Not yours.’”

The deadeye spren Maya’s demand to own her history and lived experience is a major turning point in the novel, one that will impact all Radiants. Despite being considered dead, Maya speaks up for herself and asserts her own power by revealing that the ostensibly betrayed spren of old actually chose, alongside their Knights Radiant, to be locked away—they made a sacrifice willingly so they could protect humanity.

“Your son is a soldier, Lirin. A soldier who inherited his father’s determination, skill, and compassion. You tell me honestly. Who would you rather have out there fighting? Some crazed killer who enjoys it, or the boy you trained to care?”

Hesina finally challenges her husband’s blind adherence to his strict values. She values his pacifism, but she also realizes that if fighting must happen, she would rather her compassionate son be on the battlefield than a bloodthirsty brute. Lirin’s perspective begins to alter after their argument and after his conversations with those honoring Kaladin with glyphs on their foreheads.

“We are revealing a new world, Jasnah, and the way before us is dark until we bring it light. We will be forgiven if we stumble on unseen ground now and then.”

Moments of great social change always seem chaotic and frightening, especially to those in power. Dalinar shows wisdom in recognizing this and in recognizing that he and the other leaders are human and may make mistakes.

“I find the insights offered in the undertexts to be essential […] They change how I read. History is written by the victors, as many are fond of saying—but at least we have contrary insights by those who watched. I would like to know what you think of what I’ve said.”

Dalinar sees the benefit of depicting history with scholarship from multiple points of view. He invites Jasnah’s criticism, even though he knows her incisive intellect may skewer his unskilled writing. Dalinar is confident in their familial love; he hopes their disagreements may bring people together through shared essential values.