This is a novice theory and feel free to mock it or disect it as you will! Ishmael mentions in the first three books of the wheel of time series that the struggle between the creator's annointed and the dark one's champion has been taking place since time immemorial.The theory that I wish to examine is if we have seen other characters in their previous lives within this series. Graendal states (The Fires of Heaven: The First Sparks Fall) "It may well be that, as many believe, all are born and reborn as the Wheel turns"
I believe that we have already seen the characters of Egwene,Elayne and Nynaeve in their previous lives. In "The Shadow Rising" (chapter 26 "The dedicated"
when Rand relives the history of the Aiel through his ancestors, specifically Jonai, there is an encounter with three Aes Sedai: Deindre, Oselle and Solinda. Could these be Egwene, Nynaeve and Elayne in their previous lives? I submit this theory for the following reasons:
1)Oselle has long dark hair and from the evidence is this chapter is ruled by her emotions. Nynaeve has long dark hair and as we know she has on numerous occaions been ruled by her emotions (in particular anger)
2)Deindre has dark eyes, is calm when dealing when dealing with Oselle and has the foretelling (Anaiya in "The Great Hunt" likens foretelling to dreaming).Egwene as we know has dark eyes and has the ability to dream. In "The Fires Of Heaven" she decides to adopt the approach of remaining cool when dealing with an irate Nynaeve as it seems to have the best results.This is the approach that Deindre takes when dealing with Oselle. Could this be significant?
3)Solinda has sun-red hair and is the peace-keeper between Deindre and Oselle. As we know, Elayne has red-gold hair and normally acts as the peace keeper between Nynaeve and Egwene (See "The Dragon Reborn"
Rand is the only character "Specifically reborn according to prophecy" (Graendal:"The Fires Of Heaven),but could these three ancient Aes Sedai be the previous lives of the main female characters? I think it so! Apart from the shared traits and physical attributes there is always something significant about the number three in religion and myths. The three most important female channelers of this time that we know of are Egwene,Elayne and Nynaeve. They all have crucial roles to play in the build up to and after Tarmon Gai'don. I believe that the ancient Aes Sedai that we see through the eyes of Rand were crucial in the formation of The Eye of the World, which was one of the critical tasks during the breaking of the world, so could it not be these three in a previous existence. As previously stated, this is a beginners theory and if it has already been posted please accept my apologies for wasting your time.Also please excuse spelling and grammar.
Raserei says: Well, for one, I have seen nothing like this, so kudos for originality.
And two, it is very possible that these three could be the three rand sees in his family tree's visions.
Very interesting. Well done.
Comments
But Elayne is Ilyena, that one is sure... "that bolden-haired whore" -Lanfear... Aviendha could be the last Aes Sedai, though...
I'm just wondering if Jordan went as deep as that in his characters, or if it is just happenstance...
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A physical resemblance and a similarity in temper do not prove anything.
It is the soul which is being reborn, recall that LTT was quite different from Rand in both physical appearance and personality (the little we know of it).
I like the Ilyena/Elayne theory, although we have no evidence for that except the name similarity and the fact that both love(d) the Dragon.
För övrigt anser jag att Mordor bör förstöras.
I know 2, Elayne is Ilyena, and Egwene was that woman, who lead all the female Aes sedai in the Age of Legands to not help Lews Therin and the hundred companions with his plan, this is from that short story "the strike at Shayol Ghul", I can't remember her name, but I know she was also known as "Shadow Cutter"
I believe it is her, because Egwene is the leader of the female Aes Sedai in this age, plus she's had dreams of Rand building up a wall between her and himself and there is also the fact that she almost recognized what Mat was saying when he first shouted his favourite battle cry, "Carai en Caldazar..." Now none of this proves a thing I know, but I think we've addressed everything that isn't speculation.
Kidblondeel
Of course, Elayne was the first of the three that Rand fell for (he didn't even meet Aviendha until much later and didn't fall for her then, and Min he met first but didn't fall in love with her for awhile). Also, I think Lanfear would have been jealous of any of them that had had sex with Rand/LTT, Aviendha just happened to beat the other two to it.
KLitke7967
This theory is interesting, given that the Aiel appear to have prophecies concerning three Aes Sedai (Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve). In TDR 'Threads in the Pattern' when the three meet Avienda's group of Maidens, Avienda mentions that they are looking for omens and signs of the coming of He wo Comes with the Dawn and asks what they are doing. The whole group reacts very strangely when they say they are hunting darkfriends in Tear.
'"Shadowrunners in Tear," Bain said, and as if part of the same sentence Chiad added, "And three Aes Sedai seeking the Heart of Stone."'
That sounds like they are quoting something to me. And later in the chapter Rhuarc also comments on it.
"Three Aes Sedai, traveling to Tear. And one of them carries a ring I have heard of as a boy. Of all the strange sights I thought I might see when Melaine harried me hout of my own hold and over the Dragonwall, none has been so strange as this. The path you set me is one I never though my feet would follow."
Now in the theory it is surmised that since Solinde has sun-red hair AND Elayne has sun-red hair, this is verifiable evidence that they are the same person reborn. Well, I’m sorry. We don’t have any reason to believe that every time a person dies, their soul is reborn into a new body that greatly resembles their last.
Remember, that, - if we are going to roll with Greandal’s original premise (and indeed it looks like we are) - every person dies and is reborn countless times throughout the turning of the wheel. Is it reasonable then, to expect that every soul will be reborn into a body that looks damn near the same every time?
No. Infant we have powerful evidence to the contrary.
Look, we KNOW that Rand al’Thor IS Lews Therin Tellamon reborn. But they don’t resemble each other at all, except for the fact that they are both men of great height. Lews Therin had dark eyes, Rand; grey. Lews Therin had brown hair, Rand; red.
Just because it’s mentioned that someone’s hair is roughly the same color as one of our main characters’ this cannot be used in and of itself as proof they may be the same soul reborn.
Notice, that I have not attacked the resemblances in the personalities of Nynaeve and. Oselle. Who knows if their personalities will be similar if they have the same soul, or if their personalities will be defined more by their own earthly experiences.
Anyway, I’m getting tired so I’ll kill this here.
Comments, Rebuttals?
The Great Lord on the Jon
Nice work on an original theory
blade
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Something to think about. RJ's story line spends a lot of time with Rand/LTT ~ if that IS true, doesn't it make sense that the same "hero's" from the AoL will be present at TA?
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I agree that it is likely that other Randland characters are reborn. When dealing with Birgitte in TFoH, Nynaeve and Elayne learn from Birgitte that she and Gaidal are spun out again as they are needed, and that their valor and courage has bound them to the wheel. The same logic would apply now: If Tarmon Gai'don is coming, wouldn't the pattern weave out the required heroes from the past? They would undoubtedly become impact players when things develop. Thus, Egwene, Nynaeve and Elayne have, like many other key characters, proven that they are impact players.
It also boldters the theory that the three of them are able to do things that have not been done in a long time (even before being "taught" by "others"
. In some ways, they, too, simply "remember" how to weave a certain flow and they cannot explain it. In addition, Mat has obviously been reincarnated and so has Rand.
So, I buy into the theory. I am not sure who they previously were, though. I have always thought about this theory, but I always assumed that Elayne was Ilyena: the letters in their names are nearly the same, they both had the hair, and they both were the love of the Dragon's life (granted Elayne is only about 1/3 of the loves of Rand's life, but still.) Your theory is interesting... I will certainly go back and reread the part where the three ancient Aes Sedai are discussed!
It is fun to try to figure out if Jordan has given enough of the history to try to deduce who the characters were in past lives.
Well I hate to bust your bubble but this isnt possible. 1) This isnt possible because if the wheel is to continue turning then the dark one has to be sealed completley not just a patch, but as though it never had happend so the dark one can be sealed by lews therin telamon and the cycle can go on and on like me (That Harid Fell dood,) so the famous trio couldnt be the old hags because they would have to go through at least two ages to get there and I dont believe that they can live that long post if u disagree!!
Great theory, definitely original. But I think I have to disagree, especially with some of the comments here on the blackboard. In no way is it obvious that any of our heroes were reborn with the exception of Rand. Now if we do assume that all souls are reborn then ok, but it is not necessary that all of our heroes now were ever heroes before. My best piece of evidence for this is in 'The Great Hunt' Artur Hawkwing tells the sniffer (can't remember his name, and I'm at work so no books) that dependent upon his actions he may one day become tied to the Wheel and the Horn. Also Hawkwing recognizes Rand as Lews Therin, but he says nothing to Mat but calls him Hornblower. Now maybe Mat could have blown the Horn of Valere in the past but somehow I doubt that. Well thats my two cents.
Flame on,
Nimvin
Elayne could not be Solinda as she is Ileana Sunhair from the AOL. And I personally believe that Nynaeve is that famous AES Sedai from the Troloc Wars who Egwene talks about when she is reading the book woth all the stories of lovers in the Shadow Rising.
I can see that discussion of this died out months ago, but after reading this theory I think I have something to add...
First, the "Shadow Cutter" referred to by Kidblondeel was Latra Posae Decume, or "Shadar Nor." I myself have long thought that Egwene was Latra Posae reborn.
Second, a piece of evidence in favor of Elayne being Ilyena reborn - flimsy and circumstantial though it may be - in TFOH when Rand has just learned that Rahvin has killed Morgase, he thinks "Elayne, forgive me!" and Lews Therin immediately echoes back, "Ilyena, forgive me!" Now, this could just be a case of LTT's thoughts being being triggered by current events, and he could well just be remembering Ilyena again instead of thinking of Elayne. However, subscibers to the Taimandred theory have always used as some of their evidence the times when LTT started ranting about Demandred because Rand has seen Taim - so I think if that's permissible evidence, then "Ilyena, forgive me!" is too.
Third, that scene in TGH when Artur Hawkwing recognizes Rand as Lews Therin, but didn't recognize anybody else present. I think it may be possible that the Horn Heroes' prescripts may forbid Hawkwing's recognizing anybody, and he broke the rule with Rand, or perhaps something about the circumstances or Rand's being the Dragon make an exception to the prescript. That much is pure conjecture - but you notice that he immediately knew Hurin was NOT a Horn Hero - Mat and Perrin were standing right there and Hawkwing singled out Hurin alone as somebody not bound to the Horn.
i just thought of something that would be kinda cool, what if min elayne and aviendha(cant remember how to spell her name), are all three lews therins dead love reborn....... now that what be and interesting plot twist. i mean all three have a trait that is simillar to ilayna, they could be her split three ways
I always thought that reincarnations within randland always kept some defining part of their personality or apperance ie rand and LTTs height, elaynes red gold hair, nyneave's annoying personality etc.... It seems to be linked with every reproduction of a soul within randland, having something similar attributed to all their different lives.
you may be right about the reborn part, but I think not about the three strongest channelers of this age.
given the material that you have shown us, i don't belive that those three are reborn from those aes sedai in the waste for one reason. people reborn don't look like who they once were. rand looks nothing like lews therin.
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