Inheritance

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains descriptions of enslavement, emotional abuse, violence, and bodily injury.

Throughout Inheritance, protagonists and antagonists alike wield tremendous amounts of power in their respective spheres of influence, whether they operate in physical, magical, or political spheres of influence. Inherent in the very fabric of the novel—and of the series as a whole—is the age-old adage that “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Thus, Paolini suggests that the only way to counter the corruptive influence of power is to wield that power in the service of others. In addition to Eragon, both Roran and Nasuada exemplify the importance of balancing power with service, and Roran’s sentiments represent the clearest articulation of the issue at hand. Specifically, Roran observes that magic is an inherently unfair form of power, which Eragon wields while he does not. As Roran declares, “I wish we didn’t have to rely on a Rider or an elf or any sort of magician to win this war for us. No one should be at the mercy of another person. Not like this. It unbalances the world” (371). Although his unequivocal statement lacks nuance, it does serve to illustrate the dilemma that lies at the heart of the series.

In order to address this philosophical quandary in more detail, Paolini creates characters with more ambiguous responsibilities. Nasuada is largely depicted as a competent leader who serves the Varden selflessly and unconditionally. Seeing that she is highly moral, strategic, and self-sacrificing, even Galbatorix claims that her “gift of command […] is far deadlier than any spell” (422). However, although Nasuada is presented as a natural leader, she also struggles with the fact that her position comes at a great personal cost. As she tells King Orrin, “More is asked of us than of most people; therefore we must strive to be better than most if we are to prove ourselves worthy of that responsibility” (58). Likewise, when she faces Galbatorix’s torture, she resists by committing to upholding the good of the Varden—even at the cost of her own safety. Because Nasuada’s power arises from her people’s respect for the loyalty that she shows them, she gains the ability to wield her political power without resorting to tactics steeped in fear or oppression.

Similarly, Eragon and Roran both become powerful yet paradoxically self-effacing leaders who gain their positions through unique circumstances but do not actively seek power for themselves. Eragon, who is forced to embrace his responsibilities toward the people of Alagaësia, often struggles with his role as a hero and figurehead for the rebellion. He repeatedly experiences doubts and feelings of inadequacy, as when he is named leader of the Varden after Nasuada’s abduction. Similarly, after the Varden’s victory, he refuses outright to become king of Alagaësia, declaring, “I want… to be of use. But power and dominion over others—those things that Galbatorix sought—they hold little appeal for me. In any case, we have other responsibilities” (748). By embracing his “other responsibilities” as one of the only remaining Dragon Riders, Eragon willingly rejects command for its own sake.

Just like his cousin, Roran rejects the authority that comes with his position as a leader in the Varden army, but he does accept the responsibilities of his role. After he is almost killed by an enemy assassin, Roran questions the complex morality of war, asking, “Who is it who decides that one man should live and another should die? My life wasn’t worth any more than his, but he’s the one who’s buried, while I get to enjoy at least a few more hours above the ground” (166). His sensitivity to this issue renders him a deeply empathic character who does not shy away from grappling with the more impossible philosophical debates that surround him. Ultimately, his dislike of the “unbalancing” effects of magic eventually drives Nasuada to attempt to regulate the use of magic in the realm. Her desire to work toward justice and cooperation contrasts with Galbatorix’s oppressive rule, and her more judicious approach suggests that power should only be wielded in the presence of necessary checks and balances.