78 pages • 2-hour read
Words of Radiance
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Symbols & Motifs
Kaladin’s Brand
As a Surgebinder, Kaladin’s ability to infuse himself with Stormlight means that his body automatically heals any wounds or ailments. Therefore, when he joins Bridge Four to have his enslavement brand tattooed over, his body pushes out the ink, leaving him unable to escape the brand. The brand becomes a motif reflecting the theme of Inequality Through Social Hierarchy, as Kaladin cannot fully erase his past as an abused darkeyed soldier: “Kaladin was left with the image of those glyphs melting away. Freedom dissolved, and underneath, the violent scars of his captivity. Dominated by a branded glyph” (59). Though Kaladin and his crew move up in society, going from enslaved bridge runners to bodyguards and soldiers, the dominant social hierarchy still exists. Dalinar’s favor helps them rise, but Kaladin is still uniquely sensitive to the injustices around them. His brand becomes a reminder to himself and others that the dominance and inequity of the lighteyes class are still pervasive and dangerous. Just as a new uniform and position cannot change Kaladin’s value in the social hierarchy, neither can a tattoo with the glyph “freedom” erase his past or topple an unjust system. Kaladin’s body rejects the tattoo meant to mark his freedom, reflecting Kaladin’s own anxiety that he and his friends will never truly be safe or free.
Shallan’s Sketches
Shallan possesses a unique talent to draw anything she sees, even after a mere moment’s glance. She uses this ability to aid in her Lightweaving as well as in her espionage missions, gathering valuable information. She uses her sketches not only to provide inspiration for her Lightweaving mirages but also to help others see themselves anew. She convinces the deserters and Tvlakv’s men to act honorably by drawing them portraits that depict them as a better version of themselves: “There, stuffed in his pocket, was her picture of him. The one that depicted him not as he was, but as she imagined he might once have been. A soldier in an army, in a crisp uniform. Eyes forward, rather than looking down all the time. A hero” (279). Shallan takes this portrait from the pocket of a man who dies fighting to protect the caravan, reinvigorated by her depiction of him. Her sketches are a motif that reflects The Construction of Personal Reality because she uses them to not only change herself through Lightweaving but also to inspire others to be better. Her sketches present a vision, often slightly different from reality, that inspires its subjects to change. Over time, the deserters become the soldiers she draws in her sketches, adapting to the reality she sees for them.
Highstorms
Highstorms are a constant threat on the Shattered Plains, as the severe storms come frequently, always with the same incredible forces of wind and water. These storms are a massive natural force, requiring everyone to seek shelter for protection. Despite their danger, they do serve a purpose, as the storms produce Stormlight, which recharges the spheres that serve as Alethi currency and the source of Kaladin and Shallan’s power. The storm itself, with its destructive qualities, is a symbol that represents the sheer power of natural forces. The highstorms are a force that humanity cannot conquer in Words of Radiance, needing to hide to survive. The highstorms are natural power, as Shallan and Kaladin witness while hiding in the chasms: “Wind howled through the chasms, a haunting, eerie sound that called through the many rifts. Like the moaning of spirits long dead. The high sound was accompanied by a low, rumbling roar” (864). The sound of the wind evokes an image of the dead, reminding Kaladin and Shallan of how many men and Parshendi lose their lives on the Shattered Plains during this prolonged war, their corpses soon washing by in the flood. Just as the highstorm threatens them from above with wind and rain, so too does it attack them from below, as the chasms flood and nearly sweep them away. Despite the many threats these two characters face, between assassins, chasmfiends, war, and espionage, the most dangerous force they face is the highstorm. It is the only force they cannot defend themselves from, reminding them of the power of nature.
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