Oathbringer
25. The Girl Who Looked Up
by Sanderson, BrandonThe chapter opens with a stark, haunting confession from an unnamed narrator, admitting to murders, including one involving someone who loved them dearly. This preface sets a tone of darkness and moral complexity that permeates the story. It hints at themes of guilt, remorse, and the weight of past actions, inviting readers to contemplate the deeper emotional and ethical layers within the narrative. The tone is introspective, emphasizing the gravity of the narrator’s deeds and establishing a somber mood that contrasts with the vivid world of Roshar where the story unfolds. This opening underscores the chapter’s exploration of human flaws and the burden of truth.
The narrative then shifts to Shallan exploring the ancient, abandoned city of Urithiru, depicted as a skeletal, cavernous structure beneath the surface. The imagery of veins and strata emphasizes the city’s organic, almost alive, but decayed state, with corridors that have never seen sunlight. Despite the grandeur of the ruins, there is a pervasive sense of emptiness and darkness, symbolizing the lost knowledge and the futility of mankind’s conquest over nature and time. Shallan’s wandering through these silent halls reflects her desire to connect with history and understand the mysteries of the past, even as disappointment looms over her expectations of discovering advanced technology or significant artifacts.
As she ventures deeper into the city, Shallan encounters a large, theater-like chamber and perceives it as a space for storytelling and shared imagination. Her reflections on plays and stories reveal her longing for human connection and the comfort found in shared lies—stories that create meaning and unity amid chaos. Pattern’s curiosity about these “lies” underscores a recurring theme of storytelling as a form of understanding others and oneself. This scene highlights the importance of narrative in shaping identity and offers a glimpse into Shallan’s inner world, where imagination and memory serve as anchors amid the unknown.
In the final part of the chapter, Shallan visualizes a childhood scene involving a girl with a scarf and a wall that symbolizes barriers and mysteries of the past. She constructs a vivid, symbolic tableau using her sketches and Stormlight, illustrating the contrast between innocence and the fears of the unknown. The wall represents both physical and metaphorical obstacles—barriers that protect yet imprison. Through her storytelling, Shallan emphasizes themes of curiosity, exploration, and the human tendency to seek understanding beyond what is visible. The chapter concludes with the girl’s persistent gaze at the wall, embodying hope and wonder in the face of uncertainty.
FAQs
1. Question 1
What is the significance of the ancient structure of Urithiru as described in the chapter, and how does Shallan perceive and interact with this place?
Answer:
Urithiru is depicted as a massive, ancient skeleton-like structure, with layers beneath it resembling veins that do not carry blood but something else, emphasizing its alien and mysterious nature. Shallan explores these depths, sensing the place rather than fully understanding it, highlighting its incomprehensibility and timelessness. She defies orders by wandering alone, feeling a need to physically connect with the space—mapping it mentally and sensing its presence—rather than merely observing from a distance. Her exploration signifies a desire to understand the city’s essence, beyond the technological remnants or ancient writings she expected. This interaction underscores her curiosity and the theme of seeking deeper knowledge about a place that has remained largely enigmatic and untouched by human conquest.2. Question 2
How does Shallan’s experience in the underground chamber and her reflections on the theater contribute to her understanding of storytelling and memory?
Answer:
Shallan’s exploration of the theater, a rare and tangible remnant of human activity within the ancient city, symbolizes the importance of storytelling and human connection. Her imagination transforms the stage into a place where stories are told through plays, which she describes as “group lies”—shared stories that allow people to imagine and understand each other. This concept reflects her view that stories, even if fictional, serve as vital tools to share truths and foster empathy. Her memory of a childhood play, now lost, deepens her appreciation for storytelling as a means of connection and escape. The theater becomes a metaphor for the power of narratives to preserve history, evoke emotions, and create a shared reality, reinforcing her understanding of the importance of memory and imagination in human experience.3. Question 3
Describe the symbolic meaning of the wall in Shallan’s story and its significance within the narrative.
Answer:
The wall in Shallan’s story symbolizes boundaries—both physical and psychological—that separate the known from the unknown, safety from danger. It represents a barrier that keeps out the storms and “bad things,” but also serves as a limit to understanding or exploration. The girl’s fascination with the wall, despite the warnings, highlights a human tendency to seek knowledge and push beyond perceived limits, even when told it might be dangerous. Within the narrative, the wall underscores themes of curiosity, fear, and the desire for discovery. It also reflects the broader mystery of the world they inhabit—what lies beyond the walls, both literally and metaphorically—prompting reflection on how boundaries shape human perception and the risks involved in seeking truth.4. Question 4
In what ways does the chapter explore the themes of perception versus reality, especially through the descriptions of Urithiru and the storytelling elements?
Answer:
The chapter emphasizes the distinction between perception and reality through its descriptions of Urithiru as an incomprehensible, alien structure and the theater as a space of human imagination. Urithiru’s layers and geometry appear discordant and “wrong,” suggesting that what is perceived may not fully capture its true nature. Similarly, the theater scene illustrates how stories—these “group lies”—are constructed perceptions that help people understand their world, even if they are not entirely real. The girl’s fascination with the wall and her desire to see beyond it symbolize human curiosity about the unknown, despite warnings. Together, these elements highlight that perception is often shaped by limited understanding, and that reality may be more complex, mysterious, or beyond human grasp, encouraging critical reflection on how we interpret our surroundings.5. Question 5
How does the chapter use symbolism and imagery to evoke themes of childhood innocence, curiosity, and the passage of time?
Answer:
The chapter employs vivid imagery, such as the girl in the scarf dancing and the colorful sketches, to evoke a sense of childhood innocence and wonder. The red scarf, fluttering in a phantom wind, symbolizes freedom and imagination, while the depiction of children playing and exploring the wall reflects curiosity and the desire to understand the world. The theater, with its stage and storytelling, symbolizes a space of creativity and escape from the burdens of reality. The mention of memories—both lost and cherished—serves to underscore the passage of time and the fleeting nature of innocence. These images collectively create a poignant contrast between the innocence of childhood and the complex, often mysterious world of adulthood, emphasizing how curiosity and stories shape our understanding of life across different ages.
Quotes
1. “I will confess my murders before you. Most painfully, I have killed someone who loved me dearly.”
This haunting preface from the chapter underscores themes of guilt, confession, and the weight of past actions. It sets a tone of introspection and moral complexity that resonates throughout the narrative.
2. “Men had locked themselves in with their light, telling themselves that they’d conquered this ancient behemoth. But all they had were outposts in the darkness. Eternal, waiting darkness.”
This quote highlights the futility of human hubris in the face of the vast, unknowable depths of the world. It emphasizes that what humans perceive as conquest is often just an illusion of control over the unknown.
3. “A group lie? A wonderful, wonderful lie. A time when people all imagine together.”
Here, the chapter explores the concept of storytelling and shared imagination as a fundamental human experience, illustrating how collective lies or stories form the fabric of culture and understanding.
4. “The girl in the scarf played and danced, as girls do today. In fact, most things were the same then as they are today. Except for one big difference. The wall.”
This passage emphasizes the timelessness of human innocence and routine, contrasting it with the ominous presence of the wall—symbolic of barriers and the unknown—highlighting a pivotal element of the chapter’s reflection on history and myth.
5. “To keep out the storms,” she asked. “Why is there a wall?”
This dialogue encapsulates the central metaphor of the wall as a barrier against danger, illustrating humanity’s instinct to build defenses against chaos. It also signifies the human tendency to impose explanations for the unknown, often rooted in fear.