Oathbringer
60. Winds and Oaths
by Sanderson, BrandonThe chapter opens with Kaladin reflecting on his concerns for his fellow Truthwatchers, highlighting a sense of unease within the group. The storm, although powerful and awe-inspiring, is not directly associated with Kaladin’s personal domain, emphasizing his lack of authority over natural forces like the highstorm. His recent experience fighting the Assassin in White has taken him close to the stormclouds, giving him a heightened awareness of its presence and significance. The storm’s swirling chaos below contrasts with the calm of the sky above, underscoring the duality of nature’s beauty and danger that Kaladin must navigate as he journeys toward Kholinar.
As they traverse the skies, the group is depicted flying amidst the storm’s turbulent patterns, with the vast stormwall receding behind them. Kaladin’s focus remains on his charges, especially King Elhokar and Shallan, whose contrasting attitudes toward the storm reveal their differing personalities. Shallan’s carefree joy and fascination with the wind serve as a stark contrast to Kaladin’s more serious demeanor. Her exuberance, despite her hidden wounds, demonstrates her resilience and ability to find happiness amid chaos. Kaladin’s internal struggle with his duties and his inability to fully embrace such carefree moments is subtly underscored, revealing his inner conflict and sense of responsibility.
The narrative delves into the technical aspects of flying and Stormlight use, illustrating Kaladin’s mastery in manipulating the wind and Lashings. His precise adjustments allow the group to stay coordinated and close, even as they approach Kholinar. Syl’s mental communication and her observations about Shallan’s affinity for the sky add a touch of levity and insight, emphasizing the bond between spren and humans. Kaladin’s efforts to maintain control and safety reflect his leadership and skill, even as he grapples with scientific mysteries like partial Lashings and their effects on weight and movement.
In the final moments, the group nears Kholinar, with the storm visibly receding and their connection to the stormlight diminishing. The characters’ banter about mundane concerns like shoes and lunch injects humor into the scene, contrasting the grandeur of their journey with everyday worries. Shallan’s musings on art and failure serve as a philosophical reflection on the nature of creativity and growth, tying back to her resilience and the broader theme of perseverance amid adversity. The chapter concludes with a sense of anticipation and the acknowledgment of the storm’s power, both natural and symbolic, as the group prepares to face the challenges ahead.
FAQs
-
1. Question 1
How does Kaladin perceive the storm and its relationship to him, and what does this reveal about his sense of authority and connection to natural forces?
Answer:
Kaladin recognizes that the storm does not belong to him; he claims the skies and the winds to an extent, but acknowledges that highstorms are like a foreign country where he has limited authority. This perception shows that he feels a personal connection to the wind but also understands its immense power and independence from him. His experience of traveling within the storm during his fight against the Assassin in White indicates a sense of respect and humility toward natural forces. This nuanced view reveals Kaladin’s recognition of his limitations and the importance of respecting natural phenomena beyond human control, highlighting his humility and the complex relationship between individual power and nature.2. Question 2
What does the chapter suggest about Shallan’s attitude toward flying and her emotional state during the journey?
Answer:
Shallan exhibits a carefree and joyful attitude toward flying, as evidenced by her smiling, arms outstretched, and her white leggings fluttering in the wind. Her behavior—waving at windspren, feeling the wind with her hands, and grinning—demonstrates her sense of wonder and exhilaration. Her ability to find happiness and to ignore her wounds suggests a resilient, optimistic outlook, even amid difficult circumstances. This joyful expression contrasts with Kaladin’s more serious demeanor and highlights her capacity to find moments of lightness and beauty despite underlying struggles. Her joy indicates a natural affinity for the sky and wind, almost making her seem like a spren herself, which Syl comments on positively.3. Question 3
Explain the concept of Lashings as described in the chapter and how Kaladin uses them differently from traditional understanding.
Answer:
Lashings are a Surgebinding ability that allows a person to manipulate gravity and movement by applying Stormlight to themselves or others. Traditionally, Lashings are thought to influence the entire body, pulling or pushing it in a specified direction relative to the ground. However, Kaladin’s experience reveals that once a basic Lashing is applied, the body “forgets” the pull of the ground, causing the individual to fall in the direction of the Lashing. Partial Lashings, like the half Lashing upward, make a person weightless by making part of their body ignore gravity. Kaladin uses these Lashings creatively, often replacing forward Lashings with upward ones to control movement and create a kind of flowing current around the group, which is a more nuanced and less straightforward application than the standard understanding.4. Question 4
Discuss the significance of the storm and sky imagery in the chapter, especially in relation to Kaladin’s internal state and his role as a Windrunner.
Answer:
The storm and sky imagery serve as metaphors for freedom, power, and the natural forces beyond human control. Kaladin’s admiration for the storm’s beauty and his careful attention to its patterns reflect a recognition of the awe-inspiring and uncontrollable aspects of nature. His role as a Windrunner—someone who can manipulate the wind—places him in a unique relationship with these forces. The storm represents both a literal and symbolic arena where Kaladin’s powers are rooted, and his humility in acknowledging the storm’s authority mirrors his internal struggles with his sense of agency and responsibility. The sky imagery underscores his connection to freedom and the idea that, despite his abilities, he remains humble before the vast, wild power of the natural world.5. Question 5
How does the chapter illustrate the contrast between Kaladin’s sense of duty and his personal desires, particularly in his interactions with Syl and Shallan?
Answer:
The chapter highlights Kaladin’s internal conflict between duty and personal longing. His concern for his fellow Truthwatchers and his focus on safety and responsibility contrast with Syl’s more playful and emotionally expressive nature, which encourages him to relax and enjoy the sky. Syl’s teasing about Kaladin’s looks and her insistence that he needs to be with people reveal her understanding of his need for connection and happiness beyond his duties. Similarly, Shallan’s carefree joy and her ability to find beauty in flying reflect her resilience and desire for freedom, which Kaladin recognizes but feels he cannot fully indulge due to his responsibilities. This contrast underscores Kaladin’s ongoing struggle to reconcile his sense of obligation with personal fulfillment and emotional well-being.
Quotes
1. “The storm did not belong to Kaladin.”
This opening line emphasizes Kaladin’s recognition of the storm’s independence from his personal authority, illustrating the theme of human humility in the face of natural and larger forces.
2. “There was a mesmerizing beauty to the storm’s churning patterns, and Kaladin had to forcibly keep his attention on his charges.”
This quote captures the awe-inspiring power of the storm, contrasting its destructive nature with its captivating beauty, while highlighting Kaladin’s need to remain focused on his responsibilities amidst chaos.
3. “Once you used a Basic Lashing on someone, their body completely forgot about the pull of the ground, and they fell in the direction you indicated. Partial Lashings worked by making part of the person’s weight forget the ground, though the rest continued to be pulled downward.”
This passage introduces a key concept of the chapter—Lashing mechanics—explaining how the magic system functions and setting the stage for the strategic use of Stormlight in flight.
4. “So long as I can continue to watch it from a safe distance,” Adolin said. He held Kaladin’s arm to keep from drifting away.”
This quote reflects the appreciation for the storm’s beauty paired with a desire for safety, illustrating the tension between admiration and caution that characters feel during their flight through the storm.
5. “Artists spend more of their lives making bad practice pieces than they do masterworks, particularly at the start. And even when an artist becomes a master, some pieces don’t work out.”
Here, Shallan offers insight into the nature of art and growth, emphasizing that failure and experimentation are integral to mastery—a metaphor that resonates with the chapter’s themes of effort, risk, and perseverance.