Oathbringer
62. Research
by Sanderson, BrandonThe chapter opens with a tone of resistance and secrecy, highlighting the tension surrounding the abandonment of the tower, which is met with protests and a sense of urgency. The city is depicted as a place overflowing with secrets, so much so that they threaten to spill out. Shallan, the protagonist, grapples with her own internal struggles and the difficulty of confronting these hidden truths. Her internal conflict is symbolized by her attempt to physically hurt herself, a desperate act to feel something tangible amidst the chaos of her thoughts and the surrounding political upheaval.
The narrative then shifts to a detailed scene in a tailor’s shop, where key characters—King Elhokar, Adolin, Kaladin, and a local tailor—are engaged in a tense discussion about recent political turmoil and the mysterious death of an ardent. The conversation reveals the fragile state of the city’s leadership and the widespread unrest caused by the queen’s actions and the influence of dark spren. The dialogue emphasizes the complexity of the political landscape, with accusations of dark spren manipulation and the queen’s disappearance during the riots, illustrating the precarious balance of power and trust.
Shallan’s perspective provides insight into her mental state and her methods for coping with the chaos. She secretly injures herself with scissors to induce pain, a method that allows her to access visions of the spren—twisted, sinewy, and disturbing—symbolizing her confrontation with her own inner darkness and the unsettling truths she seeks to uncover. Her act of self-harm is a desperate attempt to connect with her perceptions and gain clarity, using her ability to heal and her sketching skills to process the trauma and chaos around her.
The chapter concludes with a broader view of the political and environmental turmoil affecting Kholinar, including strange weather phenomena and the retreat of the palace guard. Yokska, the tailor, recounts the escalating unrest, including the queen’s erratic proclamations and the mysterious absence of the guards. The narrative underscores the pervasive sense of gloom and disorder, with the dark spren’s influence suspected to be at play. Through these details, the chapter paints a vivid picture of a city on the brink, grappling with secrets, betrayal, and the shadows cast by unseen forces.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the theme of secrets in this chapter, and how does it influence the characters’ actions and the overall mood?
Answer:
The theme of secrets is central to this chapter, highlighting the city’s atmosphere of concealment and hidden truths. The city is described as being “stuffed” with secrets that “ooze out,” emphasizing how pervasive and uncontrollable these hidden matters are. For the characters, secrets drive their actions—Shallan’s desire to uncover or hide truths influences her behavior, such as her secret self-harm and her sketching of the painspren. The atmosphere is tense and uncertain, reflecting how secrets contribute to the chaos and mistrust within the city, especially amid political upheaval and unrest. This theme underscores the idea that secrets can cause misunderstandings, unrest, and personal struggles, shaping both individual and societal dynamics.2. How does Shallan’s act of self-harm and her interaction with the painspren reflect her mental state and approach to dealing with emotional pain?
Answer:
Shallan’s act of stabbing herself with scissors and her subsequent reaction reveal her complex mental state, characterized by internal conflict and a desire to confront her pain. Her willingness to hurt herself intentionally indicates a struggle with emotional distress and a need for control or release. The appearance of the painspren—particularly the distorted, monster-like form—symbolizes her inner turmoil and the abnormal ways she copes with her feelings. Her acknowledgment that the pain was the point (“That was the point”) shows she is using physical pain as a means to manage or validate her emotional suffering. This behavior suggests a fragile mental state, where she uses self-harm as a temporary outlet to process or externalize her internal struggles, often hidden from others.3. In what ways does the chapter illustrate the political and social instability in the city, and what role do the characters’ observations play in revealing this unrest?
Answer:
The chapter depicts a city in turmoil through detailed descriptions of the riots, the queen’s disappearance, and the unrest among the populace. Yokska’s account of the queen’s actions—vanishing during the riots, writing confusing proclamations, and her condemnation—highlight the chaos and lack of clarity in leadership. The retreat of the palace guards into the palace and the barricading of the city watch further emphasize the breakdown of order. The mention of the dark spren controlling the palace and the storm with red lightning creates an ominous atmosphere, symbolizing the underlying instability and supernatural influence. The characters’ observations—such as Elhokar’s concern about the queen’s state and Yokska’s descriptions—serve as windows into the broader societal unrest, revealing a city on the brink of collapse and a monarchy struggling to maintain control.4. How does the chapter use symbolism—such as the storm, the dark spren, and the elaborate clothing—to enhance the narrative’s themes?
Answer:
The storm, especially the one with red lightning, symbolizes chaos, upheaval, and the tumult affecting the city and its ruling structures. It creates a foreboding mood, representing the turbulent times and the uncertainty that pervades the narrative. The dark spren symbolize unseen influences and the hidden forces controlling the palace and possibly the city’s fate, emphasizing themes of unseen manipulation and the importance of understanding beneath the surface. The elaborate clothing, with its bright colors, gold and silver threads, and intricate embroidery, contrast with the chaos, representing the veneer of civility, wealth, and tradition that masks the underlying unrest. Together, these symbols deepen the reader’s understanding of a society fraught with hidden dangers, political intrigue, and supernatural influences.5. How might Shallan’s use of her sketchpad and her act of drawing the twisted painspren serve as tools for her personal growth or problem-solving in this chapter?
Answer:
Shallan’s sketching serves as both a coping mechanism and a method of understanding her inner turmoil. By drawing the twisted painspren, she externalizes her fears and pain, turning internal chaos into a visual form that can be examined and processed. This act allows her to confront her emotional distress in a controlled manner, aiding her mental clarity. Additionally, her use of the sketchpad aligns with her tendency to analyze and understand complex situations visually, which can lead to insights about herself and her environment. The chapter suggests that her artistic practice is an important tool for self-awareness and problem-solving, helping her manage her internal struggles while also gathering information about the supernatural elements at play.
Quotes
1. “Secrets. This city was brimming with them. It was stuffed with them, so tightly they couldn’t help but ooze out.”
This opening statement underscores the central theme of the chapter—the pervasive presence of secrets in Kholinar and their role in fueling intrigue, unrest, and hidden truths. It sets the tone for the chapter’s exploration of concealment and revelation.
2. “Secrets caused all of this.”
Shallan’s reflection highlights the chapter’s core insight—that the proliferation and mishandling of secrets are directly responsible for the chaos, violence, and instability depicted. It emphasizes the destructive power of hidden truths.
3. “She pressed her hand against it to limit its spread. There! That had done it. Painspren appeared around her, as if crawling out of the ground—like little disembodied hands. They looked skinless, made of sinew. Normally they were bright orange, but these were a sickly green. And they were also wrong… instead of human hands, these seemed to be from some kind of monster—too distorted, with claws jutting from the sinew.”
This vivid description illustrates Shallan’s internal struggle and her willingness to inflict pain on herself as a means of confronting and controlling her mental and emotional turmoil. It also introduces the disturbing imagery of the painspren, symbolizing her inner darkness and conflict.
4. “Dark spren, obviously, who gave the actual order,” Elhokar said. “The dark spren that is controlling the palace. My wife would never be so imprudent as to publicly execute an ardent during such parlous times.”
This quote reveals the suspicion that malevolent spren influence political and personal decisions, hinting at the deeper forces manipulating events within the palace. It underscores the chapter’s exploration of unseen, supernatural control over human affairs.
5. “Secrets, Shallan thought. Secrets caused all of this.”
Reiterating the chapter’s main thesis, this reflection emphasizes how the concealment and revelation of secrets are intertwined with the chaos and tragedy unfolding in the story. It encapsulates the moral and thematic core of the chapter’s narrative arc.