Rhythm of War (9781429952040)
“Rhythm of War” is the fourth installment in Brandon Sanderson’s epic fantasy series, The Stormlight Archive. Set on the planet Roshar, the novel continues the conflict between Dalinar Kholin’s coalition of Knights Radiant and the forces of Odium, a malevolent god seeking dominion. The story delves deeper into the psychological and emotional struggles of key characters, including Kaladin, Shallan, and Navani, as they grapple with war, trauma, and the mysteries of ancient magics. Themes of resilience, identity, and the cost of power are explored amidst intricate world-building and high-stakes battles. The book expands the Cosmere universe, revealing new layers of lore and setting the stage for future confrontations.
80. The Dog and the Dragon
bySanderson, Brandon
The chapter opens with Kaladin trapped in a nightmarish realm where the wind, once his ally, now torments him with relentless hatred. Disoriented and broken, he recalls fragments of his past—climbing a tower to avoid abandoning his friends, hearing Dalinar’s voice, and ultimately succumbing to despair. The wind’s repeated whispers of “Hate” shatter his spirit, as it physically batters him against rocky crags. Kaladin’s anguish is compounded by visions of loved ones pleading for help, amplifying his guilt over leaving Syl, his spren companion, to suffer alone.
Kaladin struggles to navigate the desolate landscape, which resembles the Shattered Plains but is far more treacherous. The environment shifts unpredictably, with flashes of angry light and oppressive darkness disorienting him further. He searches desperately for shelter, but the wind’s violent reversals thwart his efforts, hurling him down slopes and scraping him against rocks. Despite his exhaustion, Kaladin refuses to give up, driven by an ingrained sense of duty. Yet, his resilience wanes as he questions how much longer he can endure.
A turning point occurs when Kaladin is blown into a chasm, where he glimpses a pure white light radiating warmth and peace. This vision reignites his will to survive, and he crawls toward it, defying the wind’s fury and his own broken body. The light represents hope, a stark contrast to the hatred surrounding him. However, as he nears his goal, the ground liquefies, pulling him down into crem—a cruel twist that threatens to consume him just as salvation seems within reach.
The chapter poignantly captures Kaladin’s internal and external battles, blending physical torment with psychological despair. His journey reflects themes of perseverance, guilt, and the search for redemption. The wind’s betrayal symbolizes his fractured connection to the world, while the fleeting light offers a glimpse of salvation. The cliffhanger ending leaves his fate uncertain, underscoring the relentless challenges he faces in his struggle to survive and reclaim his purpose.
FAQs
1. How does the chapter portray Kaladin’s psychological state, and what literary techniques are used to convey his turmoil?
Answer:
The chapter vividly depicts Kaladin’s fractured mental state through sensory imagery, personification, and stream-of-consciousness narration. The wind—once his ally—now personifies hatred, whispering “Hate. Hate. Hate” while physically assaulting him, symbolizing his internalized guilt and self-loathing (p. 908-909). Flashes of light and darkness mirror his instability, while hallucinations of loved ones (Teft, Moash, Lirin) manifest his unresolved trauma. The repetitive structure of his thoughts (“Keep. Moving.”) and physical deterioration (broken limbs, exhaustion) reinforce his psychological collapse. This techniques immerse readers in his despair while foreshadowing his pivotal choice: succumbing to the void or reaching for the mysterious light (p. 910).2. Analyze the significance of the chapter’s shifting narrative perspectives. How does the italicized opening contrast with Kaladin’s story?
Answer:
The chapter opens with an enigmatic italicized passage about Jezrien being trapped in a gemstone (p. 908), implying a cosmic, mythological perspective from the “singers” (likely the Fused). This contrasts sharply with Kaladin’s visceral first-person experience, creating thematic tension between eternal forces and individual suffering. While the singers boast of their millennia-spanning power (“seven thousand years”), Kaladin’s struggle is immediate and human—measured in broken bones and seconds of endurance. This juxtaposition highlights the novel’s broader theme: even in a world of gods and ancient conflicts, personal resilience (symbolized by Kaladin crawling toward light) remains transformative.3. What symbolic role does the chasm play in Kaladin’s journey, and how might it connect to broader themes in the Stormlight Archive?
Answer:
The chasm represents both Kaladin’s rock bottom and a crucible for transformation. His fall into it mirrors his emotional descent, yet the discovery of light at its depths suggests hope persists in darkness—a recurring motif in the series (e.g., Shallan’s repressed memories, Dalinar’s past). The chasm’s physicality (jagged rocks, liquid crem) reflects Roshar’s harsh ecology, tying personal struggle to environmental adaptation. Notably, Kaladin’s determination to crawl toward light despite broken limbs echoes Windrunner ideals of protecting others even when broken—foreshadowing his eventual recovery through Syl’s bond (p. 910). The chasm thus becomes a liminal space where identity is tested, paralleling the Knights Radiant’s ideological conflicts.4. How does the chapter subvert traditional hero tropes through Kaladin’s characterization?
Answer:
The chapter deconstructs heroism by portraying Kaladin’s vulnerability as his defining trait. Unlike archetypal heroes who overcome adversity through strength, Kaladin succeeds merely by enduring: he crawls with shattered limbs, hallucinates failures (abandoning Syl, p. 909), and questions his worth (“wasn’t allowed to give up”). His “victory” is ambiguous—reaching the light only to sink into crem—underscoring Brandon Sanderson’s theme that heroism lies in persistence, not triumph. Even his Stormlight-enhanced abilities are absent, emphasizing raw humanity. This subversion critiques toxic expectations of leaders (symbolized by Lirin’s imagined execution) and reframes resilience as a quiet, imperfect act.5. Predict how the light at the chasm’s end might influence Kaladin’s arc, using textual evidence to support your interpretation.
Answer:
The white light (p. 910) likely symbolizes Syl’s influence or a spiritual realm intervention. Its “pure” quality contrasts with the hateful wind, suggesting redemption—Kaladin weeps upon seeing it, indicating subconscious recognition. Given Syl’s earlier abandonment (p. 909), the light may represent their bond reasserting itself, as spren connections in the Stormlight Archive often manifest physically (e.g., Stormlight healing). Alternatively, it could foreshadow Cultivation’s involvement, as the light emits a “serene tone” distinct from the Stormfather’s rage. The crem swallowing Kaladin as he nears it mirrors rebirth imagery (sinking to rise anew), implying this moment will catalyze his eventual recovery in later chapters.
Quotes
1. “The singers first put Jezrien into a gemstone. They think they are clever, discovering they can trap us in those. It only took them seven thousand years.”
This opening line introduces a key mythological concept—the trapping of beings in gemstones—while establishing a tone of ancient wisdom and cyclical history. It hints at deeper lore about the singers and trapped entities.
2. “Kaladin existed in a place where the wind hated him.”
This stark statement encapsulates Kaladin’s psychological and physical torment throughout the chapter. The personification of the wind as hostile represents both his external struggle and internal crisis of identity.
3. “The worst part was the wind. The wind that hated him. It flayed him, slamming him against the rocks as he tried to find a hiding place to escape it.”
This extended metaphor powerfully conveys Kaladin’s complete alienation from what was once his source of comfort (the wind). The physical violence mirrors his emotional breakdown and loss of self.
4. “He lived on willpower alone. But what would happen when he ran out of strength? What would happen when he simply… couldn’t?”
This existential question represents the chapter’s central crisis—Kaladin confronting his limits. The broken syntax visually mirrors his fractured mental state at this pivotal moment.
5. “He needed to get to that light. Something real. Something that didn’t hate him.”
This climactic moment represents both literal and metaphorical salvation. The contrast between the hateful wind and welcoming light marks a turning point in Kaladin’s journey toward hope and healing.