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.
85. Dabbid
bySanderson, Brandon
The chapter delves into the perspective of Dabbid, a character who has always been “different” due to cognitive and developmental challenges. From childhood, he struggled with speech, memory, and social understanding, often misunderstood by those around him. His mother’s death exacerbated his isolation, leading to mistreatment and eventual conscription into war. Despite his struggles, Dabbid finds solace in Bridge Four, where Kaladin Stormblessed accepts him without judgment, offering a sense of belonging he had never experienced before.
Dabbid reflects on his past, including his attempts to understand his own differences, such as mimicking the umbilical cord incident from his birth. He grapples with societal labels like “stupid,” rejecting the term as a choice rather than an inherent trait. His silence in Bridge Four becomes a way to blend in, masking his true nature to avoid further alienation. However, his inability to attract a spren like his peers reinforces his feelings of otherness, even as he finds purpose in helping his newfound family.
The narrative shifts to Dabbid’s present actions, as he guides Rlain through the tower’s tunnels to rescue Kaladin. His internal monologue reveals guilt over past failures and deception, but he focuses on contributing where he can. The arrival of Lift, a quirky and resourceful ally, adds levity to the tense mission. Her casual demeanor contrasts with Rlain’s urgency, highlighting the diverse dynamics within their group.
The chapter concludes with Dabbid’s quiet determination to prove his worth, despite his insecurities. His interactions with Lift and Rlain underscore his desire for acceptance and his struggle to reconcile his identity. The tower’s mysterious communication with him hints at untapped potential, leaving room for growth. Dabbid’s journey is one of resilience, illustrating how difference can be both a burden and a source of strength.
FAQs
1. How does Dabbid’s perception of his own “difference” evolve throughout the chapter, and what key experiences shape this evolution?
Answer:
Dabbid initially accepts being “different” as a neutral fact—something his mother acknowledged without judgment. His early experiences (like the rope incident) teach him that others perceive his differences as threatening or stupid. The pivotal shift occurs when he joins Bridge Four, where his trauma-induced silence masks his congenital differences, allowing him to feel accepted as “Bridge Four different” rather than “Dabbid different.” This reveals his nuanced understanding of identity: difference isn’t inherently negative, but societal reactions can make it so. His decision to finally speak to Rlain and help rescue Kaladin marks his acceptance of his unique strengths, showing growth from shame to self-affirmation.2. Analyze the symbolic significance of Dabbid’s rope experiment and how it reflects broader themes of misunderstanding and trauma.
Answer:
Dabbid’s act of wrapping a rope around his neck to understand his birth trauma symbolizes his literal, experiential way of processing the world—a stark contrast to how others interpret it as suicidal. This mirrors the chapter’s theme of how trauma manifests differently across individuals. Where outsiders see recklessness, Dabbid seeks empathy with his past self. The overreaction (confiscating ropes) highlights society’s tendency to pathologize neurodivergence instead of listening. Later, his wartime trauma (e.g., interpreting clapping as bowstrings) parallels this: his mind processes sensory input uniquely, but Bridge Four’s acceptance creates space for his perspective to coexist without fear.3. How does the chapter use Dabbid’s perspective to critique societal attitudes toward cognitive differences?
Answer:
Through Dabbid’s internal monologue, the chapter critiques reductive labels like “stupid,” which conflate innate differences with moral failings. His insight—”Stupid was a choice. Different wasn’t”—challenges the assumption that slower processing equals inferiority. The narrative contrasts two models of disability: the medical model (surgeons framing his difference as an unfixable flaw) versus the social model (Bridge Four’s focus on shared trauma, which inadvertently accommodates him). The brightlady’s lie—using Dabbid as a scapegoat—further illustrates how power structures exploit cognitive differences to maintain control, emphasizing that the real “disability” lies in societal exclusion, not individual neurology.4. What role does silence play in Dabbid’s journey, both as a survival strategy and a barrier to connection?
Answer:
Silence begins as a practical shield: Dabbid learns that speaking reveals his differences, leading to mistreatment (e.g., post-mother’s death). During bridge runs, his muteness stems from trauma, but in Bridge Four, it becomes a protective camouflage—allowing him to pass as “trauma-different” rather than “congenitally different.” This duality shows silence as both adaptive and isolating. His breakthrough comes when he chooses to speak to Rlain, trading safety for authenticity. The tower’s voice—a counterpoint to his silence—hints that his neurodivergence may grant unique abilities, reframing silence not as deficiency but as a transitional state toward self-actualization.5. How does Dabbid’s relationship with Kaladin and Bridge Four redefine his understanding of belonging?
Answer:
Kaladin’s unconditional rescue (“He hadn’t cared that Dabbid was different”) offers Dabbid his first experience of belonging based on shared humanity rather than performance of normality. Bridge Four’s bond over trauma creates accidental inclusivity—their focus on combat stress masks Dabbid’s pre-existing differences, allowing him to participate without scrutiny. This unintentional acceptance is bittersweet; Dabbid hides his true self yet gains genuine camaraderie. His eventual contribution to Kaladin’s rescue completes this arc: by acting despite fear, he proves belonging isn’t contingent on conformity. The group’s ignorance of his past becomes irrelevant—their loyalty transcends understanding, modeling a community where difference isn’t erased but rendered incidental to solidarity.
Quotes
1. “He was different. That was the word his mother had used. ‘Different.’ He liked that word. It didn’t try to pretend. Something was different about him.”
This quote encapsulates Dabbid’s self-awareness and acceptance of his neurodivergence. It introduces the central theme of the chapter—his lived experience as someone perceived as “other” in a society that misunderstands him.
2. “He often got into trouble like that. Doing things others wouldn’t do. Not understanding it would make people panic. He had to be very careful not to make regular people frightened. They liked to be scared of him. He did not know why.”
This passage highlights the painful social dynamics Dabbid navigates, where his natural behaviors are misinterpreted as threatening. It reveals how societal norms punish neurodivergence through fear and exclusion.
3. “Dabbid wasn’t a mistake. He could make mistakes. Then he was stupid. But not always. He couldn’t think fast like others. But that made him different, not stupid. Stupid was a choice.”
A powerful assertion of self-worth that challenges ableist language. Dabbid draws a crucial distinction between inherent cognitive differences (his neurodivergence) and momentary errors (human fallibility).
4. “That way they wouldn’t know. That way they wouldn’t realize he was Dabbid different. He could just be Bridge Four different.”
This reveals Dabbid’s strategy of masking his neurodivergence to find belonging. The contrast between “Dabbid different” (inherent) and “Bridge Four different” (acquired through trauma) shows how context shapes acceptance of difference.
5. “He tried not to think about how he’d lied to the others by pretending he couldn’t speak. He tried to focus on what he could do to help.”
A turning point where Dabbid moves from self-preservation through concealment to active participation. This shows his growing agency and the chapter’s progression toward self-acceptance and contribution.