Rhythm of War (9781429952040)
I‑6. A Boon and a Curse
by Sanderson, BrandonThe chapter delves into Taravangian’s internal conflict as he grapples with his fluctuating intelligence and compassion. Isolated in a stormwagon, he reflects on his dual nature: his brilliant but emotionally detached self and his current, more empathetic but intellectually limited state. He hesitates to execute Odium’s orders to betray the coalition, clinging to the faint hope that his intervention might not be needed. His physical frailty mirrors his emotional turmoil, as he struggles with the weight of his past decisions, particularly his failed attempt to break Dalinar Kholin.
Taravangian retrieves a hidden fragment of the Diagram, a cryptic plan he created during a rare moment of intelligence. As he reviews the notes, he confronts the moral ambiguity of his actions—preserving Kharbranth at the expense of humanity. The document, intended to dismantle Dalinar, now fills him with shame and regret. He questions whether his brilliance was truly a boon, as it lacked the compassion to understand the human cost of his schemes. The exhaustionspren and shamespren surrounding him symbolize his inner exhaustion and guilt.
The chapter highlights Taravangian’s paradoxical existence: his intelligent self sees solutions but lacks empathy, while his compassionate self feels the pain of his choices but lacks the intellect to change them. He mourns the lives sacrificed for his pragmatic, yet flawed, vision of salvation. His earlier confidence in Odium’s inevitability wavers as he confronts the limitations of his own genius. The fragment of the Diagram, once a source of pride, now serves as a painful reminder of his moral compromises.
In a moment of introspection, Taravangian fixates on a cryptic note about Renarin Kholin, whom the Diagram could not foresee. This anomaly, dismissed by his intelligent self, now intrigues his more emotional counterpart. The chapter ends with Taravangian’s unresolved tension between his roles as a strategist and a remorseful leader, hinting at deeper mysteries surrounding Renarin and Odium’s plans. His struggle epitomizes the tragic duality of his existence—caught between brilliance and compassion, neither fully reconciling the other.
FAQs
1. How does Taravangian’s intelligence fluctuate, and what are the emotional consequences of these fluctuations?
Answer:
Taravangian experiences extreme fluctuations in his cognitive abilities, ranging from brilliant intelligence to profound simplicity. When highly intelligent, he becomes emotionally detached, viewing human connections as irrelevant, and is capable of ruthless calculations (like planning Dalinar’s downfall). In contrast, his less intelligent states are marked by deep compassion and emotional vulnerability, causing him to weep over his past actions. The chapter highlights his internal conflict—smart Taravangian sees compassion as a weakness, while dumb Taravangian questions whether the true curse is his inability to balance intelligence with empathy. This duality leaves him tormented, as neither state provides a complete understanding of his moral choices.2. What is the significance of the Diagram, and why does Taravangian keep a hidden fragment of it?
Answer:
The Diagram is a masterplan created by Taravangian during his peak intelligence seven years prior, designed to save humanity (or at least a remnant) from Odium’s destruction. The hidden fragment he retains contains critical instructions, including the failed plot to undermine Dalinar by exposing his secrets. Taravangian preserves this section because it represents his last intelligent attempt to influence events, even though it ultimately strengthened Dalinar’s resolve. The fragment also includes puzzling notes about Renarin Kholin’s invisibility to the Diagram’s predictions, hinting at deeper mysteries. This secret document symbolizes Taravangian’s lingering hope—or desperation—to fulfill his original mission despite his declining capabilities.3. Analyze the symbolic role of spren in this chapter. How do they reflect Taravangian’s emotional and physical state?
Answer:
The spren in this chapter serve as visual manifestations of Taravangian’s turmoil. Exhaustionspren swirl around him, mirroring his physical and mental fatigue as he agonizes over Odium’s orders. When he reads his past plans, shamespren (white petals) appear, underscoring his guilt over betraying humanity. Later, painspren and the ominous “blackness creeping at his vision” (akin to deathspren) emphasize his deteriorating health and mortality. These spren externalize his internal conflict—between the cold logic of his smart self and the anguish of his compassionate self—making his suffering tangible to the reader.4. Why does Taravangian hesitate to give the order to betray the coalition, and what does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
Taravangian hesitates because Odium has not yet arrived to confirm the plan, leaving room for doubt. This hesitation stems from his current “dumb” state—his compassion makes him recoil at the mass betrayal, whereas his smart self would have acted without remorse. The delay reveals his fractured identity: he is torn between his pragmatic alliance with Odium (to save Kharbranth) and his lingering empathy for those he condemns. His physical frailty (struggling to kneel, dizziness) parallels this moral weakness, showing a man who once played god now reduced to fearful indecision.5. How does the chapter explore the theme of “a boon and a curse”? Provide specific examples.
Answer:
The title’s theme is central to Taravangian’s existence. His boon (from the Nightwatcher) grants him extreme intelligence, but the curse is its inconsistency and emotional void. For example, his brilliant plan to manipulate Dalinar succeeded in forcing Odium’s deal but backfired by strengthening Dalinar’s leadership. Conversely, his compassionate self sees the horror of his actions but lacks the intellect to change them. The chapter questions which trait is truly the curse—his inability to feel when smart, or his inability to act when dumb. His lament—”was the curse that he could never have both at once?“—captures the tragic irony of his divided nature.
Quotes
1. “Smart Taravangian hated company. Smart Taravangian forgot the point of being around other people. Smart Taravangian was terrifying, but he would gladly have been that version of himself today. He would have welcomed the emotional anesthesia.”
This quote encapsulates Taravangian’s internal conflict between his intelligent and emotional states. It highlights the tragic duality of his existence - while his intelligent self is cold and calculating, his current emotional state brings painful awareness of his actions and their consequences.
2. “He’d been given a boon and a curse. Intelligence on one side. Compassion on the other. When smart, he assumed the compassion was the curse. But was it really? Or was the curse that he could never have both at once?”
This pivotal reflection questions the nature of Taravangian’s blessing/curse dichotomy. It represents the chapter’s central theme of the tension between ruthless efficiency and human empathy, suggesting the true tragedy may be the inability to integrate these qualities.
3. “Smart Taravangian knew the how but not the why. Dumb Taravangian didn’t make connections, didn’t remember things quickly, couldn’t compute in his head.”
This concise contrast perfectly captures Taravangian’s dual nature. It explains why his brilliant plans often lack moral consideration, while his compassionate self lacks the capacity to implement better solutions - a key insight into his character’s tragic flaw.
4. “All this, he thought, to save a handful of people? He’d preserved Kharbranth by selling out the rest of humankind.”
This moment of painful self-awareness shows Taravangian questioning his life’s work. The quote reveals the moral cost of his utilitarian calculations and sets up his later doubts about the Diagram’s limitations, marking a turning point in his internal conflict.
5. “Why specifically can’t the Diagram see Renarin Kholin? Why is he invisible?”
This mysterious question introduces an important plot element while demonstrating how Taravangian’s different states approach problems. His intelligent self dismisses what it can’t solve, while his emotional self recognizes the significance of this anomaly, hinting at future revelations.