White Gold Wielder
Chapter 19: Part Two — Nineteen: Hold Possession
by Donaldson, Stephen R.The chapter depicts Linden Avery’s harrowing possession by the Raver, moksha Jehannum, which strips her of autonomy and forces her to endure its malevolent laughter and memories. Though the laughter emanates from her body, it is not her own; the Raver has fully usurped her will, leaving her a prisoner within herself. The violation is profound, as the Raver’s evil permeates every aspect of her being, exposing her to its ancient hatred and corrupting influence. Linden’s past vulnerabilities and traumas, including her father’s suicide and her mother’s death, resurface, reinforcing her sense of complicity in the evil now controlling her.
The Raver’s history merges with Linden’s consciousness, forcing her to relive its atrocities as if they were her own. She recalls its manipulation of Marid, its betrayal of Nassic, and its role in leading the Despiser’s armies as Fleshharrower. These memories blur the line between her identity and the Raver’s, plunging her into guilt and despair. The chapter underscores the Raver’s relentless hunger for retribution, with Linden’s suffering serving as a small but satisfying token of its vengeance. Despite her helplessness, she remains acutely aware of Covenant’s presence, witnessing his broken yet defiant state as he offers to surrender the ring to Lord Foul.
Linden faces a critical choice: to retreat into unconsciousness and escape the torment or to cling to her identity and endure. The Raver encourages her to let go, as her resistance only amplifies its pleasure. Yet Linden refuses, drawing strength from past moments of agency, such as her defiance in the cavern of the One Tree and the Hall of Gifts. She recognizes that even in powerlessness, her awareness matters—especially for Covenant, who now stands on the brink of madness. Her refusal to surrender becomes an act of defiance, though she lacks the means to intervene directly.
The chapter culminates in Linden’s resolve to remain conscious, despite the agony, because Covenant still needs her—even if only as a witness. Her internal struggle highlights the themes of choice and resilience in the face of overwhelming evil. Though the Raver’s control is absolute, Linden’s refusal to relinquish her identity underscores her growth from past helplessness to a tenuous but determined resistance. The chapter leaves her trapped in a nightmarish duality, caught between the Raver’s dominion and her unwavering, if futile, commitment to fight.
FAQs
1. What is the nature of Linden Avery’s possession by the Raver, and how does it affect her sense of self?
Answer:
Linden Avery is completely possessed by the Raver, moksha Jehannum, which dominates her body and mind, stripping her of autonomy. The Raver uses her physical form—her lungs, throat, and limbs—to express its malevolent joy, while Linden remains trapped as a helpless observer. This possession violates her spirit, akin to rape, and forces her to experience the Raver’s memories and evil as if they were her own. The chapter emphasizes her loss of identity and agency, as she struggles to retain any semblance of self amidst the Raver’s overwhelming control. Despite this, she clings to her consciousness, refusing to surrender entirely.2. How does the chapter explore the theme of evil through Linden’s internal conflict?
Answer:
The chapter portrays evil as an all-consuming force that corrupts from within. Linden’s possession by the Raver forces her to confront her own vulnerabilities to darkness, as she relives the Raver’s past atrocities—such as the murder of Nassic and the manipulation of Marid—as if she committed them herself. The text suggests that Linden, unlike the innocent Land, bears a capacity for evil, stemming from her traumatic past (e.g., her father’s suicide and her mother’s death). This internal conflict highlights the blurred line between external corruption and personal guilt, as Linden grapples with the Raver’s influence and her own moral paralysis.3. Analyze Covenant’s state of mind in this chapter. How does his behavior reflect his internal struggle?
Answer:
Covenant appears broken yet fiercely determined, his sanity eroded by the Banefire’s effects. His physical state—bruised, exhausted, and with a damaged arm—mirrors his psychological torment. Despite his near-prostration, his eyes gleam with a mad intensity, and he demands to be taken to Lord Foul, offering the ring in a seeming surrender. This moment reflects not despair but a reckless, sacrificial resolve, possibly born of desperation or a deeper strategy. His gaze piercing through Linden’s possessed form suggests an unspoken connection, hinting that his actions may be a gambit to reach her or defy Foul.4. What significance does Linden’s refusal to relinquish consciousness hold in the broader narrative?
Answer:
Linden’s refusal to retreat into mindlessness symbolizes her growth and resilience. Unlike past failures (e.g., her paralysis during Joan’s crisis or Marid’s corruption), she now clings to her identity, drawing strength from her prior experiences of wielding power (e.g., in the cavern of the One Tree). Her choice to remain conscious, despite the agony, underscores her commitment to Covenant and her refusal to abandon him, even if she cannot physically act. This moment foreshadows her potential to resist the Raver’s control and play a pivotal role in the conflict ahead.5. How does the Raver’s laughter serve as a metaphor for Linden’s trauma?
Answer:
The Raver’s laughter embodies Linden’s unresolved trauma, echoing her father’s manic laughter and her mother’s suffocation. It represents the inescapable cycle of pain and guilt that has haunted her life, now magnified by possession. The laughter is not hers but a grotesque imposition, symbolizing how trauma distorts identity and agency. By contrasting her silent suffering with the Raver’s glee, the chapter illustrates how evil exploits personal history, turning past wounds into instruments of torment. This metaphor reinforces the psychological horror of her possession.
Quotes
1. “But she was not laughing. It was not Linden Avery who laughed. It was the Raver.”
This chilling moment reveals the complete possession of Linden Avery by the malevolent entity moksha Jehannum, establishing the chapter’s central conflict of spiritual violation and loss of autonomy.
2. “She was a prisoner in her own body and the Raver’s evil. And that evil excoriated every niche and nerve of her being.”
This quote powerfully conveys the horror of Linden’s possession, describing both the physical imprisonment and the psychological torment inflicted by the Raver’s corruption.
3. “All her life, she had been vulnerable to this… The Land was innocent. She was evil.”
A pivotal self-realization where Linden confronts her perceived inherent darkness, contrasting with the Land’s purity and revealing her deep psychological wounds.
4. “She refused it. With the only passion and strength that remained to her, she refused it.”
This turning point shows Linden’s crucial decision to resist complete surrender to the Raver, demonstrating her emerging inner strength despite overwhelming odds.
5. “Power: the ability to make choices that mattered. Power which came from no external source, but only from her own intense self.”
This insight defines Linden’s hard-won understanding of true power as internal agency, contrasting with external magical forces and setting up her character’s development.