KKC Theory Wiki

Auri Is a Listener Who Perceives the True Nature of Things

plausible identity · popularity 85 · 1 source thread

Auri's intense attention to how objects feel marks her as a Listener, distinct from but related to Namers.

About: Auri

Also involves: Naming, Elodin, Kvothe, The Slow Regard of Silent Things, The Boy Who Stole the Moon, The Moon

The theory§

Drawing on The Slow Regard of Silent Things and the inset tale of the boy who stole the moon, this theory classifies Auri as a Listener: one who perceives the hidden feelings and true natures of objects. Her ceaseless attention to how things feel and behave, her care for what each object hides inside, and her avoidance of people who would speak over the things she listens to are taken as the marks of this perception, as is her love of music. The theory situates Listeners against Namers and Shapers, reading the University ranks E'lir, Re'lar and El'the as roughly the one who sees, the one who listens, and the one who speaks, with Auri's gift as a step prior to true naming. A counter holds that Auri does more than listen, since the gift she crafts for Kvothe transmutes objects rather than merely apprehending them, marking her as a Shaper or a full Namer. The claim that she especially gets along with Elodin is also disputed, since in the Haven scene she pointedly declares Kvothe nicer than him.

Evidence§

  • Auri is a Listener!! She always wants to know about things and finds things exciting because of what they hide inside.
    OP's core claim: Auri is a Listener attuned to what objects hide. — u/Maine_Dad
  • In the story about Auri she is always talking about how things feel and how they act like she hears them and knows their true feelings or personality.
    Evidence: her attention to how things feel marks listening to true natures. — u/Maine_Dad
  • It’s also why she stays away from people she doesn’t want them to speak over the things she listens to. It’s also why she loves music.
    Explains her avoidance of people and love of music as listening traits. — u/Maine_Dad
  • She also gets along with Elodin and Kvothe they are namers. They are more knowing of things than a listener because they know the names which makes them more powerful.
    Situates Listeners below Namers, who know names and are more powerful. — u/Maine_Dad
  • She could be one of the original namers as Felurian describes it, before the namers started forcing their will onto things.
    Refines: Auri as an original namer predating will-forcing naming. — u/emperorlobsterII
  • Given the ending I think she's does more than just Listen to objects.
    CounterCounter: the ending shows Auri doing more than merely listening. — u/Snojmaflo
  • She can transmute objects from one thing to another, that's some of the most powerful magic we have seen in the novels so far.
    CounterCounter: transmutation marks her as Shaper/Namer, not just Listener. — u/Wave_Existence
  • I think it's a stretch to say she gets along with Elodin. … "I expect Kvothe is a nicer person than I am." … "That goes without saying," Auri said primly.
    CounterCounter: disputes the Elodin rapport claim using the Haven scene. — u/Kit-Carson

Book refs: WMF, WMF ch 11, Slow Regard of Silent Things

Tier reasoning§

tier upgraded: Auri's listening behavior is pervasively shown in Slow Regard, making this a strong textual fit

Contributors§

Source threads§