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Auri Made a Name for Kvothe, Turning Him Into Kote

plausible mechanism · popularity 198 · 2 source threads

Auri, a hidden master Namer, 'makes a name' for Kvothe in Slow Regard, renaming him Kote to protect him.

About: Auri, Kvothe

Also involves: Naming, The Underthing, The Cthaeh, The Slow Regard of Silent Things, The Lackless Box, The Moon, Elodin

The theory§

This theory argues that Auri is a hidden master namer — she holds a true name for every place in the Underthing — and that The Slow Regard of Silent Things depicts her preparing to give Kvothe a new name. Its climactic line, 'she would bring forth all her desire... she would call up all her cunning and her craft. Then she would make a name for him,' is read not as ordinary affection but as a namer's act: Auri, believing she is protecting him, renames Kvothe as Kote, possibly sealing his true name away in his thrice-locked chest, which could account for his apparent loss of power in the frame. The danger of the act is underscored by Elodin's reaction when Kvothe asks what he would think of someone who keeps changing their own name — he sits up with wild, panicked eyes ('What have you done?') before relaxing in tangible relief when he learns Kvothe only means calling names. Auri's adherence to 'the proper way' of moving through the world is taken as the careful method by which such a renaming would be performed. The reading runs against the direct statement that Kvothe chose the name Kote himself, having selected it carefully on coming to the Waystone, with Kote tied by Kilvin to 'Chan Vaen edan Kote,' 'expect disaster every seven years' — though this can be reconciled if Kvothe tucked that word away to use, or if Auri's gift was to work wonders in his name rather than to rename him outright.

Evidence§

  • Auri is one of the more powerful people in the series being a master namer, we see it in how she has a name for every place in the Underthing.
    OP's foundational claim: Auri is a master namer. — u/Tea-Steeper
  • She also references it a little in lines like, "She would simply have to take her time and do things the proper way." This means that there is a "right" way of moving through the world
    Auri's 'proper way' read as the careful method of renaming. — u/Tea-Steeper
  • she would bring forth all her desire. She would call up all her cunning and her craft. Then she would make a name for him.
    The climactic TSRoST line read as a namer's act for Kvothe. — u/Tea-Steeper
  • I think Auri's role of going to give Kvothe a new name. Or, what I really think, is seal away Kvothe's real name in his Thrice Locked Chest. I mean... the foreshadowing has been in plain sight. Kvothe to Kote.
    OP's core thesis: Auri renames/seals Kvothe, Kvothe to Kote. — u/Tea-Steeper
  • What if Kvothe didn't change his name, but instead Auri changed his name thinking she was protecting him?
    Second thread reframes: Auri renames him to protect him. — u/the_wombattler
  • “What?” He sat up suddenly, his eyes wild and panicked. “What have you done?” … “Oh,” Elodin said, relaxing. … “Calling names,” he said with tangible relief.
    Elodin's panic shows changing a true name is dangerous. — u/the_wombattler
  • Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought it mentions in NoTW that he chose the name Kote himself … He called himself Kote. He had chosen the name carefully when he came to this place.
    CounterCounter: the text says Kvothe chose Kote himself. — u/Problem_Child_96
  • I think that what she meant was that she would work wonders in his name. … Kote, he chose himself, and by renaming himself, he did cut off something vital from himself.
    CounterCounter/reconcile: Auri works wonders in his name; Kvothe renamed himself. — u/SOURCECODE01

Book refs: TSROST, SRoST, WMF, NOTW ch 67, NOTW

Tier reasoning§

merged 2 dupes: both read 'she would make a name for him' as Auri renaming Kvothe to Kote

Contributors§

Source threads§