KKC Theory Wiki

Count Threpe Is the Trusted Friend Who Betrays Kvothe

fringe identity · popularity 100 · 1 source thread

Threpe fits the 'trusted and was betrayed' line: connected to nobility, distrusted by Wilem, and stalling Kvothe at the dock.

About: Count Threpe, Kvothe

Also involves: Wilem, Ambrose Jakis

The theory§

This theory casts Count Threpe as the trusted friend who betrays Kvothe, reading him into the framing line that Kvothe 'trusted and was betrayed.' The case rests on Threpe's position: he is connected to the nobility, has gained Kvothe's confidence as a patron of the arts, and is implicated in the politically dangerous mockery of Ambrose through the song 'Jackass, Jackass.' It points to Threpe stalling Kvothe on the dock until a pinch-faced man boards the ship that is later reported lost with all hands, and to Threpe following news of that voyage closely. His refusal to take Kvothe on as a patron despite Kvothe's obvious poverty and skill is read as suspicious rather than practical. The reasoning is heavily contested: Simmon establishes that Threpe's holdings are modest and that his funding of even three or four musicians is surprising, so he simply cannot afford a fifth; and the news of the shipwreck is shown to have spread through the Eolian and reached Ambrose by ordinary gossip.

Evidence§

  • is in position to do so having gained K's trust and being connected to the nobility
    Core claim: Threpe has both the trust and the connections to betray Kvothe. — u/CoronaHedge
  • Willem eyes Threpe with distrust when he meets him
    An observant friend's instinctive distrust is cited as a warning sign. — u/CoronaHedge
  • potentially got himself into serious political trouble based on his involvment in writing Jackass Jackass
    Motive: the Ambrose-mocking song put Threpe in political danger. — u/CoronaHedge
  • stalls K on the dock until the pinch-faced man boards the ship
    Key suspicious act: delaying Kvothe so the pinch-faced man boards the doomed ship. — u/CoronaHedge
  • was following news of K's ship voyage closely and just happened to blurt out about the ship-wreck in front of Ambrose
    Suspicious foreknowledge and timing of the shipwreck news. — u/CoronaHedge
  • is inconsistent in not taking K on as his patron in spite of K's obvious poverty and unmatched skill based on the flimsy excuse that he's patronizing too many as it is
    Refusal to patronize Kvothe read as a flimsy excuse hiding motive. — u/CoronaHedge
  • We know that Kvothe can’t get a patron because Ambrose has either paid or threatened the other patrons not to sponsor him. Who’s to say Threpe isn’t one of them?
    Refines theory: Threpe could be among Ambrose's coerced patrons. — u/No-BrowEntertainment
  • Sim clearly states that Threpe's holdings aren't that substantial, and that him funding 4 musicians already is surprising. It's pretty obvious that he can't take Kvothe on as a 5th.
    CounterCounter: Threpe's refusal is financial, not sinister. — u/Toes14
  • Sim heard it from Ambrose, and guessed he heard it at the Eolian. His second guess is more likely (ambrose always did it, he gloats)
    CounterCounter: shipwreck news spread by ordinary gossip, not foreknowledge. — u/Imaterd005

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier downgraded: evidence is thin and circumstantial

Contributors§

Source threads§