KKC Theory Wiki

Elodin Knows Far More About Kvothe's Past Than He Lets On

plausible identity · popularity 85 · 1 source thread

Elodin secretly knows Kvothe's history with the Chandrian and steers him away from vengeance.

About: Elodin, Kvothe, The Chandrian

Also involves: Master Hemme, The Doors of Stone, The Four-Plate Door

The theory§

This theory holds that Elodin already knows of Kvothe's history with the Chandrian and his appetite for vengeance, and that he steers Kvothe away from that dangerous path while disguising his guidance as the eccentricity of a cracked mind. The keystone scene is Elodin leading Kvothe to pick the lock of Master Hemme's quarters, then wrecking the room while lecturing that some places are locked down precisely because you should not be there, an oblique warning read as foreshadowing Kvothe's reckless opening of the four-plate door. The reading is reinforced by Elodin's refusal to teach Kvothe naming, which he frames as Kvothe being too eager, too proud, and too clever to learn properly, taken as deliberate withholding rather than mere pedagogy. A more restrained position grants that Elodin plainly knows the wider world, the Fae, the Adem, the Amyr and the Chandrian, and likely knows what lies behind the locked door, but doubts he knows Kvothe's personal place in that larger story. A skeptical reading takes the lockpicking lecture as simple chiding of a boy who opened a door merely because he was asked, never pausing to wonder why.

Evidence§

  • When Elodin takes Kvothe to Master Hemme's quarters and starts destroying everything he explains to Kvothe how some places are locked down because you shouldn't be there. It seems to me that he knows about Kvothe's story with the Chandrian, suspects he wants revenge, and initially wants to prevent Kvothe from the dangers of taking the path of vengeance.
    OP's core claim: the lockpicking lesson is veiled knowledge of Kvothe's past and a warning against vengeance. — u/PkmnSnapperJJ
  • Of course, he does it by talking and acting as he always does, just going with the flow and letting everything serve as a tool for his way of speaking his knowledge.
    OP: Elodin disguises real guidance as his usual eccentric flow. — u/PkmnSnapperJJ
  • Elodin teaches Kvothe to not open locked doors. I think this foreshadows Kvothe stupidly opening the 4-plate-door. I think Elodin is against whoever wants Kvothe to open those doors.
    Comment refines: the lesson foreshadows the four-plate door and Elodin's opposition. — u/chainsawx72
  • a lot of his weird behavior is similar to the way zen masters taught, but the narrative leads you to believe it's because he's "cracked." … I think this user was right on, and that Elodin is "hiding" his knowledge by selling the story that he's cracked himself
    Comment supports: Elodin masks deliberate teaching behind feigned madness. — u/roseinapuddle
  • Now you might be thinking "But Sandal-hat, Elodin just sees the dangers Kvothe is treading and want to protect him with training". I want to agree with you. But When Elodin first finds out that Kvothe gave Auri a name its not concern for Kvothe the Elodin displays... … Elodin may know more than meets the eyes but it would appear he is attempting to use Kvothe more than his is endeavoring to teach him.
    Comment refines/counters: Elodin knows more but may be using Kvothe, not protecting him. — u/Sandal-Hat
  • Great theory but ones like this always make me feel like “if you knew this whole time then why wouldn’t you just sit down with kvothe and say, hey man. Those chandrian characters are some bad news, no cap”
    CounterCounter: if Elodin knew, why not simply warn Kvothe directly? — u/ConsciousMeaning8333
  • Maybe he's saying that to the boy who just picklocked a door simply because Elodin asked, never stopping to think why? They are in that room, Elodin running amok, thanks to Kvothe unlocking it. I feel like you're reading into it way too hard.
    CounterCounter: the lecture is just chiding a boy who opened a door without asking why. — u/Gorbashou
  • Elodin clearly knows more about the wider world than most. Beyond his naming abilities, he has knowledge of the Fae, the Adem, and a plethora of other topics. That being the case, he probably knows the truth about the Amyr and the Chandrian. That being said, I think it is a bit of a stretch to suggest he knows about Kvothe's place in that larger story. He may know that Kvothe is interested in learning about the Chandrian, but probably not why.
    CounterRestrained counter: Elodin knows the wider world but likely not Kvothe's personal place in it. — u/jmil1080

Book refs: NOTW, WMF, WMF ch 8

Tier reasoning§

tier holds: a reasonable read of Elodin's behavior, though contested

Contributors§

Source threads§