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Elodin Admits Kvothe to Naming Class Out of Fear, Not Admiration

plausible motive · popularity 55 · 1 source thread

Elodin starts teaching Kvothe not because he is impressed, but because leaving him untrained became too dangerous.

About: Elodin, Kvothe, Auri

Also involves: Naming

The theory§

After Elodin chances upon Kvothe sharing a meal with Auri beneath the Mews and learns that Kvothe is the one who gave Auri her name, he reverses his earlier refusal to admit Kvothe to his naming class. The common reading is that Elodin is impressed by Kvothe's evident talent. This theory argues instead that the motive is alarm: Elodin never doubted Kvothe's aptitude in the first place, having earlier asked Kvothe why he assumes Elodin isn't already trying to teach him. What changes at the meal is the discovery that Kvothe's untrained naming has already materially shaped another person. Auri, formerly skittish and avoiding open ground, is unburdened by her new name and now ventures out under moonlight to Kvothe's window at Anker's. A namer this powerful and this careless is a loaded weapon, so the safer course is to train him to do the least damage rather than leave him loose. The reasoning parallels Elodin's gentle, autonomy-respecting handling of the broken namer Alder Whin, where danger and care coexist.

Evidence§

  • Elodin asks why Kvothe thinks that he isn't already trying to teach him
    OP: Elodin never doubted Kvothe's talent, so admiration can't explain the reversal. — u/Hangintherebro
  • most of his warnings before to Kvothe was about how dangerous it could be and if things went south Kvothe couldn't just count on Elodin to save him. What if suddenly not teaching him became more dangerous?
    OP's core pivot: the motive is danger, not pride. — u/Hangintherebro
  • She never used to go out when there was any moon, or any light
    OP: Auri's baseline behaviour, used to show how much she changed. — u/Hangintherebro
  • Auri came to his window, after walking quite a distance in the outside, and I'm pretty sure there was mention of moonlight. That would never happen before
    OP: evidence Kvothe's naming materially altered Auri. — u/Hangintherebro
  • What Auri describes seems more akin to shaping, you give something a new name, you change it fundamentally
    OP: Kvothe isn't merely naming but shaping/changing people. — u/Hangintherebro
  • what if Elodin wasn't impressed by Kvothe but just suddenly saw how much harm he could make if left unattended?
    OP's thesis stated outright. — u/Hangintherebro
  • upon seeing his interactions with and influence on auri he says to himself “well I’d at least better make sure he causes the least damage possible.”
    Commenter agrees: train Kvothe to minimize damage. — u/Fit_Ask_7145
  • Kvothe is like a loaded gun just walking around campus in his one shirt, angry at the world. If Elodian thinks sees him as having more potential, that might just mean more potential danger.
    Commenter reframes talent itself as the danger. — u/brirais
  • Although I don't think he harmed auri. Or that it was particularly hard to change her name.
    CounterCounter: doubts Kvothe harmed Auri or that shaping was forceful. — u/realmauer01
  • Kvothe with Auri is reflected in Elodin and Alder Whin's interaction
    Commenter ties theory to the Alder Whin parallel of danger plus care. — u/Jandy777

Book refs: WMF, WMF ch 11

Tier reasoning§

plausible correct

Contributors§

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