KKC Theory Wiki

Felurian Kept Kvothe Because He Stayed Sane, Not Because He Was a Great Lover

plausible motive · popularity 344 · 1 source thread

Felurian's real fascination was that Kvothe resisted her madness-inducing magic, not that he was a remarkable lover.

About: Felurian, Kvothe

Also involves: The Fae

The theory§

Felurian is an ancient Fae creature who draws mortal men into her glade in the Fae to slake her loneliness and her appetite, and the men she takes never return whole: they die or are driven mad. Kvothe survives the encounter intact, an outcome without precedent, after he sings her name and gains a moment's dominion over her in their naming-duel. This theory holds that her reason for keeping him is that survival, not the sexual prowess her flattery credits him with. Her praise of his lovemaking is read as a manipulator's lever, the cheapest way to hold a vain, story-telling boy in place, and her remark that he cannot be a first-timer reads as her own tutelage paying off rather than astonishment at native talent. The deeper attraction is company that keeps its mind: a partner she can converse with and whose music feeds her vanity as no mortal's ever has.

Evidence§

  • it has always just bugged me that Kvothe is such an amazing lover the first time
    OP's opening problem: the in-text claim of instant sexual prowess strains belief. — u/Captain_Chubs
  • I think Felurian wanted to keep him there not because he was this amazing lover, but because she hadn't driven him insane the way she had others.
    OP's core thesis: surviving her, not his skill, is what fascinated her. — u/Captain_Chubs
  • Felurian is almost certainly a master manipulator, and probably figured out quite early that the best way to get Kvothe to do what she wanted was to tickle his ego a bit. And i think that Kvothe being Kvothe, he would have believed her.
    OP: her flattery is a manipulator's lever exploiting his vanity. — u/Captain_Chubs
  • She flatters him with pretty words but that doesn't mean much. She taught him a lot, so I'm sure he left the glade a totally competent sexual partner. But that was never why she kept him
    Comment supports: flattery aside, his skill was taught and not her reason for keeping him. — u/happygocrazee
  • I always read it as her implying he didn't seem like a first timer, which is complimentary but isn't nearly as much of a compliment as the "Kvothe is a natural strong performer" that a lot of people seem to take away from this. 100% agree about her interest in him is far more about him resisting her magic than anything amorous.
    Refines the famous line: her tutelage paying off, not native talent; backs the thesis. — u/Grishinka
  • It makes more sense that she wants him around for the company because he still has his mind about him so he can provide meaningful conversation and isn’t blinded by lust like the others were.
    Strengthens thesis: the real draw is sane company and conversation. — u/Hezkezl
  • her wanting to drive him insane. She doesn’t want to do that, it is just kind of a result that happens to mortals. She just wants her fun and her affection.
    CounterCounter/refine: madness is a side effect, not her goal, so 'slight' framing is wrong. — u/dorkymork05
  • they don't go mad right in front of her, so she has no reason to be slighted that he didn't go mad.
    CounterCounter: men go mad only after being discarded, undercutting the slight premise. — u/aerojockey

Book refs: WMF

Tier reasoning§

plausible correct: reasonable motive reading, thin direct textual support

Contributors§

Source threads§