KKC Theory Wiki

Why Kote Doesn't Get Along With the Priest in Newarre

plausible motive · popularity 70 · 1 source thread

Kote's friction with the local priest may reflect a deeper truth he learned about Tehlu and the church.

About: Kvothe, The Tehlin Church

Also involves: Tehlu, Newarre, Elodin, Tarbean

The theory§

In the frame story, the innkeeper Kote is noted to be on poor terms with the priest of Newarre, an odd detail given Kote's deliberate effort to pass as an unremarkable rural innkeeper. This theory wonders whether the friction reflects a deeper truth Kvothe has learned about the Tehlin church or about Tehlu himself, perhaps tied to his reputed deed of 'killing an angel.' A more mundane reading explains it through character and history: Kvothe simply never attends church, a conspicuous absence in a small town, consistent with a childhood that left him hostile to organised religion. He was raised by unmarried parents in a tolerant troupe, witnessed Tarbean's priests abusing their position, and admits he has 'never been on the best of terms with God,' so his irreverence and his unconcealed contempt for what he regards as superstition would naturally grate on the Abbe. A separate strand holds that the priest's name conceals Elodin, with the whole village an elaborate trap laid for the Chandrian.

Evidence§

  • It seems like an odd detail to me. Why would Kvothe make an enemy of someone in the town? Does he hate the religion, and if he does, does it have something to do with him "killing an angel"?
    OP frames the puzzle: why feud, and is it tied to religion or killing an angel? — u/An_Anonymous_Acc
  • Perhaps he discovers a deep truth about the Tehlan church/Tehlu himself which causes this
    OP's core hypothesis: a hidden truth about Tehlu/the church drives the friction. — u/An_Anonymous_Acc
  • He probably never goes to church. That's something you'd notice in a small town. That's why I believe the priest doesn't like him much.
    CounterMundane explanation: conspicuous church absence in a small town. — u/aworldofblood
  • and I think his bad relationship with church was explored during his childhood chapters. He was raised in a liberal environment (parents were never married) and he witnessed the priests in Tarbean taking advantage of their position and abusing their power.
    CounterGrounds the hostility in upbringing and witnessing priestly abuse. — u/aworldofblood
  • He does say that he's 'never been on the best of terms with God.'
    Textual support for Kvothe's general irreverence toward religion. — u/MattyTangle
  • I think he just knows the truth about Tehlu and the religion that grew up around him, and so he doesn't go to church or or behave reverently like the Abbe is used to. So they hate each other.
    Refines OP thesis: knowing the truth produces irreverence the Abbe resents. — u/bluesy22
  • Kvothe is trying to blend in as well as possible. It would be odd if he came into a small town like Newarre and had no drama with anyone. … He's being *really* careful to be unremarkable as possible.
    CounterCounter: feud is just ordinary small-town friction from blending in. — u/aerojockey
  • Its a theory on here that the local priest is Elodin
    Alternate strand: priest is Elodin, village an elaborate setup. — u/cidqueen

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier holds: a reasonable character-friction reading grounded in Kvothe's history

Contributors§

Source threads§