KKC Theory Wiki

Kvothe Cannot Die Because the Story Retells the Myth of Baldr

fringe symbolism · popularity 53 · 1 source thread

Kvothe's faerie charm and the Baldr myth's mistletoe-as-holly parallel suggest he is protected from death like Tehlu and Old Holly.

About: Kvothe

Also involves: Felurian, Tehlu, The Moon, The Fae, The Shaed, Devi, Baldr Myth, Old Holly

The theory§

This theory holds that the rumour Kvothe repeats about himself at the University is literally true: when he was three days old his mother hung him in a basket from a rowan tree by the light of the full moon, and a faerie laid a charm on him to keep him forever safe, turning his eyes from blue to leafy green. Where Kvothe dismisses such tales as 'storybook nonsense', the theory treats this as intentional misdirection on the part of the narration, pointing to the parallel case of Devi, who did in fact bargain for Kvothe's blood. The Chronicle is read as a retelling of the Norse myth of Baldr, who was rendered invulnerable to all things save mistletoe, with mistletoe mapped onto holly. Through holly the protection ties to Tehlu and to the tale of 'How Old Holly Came To Be', in which Holly becomes both father and son of himself, ever-dying and ever-reborn, 'before' and 'after'. The conclusion drawn is that Kvothe, like Baldr and like Holly, cannot truly die.

Evidence§

  • When I was three days old, my mother hung me in a basket from a rowan tree by the light of the full moon. That night a faerie laid a powerful charm on me to always keep me safe. It turned my eyes from blue to leafy green.
    The rumour Kvothe repeats about a protective faerie charm; the theory's starting text. — u/Smurphilicious
  • I think Pat is being intentionally misleading by calling it "rumors" and "storybook nonsense". In a previous post I pointed out that 'Demon' Devi did in fact bargain for Kvothe's blood
    Argues the dismissal is misdirection, citing Devi as a 'rumour' that proved literally true. — u/Smurphilicious
  • I think this is part of KKC is the story of Baldr. Baldr was beloved … When it's foretold that Baldr will die, his mother Frigg makes everything in existence swear not to harm him, *except* for mistletoe.
    Frames the Chronicle as the Baldr myth: invulnerable to all but one thing. — u/Smurphilicious
  • In KKC, it's Holly. The Holly tree, 'evergreen oak'. *Ilex* genus.
    Maps the mistletoe exception onto Holly, the one thing that can harm Kvothe. — u/Smurphilicious
  • But I am Tehlu. Son of myself. Father of myself. I was before, and I will be after. If I am a sacrifice then it is to myself alone.
    Old Holly / Tehlu is ever-dying and ever-reborn, modelling Kvothe's deathlessness. — u/Smurphilicious
  • Kvothe was given a powerful charm to always keep him safe, the same as Baldr. It turned his eyes from blue to leafy green. He is wood of living green, God's body, Holly. Kvothe can only be killed by other Holly.
    The conclusion: Kvothe, like Baldr and Holly, can only be killed by Holly itself. — u/Smurphilicious
  • Considering how Kvothe stabbed his finger nice on those boughs of holly that bast gathered, I’m on board!
    Comment adds supporting detail: Kvothe is shown wounded specifically by holly. — u/Neat_Impress_2701
  • Do you believe that Pat is actually retelling these myths intentionally or is it just the case that stories are commonly retellings of archetypes?
    CounterCounter: questions whether the Baldr parallel is intentional or just a common archetype. — u/Enjoyschess2

Book refs: NOTW

Tier reasoning§

tier unchanged; external-myth mapping is a speculative leap

Contributors§

Source threads§