KKC Theory Wiki

Kvothe Really Did Save the Maer, Not Ruin Caudicus's Cure

well-supported motive · popularity 60 · 1 source thread

Rebutting the idea that Caudicus was secretly healing the Maer with alchemy, arguing Kvothe genuinely thwarted a poisoning.

About: Caudicus, Maer Lerand Alveron, Kvothe

Also involves: The Amyr, The Chandrian, Master Arwyl

The theory§

Against the popular reading that Caudicus was secretly healing Maer Alveron through lead-based alchemy and that Kvothe, ignorant of the art, ruined a beneficial treatment, this theory holds that Kvothe genuinely foiled a poisoning. The strongest objection is empirical: the test birds Kvothe feeds the medicine die, and the Maer recovers once he stops taking it, behaviour consistent with poison rather than a chemotherapy-like cure. Caudicus's calm and his comfort at court make better sense if he knowingly keeps the Maer ill to guarantee his own continued position, a motive reinforced by his deep knowledge of the Lackless family and the Maer's manipulated marriage bargaining. The narrative argument adds that a secret-cure reading would dissolve the book-three Amyr conspiracy that the story is building toward, and that Kvothe knows medicine well enough to recognise a draught that sickens its drinker. Tellingly, a long stretch of time passes after Caudicus is stopped without the Maer showing any return of illness.

Evidence§

  • I love this idea, but it doesn't work as a plot device.
    OP frames his thesis: the secret-cure theory fails as story logic. — u/danielsaid
  • if Caudecus knew exactly what he was doing with poisoning the Maer for a conspiracy, then his confidence, nonchalance towards the Maers health, and general COMFORT in being in the Court all makes sense. Of course Caudecus isn't stressed about finding a cure, because he is the illness.
    OP: Caudicus's calm and comfort at court fit a poisoner, not a healer. — u/danielsaid
  • If Caudecus was truly trying to help the Maer, he was doing an absolutely lazy job of it.
    OP: a real healer would inform the patient and allow a second opinion. — u/danielsaid
  • I just don't think the Maer was secretly being healed when all evidence points to the Maer being poisoned/suppressed. Many parties benefit from the Maer being sick.
    OP's conclusion: evidence and motive both point to poisoning. — u/danielsaid
  • There’s absolutely no evidence to support it, and strong evidence against it (the birds die)
    Top comment: the empirical clincher, the test birds fed the medicine die. — u/a_gallon_of_pcp
  • a very significant chunk of time passes after kvothe stops Caudicus and there is no indication whatsoever that he so much as coughs from whatever illness he supposedly was suffering from
    Refines argument: long healthy stretch after stopping treatment fits poison, not cure. — u/jkatz42
  • Kvothe doesn’t know Alchemy, but he does know medicine. Caudecus isn’t using alchemy when he’s mixing the Maer’s meds, he’s making a medical draught.
    Counters the premise: Kvothe could read a medical draught even if ignorant of alchemy. — u/luckydrunk_7
  • Do you think it is coincidence that Caudicus has so much information on the Lackless?
    Adds motive: Caudicus's Lackless knowledge ties him to manipulating the marriage bargain. — u/Zhorangi
  • whatever Caudicus was doing was for the best, and Kvothe screwed that up, based on false assumptions.
    CounterCounter: defends the original secret-cure reading as in character for Kvothe. — u/chainsawx72
  • It is never a choice between medicine and poison. A thing is always a mixture of both, so guard your thoughts against tinkers or talking trees that promise panaceas.
    CounterCounter from original theorist: Caudicus could poison and heal simultaneously. — u/TheLastSock

Book refs: WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier confirmed: birds dying and Maer's recovery off the medicine give strong textual support

Contributors§

Source threads§