KKC Theory Wiki

Why Kvothe Reveals His Adem Name Maedre Despite the Danger

plausible identity · popularity 138 · 1 source thread

Kvothe openly sharing that Maedre means fire, lightning and the broken tree hints he changed his name or has grown suicidal.

About: Kvothe, Naming

Also involves: Vashet, The Adem, Ademre, The Cthaeh

The theory§

In the opening pages of his account Kvothe tells the Chronicler that he has a great many names, among them Maedre, which in the Adem tongue means Flame, Thunder, and the Broken Tree. He receives this name from the Adem after the events in the Eld, where he calls down lightning, sets a fire, and is left beside a broken tree, so the name reads as earned description rather than prophecy. Yet Vashet warns him explicitly that revealing one's name is a dangerous thing, which makes his open admission to the Chronicler strange: it suggests either that he has grown reckless or suicidal, or that he has already cast off this name and no longer fears its being known. The theory leans further on Kvothe's own aside that the Broken Tree could be 'at least partially prophetic' — a remark that points the name forward to an event not yet reached in the telling rather than back to the Eld. A recurring counter holds that Maedre is itself an anagram of Ademre and so is likely a substitution Kvothe invented to tell the tale without surrendering the true name, since names cannot simply be spoken to another but must be found.

Evidence§

  • In the beginning of NOTW, Kvothe says that his name means fire, lightning, and the broken tree. In Admere, he reveals his true name: Maedre, which means fire, lightning, and the broken tree.
    OP's core claim: Maedre, his Adem name, means fire, lightning and broken tree. — u/Yaetle-the-Baetle
  • This also ties into the Eld, where he calls down lightning, causes a fire, and ends up with a broken tree.
    Grounds the name in the Eld events, making it earned description. — u/Yaetle-the-Baetle
  • Why would he tell us this? Vashet tells him explicitly that it would be a very bad idea to share his name.
    The puzzle: revealing the name is dangerous, so why admit it? — u/Yaetle-the-Baetle
  • This hints at Kvothe either being suicidal, or having changed his name and no longer caring about whether or not people know his old name.
    OP's conclusion: he is suicidal or has discarded the name. — u/Yaetle-the-Baetle
  • “I've never thought of “The Broken Tree” as very significant. Although in retrospect I suppose it could be considered at least partially prophetic.” … the name may be apt or well-earned, but not at all prophetic. Unless the broken tree being referred to isn't the one from the Eld, but from an event that has yet to happen
    Refines: 'prophetic' points the broken tree forward to a future event. — u/Smooga22
  • I'm definitely team "he changed his name, it's in the box, and he did it to duck the Cthaeh".
    Supports the changed-name reading, linking it to the locked box. — u/yourd
  • it's been argued that Maedre probably isn't the name he got from the Adem as it's an anagram of Ademre. We all know Kvothe isn't the most reliable narrator and here he's almost certainly editing things!
    CounterCounter: Maedre is an anagram of Ademre, likely an edited substitute name. — u/GladiatorSum
  • Dont think that is how naming works tho, the whole thing is about how you cant just tell someone a name they have to find out on their own, and if you just say the name to them it sounds like something else
    CounterCounter: names cannot simply be spoken, undercutting the danger premise. — u/__akkarin

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

plausible confirmed: builds on explicit text and Vashet's warning

Contributors§

Source threads§