KKC Theory Wiki

Old Cob's Name Hints at Spiders, Supplanting, or a Bungler's False Confidence

fringe symbolism · popularity 56 · 1 source thread

The name 'Cob' may carry hidden meaning, from an old word for spider to the Hebrew root 'he who supplants'.

Also involves: Newarre, Waystone Inn, Old Cob, Kvothe

The theory§

This reading finds hidden meaning in the name of Old Cob, the talkative regular at the Waystone in Newarre. "Cob" was once a word for spider, surviving in "cobweb," which could tie him to the spider-shaped demons that menace Temerant. Other strands of the wordplay point elsewhere: a corn cob evokes a folksy farming town like Newarre; "cobbled" suggests something roughly assembled; and a "cobbler" is a bungler, fitting a man who holds forth with great confidence even when ignorant. As a variant of Jacob from the Hebrew root meaning "he who supplants," the name raises the speculative possibility that Cob is positioned to take over the Waystone from Kvothe, since few readings end with Kvothe content as a humble innkeeper. The same impulse to read names closely is reinforced by Kvothe's deliberate alteration of names in his telling, such as rendering Ferule as Ferula and Cyphus as Scyphus, and his admission to Bast that he has been careful not to use real names.

Evidence§

  • the demons come in the shape of spiders and the world cob used to be used instead of spider (hence cobwebs)
    OP's core claim: 'cob' was an old word for spider, linking Cob to spider-demons. — u/David_8J
  • Corn Cob --> Farming Town, folksy like Newarre * Cobbled --> Roughly put together * Cobbler --> a bungler, Old Cob speaks with great confidence even when he is ignorant.
    Refines wordplay: alternate readings of 'cob' as folksy, roughly-made, or a confident bungler. — u/SilasRhodes
  • Cob is a boy's name meaning "he who supplants". It is a variant of the Hebrew name Jacob.
    Adds new evidence: 'Cob' from Hebrew Jacob root meaning 'he who supplants'. — u/Sandal-Hat
  • what if he takes over the Waystone? I don't think any theory I've read in my nine years on this sub has the story ending with Kvothe as Kote the humble innkeeper.
    Extends the supplanting reading: Cob may inherit the Waystone from Kvothe. — u/Sandal-Hat
  • Maybe it's because he's always spinning tales.
    Alternative support: links Cob/cobweb imagery to his habit of storytelling. — u/bluesy22
  • So not a coincidence, but probably no implication tied to the name either.
    CounterCounter: name may just reflect spider-demon imagery in the writing, no deeper meaning. — u/Ragnanicci

Tier reasoning§

tier correct: etymological speculation, no book support

Contributors§

Source threads§