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Kvothe's Idealised View of the Ruh Doesn't Reflect the Wider Community

plausible motive · popularity 207 · 1 source thread

Arliden's troupe was a privileged exception; many Edema Ruh troupes likely did steal and deceive as rumoured.

About: Edema Ruh

Also involves: Kvothe, Arliden

The theory§

This theory holds that Kvothe's fierce defence of Edema Ruh honour reflects an idealised, sheltered childhood rather than the lived reality of most troupes. Arliden's troupe flourished because it carried the name of a wealthy, high-standing patron, which opened doors and provided income unavailable to poorer Ruh; a troupe down on its luck, marginalised and prejudged, would be far likelier to steal and deceive to survive. The deepest irony is that Kvothe himself—the only Ruh known intimately—commits almost every offence laid at the Ruh's door save sexual crimes: in Tarbean he steals regularly and deceives a clothier, and throughout he threatens, cajoles and tricks when desperate. The theory is tempered by the recognition that prejudice against a homeless, travelling minority needs no factual basis (the Ruh are a clear allegory for the Romani), that Kvothe is an unreliable narrator idealising a family he lost young and traumatically, and that impostors posing as Ruh—like the false troupe Kvothe executes—actively poison the reputation of the real ones.

Evidence§

  • I think his troupe was probably good, with high morales and always followed rules. … But I feel they were the exception … And newer troupes did steal and cause mischief.
    OP's core claim: Arliden's troupe was the honest exception, not the rule. — u/youllhavetotossme_
  • Kvothe is the only one defending a barrage of insults and I cannot remember anyone taking his side.
    OP notes no other character corroborates Kvothe's defence of Ruh honour. — u/youllhavetotossme_
  • the reason why Arliden's troupe was able to flourish is that they had a wealthy patron of high standing. If they didn't have their patron's name to open doors for them, I think they wouldn't have enough money to go around.
    Refines theory: patronage, not virtue, explains the troupe's success. — u/scathfuath
  • This is also exactly what Kvothe does. When he's on hard terms he pulls tricks, deceives and steals from people. … in tarbean he steals regularly, he deceives the clothier to get clothing for cheap … And he's "Ruh to the marrow of his bones", no?
    Key irony: the one Ruh we know intimately commits the very offences denied. — u/scathfuath
  • It is a delicious irony that Kvothe, the only Ruh we trully know, does almost all the things people acuse Ruh of doing (except sexual crimes).
    Sharpens the irony with the sexual-crimes exception. — u/J_C_F_N
  • one could expect that a troupe down on its luck may have to get resourceful to survive. Just people, trying to survive. Kvothe is no different.
    Context: poverty, not ethnicity, drives a struggling troupe to deceive. — u/jackass_jackass
  • People don’t need a reason to discriminate against people who are different from them. The mere fact that the ruh are different is enough for people to blame them for crimes.
    CounterCounter: prejudice needs no factual basis, so universal belief isn't evidence. — u/Zach_314
  • I think what you're saying is somewhat addressed - that potentially people POSING as Ruh are a contributing factor to the stereotype itself.
    CounterCounter: impostors posing as Ruh poison the real Ruh's reputation. — u/_snout_

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier kept: a reasonable reading of Kvothe's unreliable narration

Contributors§

Source threads§