Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Grew Up… in a village called the Two Rivers. Egwene, along with Mat, Rand, and Perrin, is a part of the upcoming generation of leaders in the Two Rivers. Being the only woman of the four, she is poised to join the sisterhood of protectors of the village. This is a part of the tradition of the village and is considered an honor and rite of passage, but it comes with sacrifices that Egwene’s travels may allow her to escape.
Visiting… the White Tower. The Aes Sedai, an ordinance of women who possess the ability to use magic, have been looking for a reborn hero who will fight the ultimate battle between good and evil. Egwene is among the few suspected of being this hero, and the Aes Sedai have brought her to the White Tower to prepare for the final battle in case she is.
Profession… wisdom’s apprentice. The wisdom is the highest position of authority in the Two Rivers. The wisdom is one woman who is called to be the leader and guardian of the village. As Egwene is in her early 20s and demonstrates great skill, the standing wisdom, Nynaeve, has taken Egwene under her wing in the hopes that she will rise to the position once she can no longer fulfill her role. As Nynave advises Egwene, “To be a woman is to be always alone and never alone.”
Relationship Status… recently celibate. One of the conditions of being a wisdom is that you must remain celibate. Egwene had a blossoming relationship with Rand at the time that Nynaeve asked her to begin her apprenticeship. If Egwene is to become the next wisdom, it would mean the end of their relationship. This causes turmoil between the two, and within Egwene herself, and complicates their interactions and motivations.
Challenge… prioritizing the good of humanity over her own desires. Egwene has the greatest understanding of the importance of the duties assigned to her. She often tries to focus on making the best objective choice and not letting her emotions distract her from the task at hand. This becomes increasingly difficult for her because ignoring her own self-interest begins to affect the happiness of the people around her. She begins reconsidering the way she balances her responsibilities and her personal wishes.
Personality… selfless and traditional. Egwene is often the first to attempt to diffuse any volatile situation. This makes her easily loved and appreciated by the people around her. On the other hand, in her selflessness, she is willing to sacrifice things that she enjoys such as personal relationships and roles that she took pleasure in. The other people who were involved in those relationships and relied on her previous roles can start to feel betrayed or undervalued by Egwene who is focused on maintaining tradition and removing her emotion to make objective decisions for the greater good.
