Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Visiting… the White Tower. Perrin is among a group of young adults from the Two Rivers who are being led to the White Tower. The White Tower is the home of the Aes Sedai, a legion of women who possess the ability to use magic. The White Tower will serve as a place of training and examination for the members of the group as one of them will be proven to be the Dragon Reborn, the hero who will defeat the Dark One in a routine battle between light and dark.
Profession… village blacksmith and woodworker. Because of his work, he lives close to the town’s forge.
Relationship Status… widower. Perrin was married to Laila, but he lost her when the village was ambushed by trollocs, mythical creatures that are visually similar to minotaurs. When the couple was attacked by the creatures, they were able to defend themselves effectively since Perrin’s blacksmithing gave him easy access to weapons. In a tragic accident, Perrin swung the axe that killed his wife after mistaking her for a trolloc when she approached him from behind. Their final interactions prior to the ambush were awkward and rumors of Perrin’s infidelity were circulating. These issues never being resolved combined with Perrin’s direct involvement with her death made his widowing particularly difficult to reckon with.
Challenge… his guilt. Perrin blames himself for his wife’s death, and an immense amount of guilt comes with that. He chooses to keep the circumstances of her death secretive because of his shame which only worsens his ability to cope with the situation. It appears that guilt is a frequent motif in Perrin’s life and that he has a habit of blaming himself and keeping secrets as a defense mechanism. Perrin is starting to find himself in more instances where he needs to trust himself and others, so the need to overcome these mental roadblocks of shame and guilt is becoming more urgent.
Personality… a gentle giant. Perrin has nothing but good intentions. He is brooding and naturally intimidating, but internally he is very self-reflective and compassionate. In the group traveling to the White Tower, Perrin is the one that the other members find comfort in and confide in with their worries.
