Matrim Cauthon

Eye of the World Chapter 1: Mat is met in Emond’s Field by Rand and they discuss things while moving barrels of cider and brandy.

Rand al’Thor

Eye of the World Chapter 1: Rand travels with his father, Tam al’Thor, to Emond’s Field and meets up with Matrim Cauthon. They are both creeped out by the fade they see, but are otherwise looking forward to Bel Tine after the long winter.

Eye of the World 01: An Empty Road

Rand al’Thor is traveling with his father Tam al’Thor to Emond’s Field in preparation for the Bel Tine festival. Rand sees a strange man on horseback wearing a cloak that is unaffected by the wind and get’s suitably creeped out by it.

It doesn’t help that the the winter has been had and doesn’t seem to be yielding to spring. Wolves are on the prowl and everyone’s on edge.

We are also introduced to Matrim Cauthon, and Egwene al’Vere and Nynaeve al’Meara are first mentioned. We are also introduced to a number of supporting characters, including the Wit Congar, Cenn Buie, Brandlewynn al’Vere, and the Coplins are mentioned as well.

All in all it’s a basic introductory chapter. Not much happens other than exposition, but toward the end Robert Jordan is pretty good about doing most of it through dialogue if not action, rather than simply telling us what things are.

Lews Therin Telamon

Eye of the World Prologue: Lews Therin is blissfully insane and has just killed his family, friends and servants. Ba’alzemon restores Lews Therin’s sanity as part of his revenge against the man who beat him. Before Ba’alzemon can finish gloating, Lews Therin escapes and runs off into the middle of nowhere to kill himself, creating Dragonmount in the process.

Ba’alzemon

Eye of the World Prologue: Ba’alzemon goes to Lews Therin Telamon’s home after losing the war to gloat over the Shadow’s counter-stroke. Disappointed at finding his old rival witless, he restores Lews Therin’s sanity only to have the man escape and commit suicide during Ba’alzemon’s evil monologue.

Eye of the World 00: Dragonmount

Characters

• Lews Therin Telemon (the Dragon) introduced.
• Elan Morin Tedronai (Ba’alzemon/Moridin) introduced.
• Ilyena Sunhair mentioned but is already dead.

Motives

Lews Therin is looking for his wife Ilyena Sunhair. While Elan Morin wants Lews Therin to suffer as part of his revenge against the Dragon.

Complications

None.

Theories

Lews Therin is said by Elan Morin to have commanded the Nine Rods of Dominion, worn the Ring of Tamyrlin and sat in the High Seat. Seems like it’s confirmed later that the Oath Rod of the Aes Sedai is one of the Rods of Dominion, (number 4 if memory serves). I suspect that the High Seat is the Crystal Throne of Seanchan. I am less certain that the Ring of Tamyrlin is the Ring of Tel’aran’rhiod.

Literary Techniques and Plot Devices

I’ll add this later.

Points of Interest

We get glimpses of the Breaking, the Madness and the taint on saidin.

What I Would Have Done Differently

Nothing.

Other Comments

None.