Donate To Keep The Site Ad Free
+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 1 2
Results 26 to 30 of 30

Thread: Why did Roland let the ... go?

  1. #26
    Army of the 12 Monkeys pathoftheturtle is a glorious beacon of light pathoftheturtle is a glorious beacon of light pathoftheturtle is a glorious beacon of light pathoftheturtle is a glorious beacon of light pathoftheturtle is a glorious beacon of light pathoftheturtle is a glorious beacon of light pathoftheturtle's Avatar

    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    6,137
    My Mood
    Stressed
    Country
    Country Flag
    Gender
    Gender

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Jean View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by pathoftheturtle View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by RainInSpain View Post
    ...selflessness for the sake of someone else, not some great goal/purpose.
    But what is the purpose of someone else? ...
    None. That is why selflessness for their sake is the only truly selfless act.
    Well, if that's why, then wouldn't a selfless act be even more true if it were on behalf of something which has even LESS purpose?
    Last edited by pathoftheturtle; 01-03-2011 at 03:43 PM. Reason: new page

  2. #27
    Demon of the Prim RainInSpain is a glorious beacon of light RainInSpain is a glorious beacon of light RainInSpain is a glorious beacon of light RainInSpain is a glorious beacon of light RainInSpain is a glorious beacon of light RainInSpain is a glorious beacon of light RainInSpain's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    1,289
    Country
    Country Flag
    Gender
    Gender

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by pathoftheturtle View Post
    But what is the purpose of someone else? If we want people to be selfless only if their selflessness directly benefits people who we can identify with, then isn't that just selfishness on our part? It's easy to claim that the highest value is community when the community is who you happen to be.
    It's a matter of perspective. Saying that Roland regained (some of) his humanity does not equal saying that he became more virtuous or more noble or that he did the objectively right thing. It only means that he acquired or got back a quality that is important to us. Who's to judge what's more selfish: betray someone who loves you and who you love, or betray a greater purpose?
    If you are going through hell - keep going

  3. #28
    Gunslinger Apprentice Delah is on a distinguished road Delah's Avatar

    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    67

    Default

    *Skirting around the discussions of virtue and perspective and going back to the Original Question*:

    I don't see Roland's letting the guards go as motivated by mercy even if its a merciful act. I agree with the previous posters that argued that Roland is simply too exhausted and heartsore to care about them and knows that Thunderclap will kill them all anyway. I find it hard to believe Roland's feelings on Low Men would have changed so much in two days. Remember Roland's actions a few days before when the ka-tet reuinites behind the Fedic Door? Then Roland deliberately *goes out of his way* to gun down the low men who chased Jake from the Dixie Pig. The guards are really beneath Roland's notice at this point in Algul Siento.

  4. #29
    Army of the 12 Monkeys pathoftheturtle is a glorious beacon of light pathoftheturtle is a glorious beacon of light pathoftheturtle is a glorious beacon of light pathoftheturtle is a glorious beacon of light pathoftheturtle is a glorious beacon of light pathoftheturtle is a glorious beacon of light pathoftheturtle's Avatar

    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    6,137
    My Mood
    Stressed
    Country
    Country Flag
    Gender
    Gender

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Delah View Post
    *Skirting around the discussions of virtue and perspective and going back to the Original Question*
    Good idea.
    Quote Originally Posted by RainInSpain View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by pathoftheturtle View Post
    But what is the purpose of someone else? If we want people to be selfless only if their selflessness directly benefits people who we can identify with, then isn't that just selfishness on our part? It's easy to claim that the highest value is community when the community is who you happen to be.
    It's a matter of perspective. Saying that Roland regained (some of) his humanity does not equal saying that he became more virtuous or more noble or that he did the objectively right thing. It only means that he acquired or got back a quality that is important to us. Who's to judge what's more selfish: betray someone who loves you and who you love, or betray a greater purpose?
    That's very diplomatically stated. There's certainly much in favor of what you guys are saying.

    Maybe we should consider even more comparable instances to get perspective on this decision. Like, why did Roland let the breakers go? Again, I don't think that he's generally so very unforgiving.

  5. #30
    Gunslinger Apprentice Delah is on a distinguished road Delah's Avatar

    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    67

    Default

    Maybe we should consider even more comparable instances to get perspective on this decision. Like, why did Roland let the breakers go? Again, I don't think that he's generally so very unforgiving.
    There are two other instances (in the series, not counting the Little Sisters of Eluria) with Roland displaying a similar mercy: In Lud, he doesn't shoot Tilly (one of the Grays) when she begs him not too and in the Calla he doesn't kill Slightman, mainly because Jake implores him not to.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 1 2

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts