[griffon]

(Spoiler not blacked out below for those who haven't finished the end of the book)

I see that there are other posts discussing whether Whiskeyjack really died, whether he will return in later books (I've only read through this one) and whether he could've really pulled off that swordfight.

But my question is.... WHY didn't he heal his knee? WHY?

It was noted that he had plenty of opportunities to do so, and also plenty of time, even though he kept saying there was no time at present. He must have known he was putting himself in a risky position. So why do it? The only thing that I can think of is that after he realized that Laseen wanted him dead, rather than the Bridgeburners more generally, he knew he would never be allowed to quietly retire somewhere after this war and so just decided to die while the going was good rather than live and continue to struggle with his self doubts and continue to send friends to their deaths. But... that doesn't seem like him. Choosing not to heal his knee as part of some sort of plot to die in the future and then go ascendant (hey, I'm hoping that's what will happen... I want to see him again!) also seems like a lot of effort to go through to try and die.

Thoughts?

[lorddarkflare]

griffon, on 12 September 2009 - 01:48 AM, said:

(Spoiler not blacked out below for those who haven't finished the end of the book)

I see that there are other posts discussing whether Whiskeyjack really died, whether he will return in later books (I've only read through this one) and whether he could've really pulled off that swordfight.

But my question is.... WHY didn't he heal his knee? WHY?

It was noted that he had plenty of opportunities to do so, and also plenty of time, even though he kept saying there was no time at present. He must have known he was putting himself in a risky position. So why do it? The only thing that I can think of is that after he realized that Laseen wanted him dead, rather than the Bridgeburners more generally, he knew he would never be allowed to quietly retire somewhere after this war and so just decided to die while the going was good rather than live and continue to struggle with his self doubts and continue to send friends to their deaths. But... that doesn't seem like him. Choosing not to heal his knee as part of some sort of plot to die in the future and then go ascendant (hey, I'm hoping that's what will happen... I want to see him again!) also seems like a lot of effort to go through to try and die.

Thoughts?

Spoiler

Hood

Kinda sad really.

[MTS]

Yeah, lorddarkflare has it. There was meddling going on. Misguided, in the end, but still. As for Whiskeyjack returning, well I guess you'll just have to read and find out.

[amphibian]

I will add that anyone who has done a very physically demanding job or sport constantly has at least one nagging injury that just takes a very long time to heal. And quite often the nature of the job or sport combined with our own natural psychology is to tough it out for as long as you can, hoping the pain goes away and things get better on their own - without a medical professional. You find yourself saying "I'll do this this and that and then go see a doctor." 'This this and that' get stretched out and eventually you either hurt it bad enough, rest up enough or it heals on its own.

That's a very easy thing for someone to subtly manipulate.

[griffon]

amphibian, on 12 September 2009 - 05:35 AM, said:

I will add that anyone who has done a very physically demanding job or sport constantly has at least one nagging injury that just takes a very long time to heal. And quite often the nature of the job or sport combined with our own natural psychology is to tough it out for as long as you can, hoping the pain goes away and things get better on their own - without a medical professional. You find yourself saying "I'll do this this and that and then go see a doctor." 'This this and that' get stretched out and eventually you either hurt it bad enough, rest up enough or it heals on its own.

That's a very easy thing for someone to subtly manipulate.

Hmmm... thanks. That makes a lot of sense. And sounds like I've got to keep reading!

[Nina]

I agree with amphibian and I even believe that he was kind of ashamed of this particular injury because it happened not in an actual fight but as an accident during the last battle with the revived Raest (GotM) in the Simtal estate when a part of a pillar fell on him so that's perhaps made him think that this injury was not important.

[T'renn]

Well, he may have died, but is it that bad ?
DoD spoiler

Spoiler

We now have actual confirmation that he ascended, and that he and the other bridgeburners, no longer among the mortals, now control the realm of Death after Hoods detour through Dragnipur

[amphibian]

Imperial High Mage Tayschrenn, on 12 September 2009 - 05:23 PM, said:

Well, he may have died, but is it that bad ?

Dude, what are you doing spoiling Dust of Dreams in the Memories of Ice forums? Just say "Read on and find out some possibly interesting stuff regarding the Bridgeburners".

[T'renn]

I gave warning that it was a DoD spoiler, didn't I ?

[Aptorian]

What Amph was trying to say, is that spoilers should be avoided if possible. As it is, your spoiler wasn't really related to anything essential in the discussion above, and like he said, it would probably had been better to just say "RAFO".

[Pilgrim]

"Patiently" awaiting DoD myself, I often find it hard, nay, impossible to resist clicking those interesting little "spoiler" buttons.... Oh well, by the time I get this book I will likely have forgotten that spoiler, so no biggie. So far, I have (almost completely, no, really ) stayed away from the DoD forum....

On topic though, Whiskeyjack's behavior in regard to his leg is frustrating, but I've seen otherwise "normal" intelligent adults refuse medical treatment all the time, even though there's a clear need to everyone around them. Kind of a macho fatal flaw.

Pilgrim

This post has been edited by Pilgrim: 01 October 2009 - 06:18 PM