The Stormlight Archive - Choice and Common Ground in Rhythm of War
I would say that these are the two themes that are most central to the narrative and character development in Rhythm of War.
Choice is central in several respects. It is at the heart of Venli’s arc, as she gradually - prompted by Timbre - moves towards choosing to act against the forces of Odium at last to reveal herself as a Radiant, as well as to confess her past choices to Rlain. Her position as the first new Willshaper, the Radiant order primarily focused on choice and freedom, further emphasizes this.
But even more importantly, Rhythm of War is about the need to allow people the dignity of their choices, including the choice to risk or sacrifice their life, without treating them as objects or victims. We see this most vividly in Maya’s declaration of WE CHOSE! at Adolin’s trial, when the Honorspren are endeavouring to exploit her by presenting her as a victim of the Knights Radiant, and deny her agency by using her to make a statement that is the opposite of her real feelings.
We see it Kaladin’s vision of Tien, where he learned that his brother made the choice to go with his companions to their death in order to support them. We see it in Teft, who chose to stay with Kaladin as emotional support, and who later chose to fight, and died because of it. To regard other people’s deaths as a personal failure, as Kaladin does, is to deny that they have any part in their deaths, that they might decide something is worth fighting and dying for and would not regard their own deaths as a defeat, and it’s a crucial element in the realization that enables Kaladin to say the Fourth Ideal. Lirin, like his son, has difficulty with this: when he sees that Kaladin is inspiring people in Urithiru to resist, he sees in it terms of Kaladin is going to get these people hurt or killed, and can’t see past that until he follows Hesina’s advice to listen to them and to understand why Kaladin’s actions inspire them to choose to hazard their own safety.
The second major theme is about finding common ground between people with great differences in their goals and convictions. We see it with Navani and Raboniel, who are opposite sides of the war but share a fascination with Roshar and a delight in learning more about it, as well as the gruef of a mother for her children and who - despite Raboniel’s numerous and severe betrayals - find genuine mutual respect and understanding. We see it also with Navani and the Sibling, and this theme is why Navani is the right person to bond the Sibling - because her story (with the core metaphor of oil and water) is about bringing together people who have strong and real differences. Likewise, the humans and Leshwi’s Fused find common ground in defending the unconsious Radiants, after reminders throughout the book of the mutual respect that Kaladin and Leshwi ferl for each others. And finally, the theme of common ground is crucial to the arc between Kaladin and Lirin, where they are at last able to find recociliation in the understand that, yes, they do have deeply differing moral perspectives on violence, but that doesn’t prevent them from loving each other or being able to respect each other’s convictions and ways of protecting.
Aaah superb analysis as always! I would add to your first point about choice and freedom Eshonai's epilogue, where she fights the Voidspren who had somewhat taken control of her, gets her agency back, and dies as herself. And not only that, when her death comes she chooses to accept her end and goes peacefully, looking forward to what the Beyond held for her. And for a book about choice and freedom and reconciliation, that ending for her, both as a character and fitting the themes of the book, was beautiful and poetic for me.