We all know that Covenant is told by Mhoram, "*You* are the white gold", and the Elohim comment that the ring's mark "lies deeply on him". Yet Covenant's constant refusal to give up the ring to Linden, even when he believes that she's better equipped to handle the Sunbane et al than he is, is a bit troubling (and we see how defensive he is about it when the Elohim ask Linden why he has "her ring"). Is it pride that's motivating him? Fear of being rendered powerless? (which would be somewhat ironic, since in the First Chronicles, he feared power much more than impotency) It just struck me tonight that there's a certain oddness to it, given that Covenant is not generally driven by pride and generally not enamoured of power, so I'm not sure exactly what it is that motivates his refusal. I may just be missing something obvious here.
I guess I should add that I could imagine the answer is that Covenant fears to have no purpose in the Land if the ring is taken away from him, i.e. that he'll have no meaningful way to fight. But I would think his love for the Land would outweigh that, if he truly believed Linden was the answer.
Covenant giving the ring to Linden
Moderators: Orlion, kevinswatch
My thoughts at the moment: maybe I'm stating the obvious here...but I think Covenant was reluctant to give up the ring because it was something personally significant to him. It was his link to Joan, to his past life. It wasn't something he could just let go of at the drop of a hat. As he might say, it's not that easy. Yes, eventually, he gave his ring--and love and blessing--to Linden, but it took 3 books for that to happen.
At the time of the Elohimfest, Covenant thought of himself as the Land's salvation, not Linden. He wasn't sure why she was around except to take care of him (he even said so at one point - "You've got the health sense. You can keep me alive <paraphrasing>)
I agree with MM about the ring being part of Covenant's identity.
I agree with MM about the ring being part of Covenant's identity.
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wayfriend
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I don't think that Covenant articulates well his reasoning for keeping the ring because he's not clear on why himself, at least some aspects of it.
Covenant's redemption of the Land in the First Chronicles is one and the same with his own personal redemption. He emerges from it a person who is able to care and to act for love and above all a person who has found a value in his own life, once thought empty.
So walking into the Second Chronicles, there is an odd mirror image: Covenant's sense of self worth translates into an assumption that he again must save the Land. This is something buried deep, and part of his personal journey in the Second Chronicles is letting go.
Second, at the same time that Covenant is undertaking this struggle, it is becoming more and more apparent that Linden having access to the wild magic is a bad idea. She has inner demons which are still running amok; Covenant grows to understand this. She wants power too much. Covenant's instincts about power, how it must be earned, and his dread of its consequences, cause him to doubt (probably correctly) that Linden must not gain too much power too easily. It would destroy her, and the Land along the way.
Third, there is the aspect of Fate. Covenant's reluctance to yield the ring turns out to be the right course. So, in the story, this needs to play out dramatically. It cannot be clear that Covenant should keep the ring, nor that he should give it to Linden, or else there'd be no drama. So the signals fly in both directions, and we, as readers, feel the frustration.
Part of this Fate aspect manifests as Covenant's growing understanding of his personal relationship with Foul. They are, as I am sometimes loathe to say, one. This is something for Covenant to cling to, to justify his decision to keep the ring. Of course, the journey in the second chronicles includes learning about what that does, and does not, need to imply.
Covenant's redemption of the Land in the First Chronicles is one and the same with his own personal redemption. He emerges from it a person who is able to care and to act for love and above all a person who has found a value in his own life, once thought empty.
So walking into the Second Chronicles, there is an odd mirror image: Covenant's sense of self worth translates into an assumption that he again must save the Land. This is something buried deep, and part of his personal journey in the Second Chronicles is letting go.
As Covenant goes on this journey, this need to take personal responsibility for Foul goes sour before it goes clear. Covenant doesn't immediately resolve this dilemma; there are some painful intermediate phases, and, as I said, his motivations are not even clear to himself.In an October 1991 interview was wrote:the second [Chronicles] is a test of sacrifice in relationships - Covenant can't save The Land alone in The Second Chronicles , and neither can Linden Avery. It takes what they can both give, and what they can both give up, to save The Land.
Second, at the same time that Covenant is undertaking this struggle, it is becoming more and more apparent that Linden having access to the wild magic is a bad idea. She has inner demons which are still running amok; Covenant grows to understand this. She wants power too much. Covenant's instincts about power, how it must be earned, and his dread of its consequences, cause him to doubt (probably correctly) that Linden must not gain too much power too easily. It would destroy her, and the Land along the way.
Third, there is the aspect of Fate. Covenant's reluctance to yield the ring turns out to be the right course. So, in the story, this needs to play out dramatically. It cannot be clear that Covenant should keep the ring, nor that he should give it to Linden, or else there'd be no drama. So the signals fly in both directions, and we, as readers, feel the frustration.
Part of this Fate aspect manifests as Covenant's growing understanding of his personal relationship with Foul. They are, as I am sometimes loathe to say, one. This is something for Covenant to cling to, to justify his decision to keep the ring. Of course, the journey in the second chronicles includes learning about what that does, and does not, need to imply.
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NightBlaze
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I think TC's reasoning for keeping the ring was simple enough. He 'needed to be the lands salvation' which was more strongly noted in TWL than in either of the other 2 books. Agree or disagree with TC's character, he just felt the lands salvation depended on him rather than Linden until the middle of White Gold Weilder. Thats when he began to realize her true importance. Prior to that she came in handy as a medic, but other than that she was more like a tagalong like Liand is in Runes.
¥ NightBlaze ¥
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ur-bane
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He certainly is. And with his next post, he will enter the Mile High Club, too! 
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want
to test a man's character, give him power.
--Abraham Lincoln
Excerpt from Animal Songs Never Written
"Hey, dad," croaked the vulture, "what are you eating?"
"Carrion, my wayward son."
"Will there be pieces when you are done?"
I think that Covenant's refusal to give Linden the ring was a result of his beginning to realize that Mhoram was right when he said that Covenant was the white gold. Subconciously Covenant understood that he was meant to wield the white gold just as Linden was meant to wield her health sense and the staff of law. For a job as important as saving the land, even the ultimate tools could only be effective when used by the most able person. Linden's personal strength and weaknesses were what made her the perfect "healer" of the land, while Covenant's were what made him its perfect "savior." Anyone else who had the tools which they were given would have been ineffective. That is why the Creator chose Covenant and Linden to do the job.
"Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die."~Mel Brooks
Yes he is, and a true asset to this community as well.Is our guy Wayfriend good at this or what?
I'm interested, Wayfriend, in what you said about Covenant's reluctance to give Linden the ring b/c of her desire for power. At the end of WGW before the confrontation with Foul, he did turn to her and offer her the ring. What do you make of this? Her craving for power was still there.
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Fist and Faith
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Bangarang!!!Matrixman wrote:Is our guy Wayfriend good at this or what?
Some really great things have already been said. Here's a few thoughts to add.
It's possible that, even though he already saved the Land in the 1st Chrons, Covenant was still trying to redeem himself for the other things he did. If he gave up the ring, he would have less opportunities to do so.
Also, he certainly knew tons more about the Land, Earthpower, Foul, etc, than Linden did, and figured he had a much smaller chance of screwing up.
And I think pride is an issue. When they first met the Elohim, and they were dismissing him, I'll bet he was pissed. But he was still insecure and still fighting against his own desire for power, so he didn't do anything. But when the Haruchai were threatened, he had an excuse to throw some weight around! He was probably happy to stand up for the Haruchai more than just because they deserved it.
All lies and jest
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest -Paul Simon
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest -Paul Simon
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wayfriend
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Okay, thanks everyone! But geez ...Fist and Faith wrote:Bangarang!!!Matrixman wrote:Is our guy Wayfriend good at this or what?
That was Love.At the end of WGW before the confrontation with Foul, he did turn to her and offer her the ring. What do you make of this? Her craving for power was still there.
They had escaped from the Cavewights. Pitchwife and the First had just expressed their love for each other with acts of irrevocable devotion.
Immediately after, Covenant saw Linden's love for him. Love which taunted her with impossible hopes. Love which Covenant treasured, and which he knew he would lose in mere moments.In [u]White Gold Wielder[/u] was wrote:"Then," she responded, "I must remain to menace this mould, so that you may depart." She swallowed a lump of sorrow. "Pitchwife, you must accompany them. They will have need of your strength. And I must believe that you live."
At that, Pitchwife burst into a spasm of coughing. A moment passed before Covenant realized that the malformed Giant was trying to laugh.
"My wife, you jest," he said at last. "I have found my own reply to doubt. The Chosen has assigned me to your side. Do not credit that the song which the Giants will sing of this day will be sung of you alone."
"I am the First of the Search!" she retorted. "I command —"
"You are Gossamer Glowlimn, the spouse of my heart." His mouth was bloody; but his eyes gleamed. "I am proud of you beyond all endurance. Demean not your high courage with foolishness. Neither Earthfriend nor Chosen has any need of my accompaniment. They are who they are — and will not fail. I am sworn to you in love and fealty, and I will remain."
At this point, it's all about love. It may be that at this very moment his love for Linden exceeds everything else for him. But what I believe is that, at that moment, he needed to prove his love to her in the most significant way he could. It was literally his last chance.She refused to hear him. "Maybe not," she rasped. "Maybe we can still get back in time. I couldn't save you before because your spirit wasn't there—your will to live. If you would just stop giving up, we might still have a chance." Her voice was husky with thwarted yearning. "You're bruised and exhausted. I don't know how you stay on your feet. But you haven't been stabbed yet." Her gaze flashed toward the faint scar in the center of his chest. "You don't have to die."
But be saw the grief in her eyes and knew that she did not believe her own protestation.
So he offered her everything, and damned the consequences.
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