Inheritance

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains descriptions of enslavement, emotional abuse, violence, and bodily injury.

Throughout Inheritance, protagonists and antagonists alike wield tremendous amounts of power in their respective spheres of influence, whether they operate in physical, magical, or political spheres of influence. Inherent in the very fabric of the novel—and of the series as a whole—is the age-old adage that “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Thus, Paolini suggests that the only way to counter the corruptive influence of power is to wield that power in the service of others. In addition to Eragon, both Roran and Nasuada exemplify the importance of balancing power with service, and Roran’s sentiments represent the clearest articulation of the issue at hand. Specifically, Roran observes that magic is an inherently unfair form of power, which Eragon wields while he does not. As Roran declares, “I wish we didn’t have to rely on a Rider or an elf or any sort of magician to win this war for us. No one should be at the mercy of another person. Not like this. It unbalances the world” (371). Although his unequivocal statement lacks nuance, it does serve to illustrate the dilemma that lies at the heart of the series.