The Wise Man's Fear

One of the conflicts within the novel is the difference between how people appear to others and how people really are. The difficulty of navigating expectation versus reality paired with the youth and uncertainty of the main characters culminates in central questions about self-concept. Through Kvothe’s experiences and explorations, the reader can explore What Makes an Identity, including both the internal and external factors contributing to that identity.

Kvothe spends the first half of the novel hiding some of the central pieces of his identity. He hides the extent of his poverty from his friends until he must expose himself for his own safety, but his lack of financial resources is a large contributor to how he interacts with the rest of the world. Because he does not have money, he has learned to work hard and be frugal, two characteristics that eventually contribute to his leadership of the mercenaries and success among the Adem. He further does not advertise his ethnicity, keeping it so private that his friends must ask him about his heritage. The consistency of this denial and secrecy means that he is denying himself and cannot engage in the exploration needed to grow as a person.

When Kvothe is forced to leave the University, he also leaves his securities and is forced to ask central questions about himself. In the absence of allies, he examines what makes him a successful scholar and performer, revisiting his roots and his skills. As he is forced into increasingly difficult and uncomfortable situations, Kvothe continues to define himself, both by his actions and by the knowledge he gains along the way. His increased independence and time for reflection allows him to claim different parts of his identity with confidence. This confidence and self-love is symbolized when he stands up to Alveron and Meluan, telling them about his heritage even knowing the dire consequences he will face.

Even as the past Kvothe finds himself, the Kvothe of the present seems to have lost his own identity. He clings to his status as an innkeeper, frequently telling Bast that he is no longer the person stories were told about. After being beaten by the soldiers, he states that Bast needs to “Quit expecting me to be something I’m not” (998). This quiet desperation reinforces that Kvothe has lost a central part of his identity that has changed his self-image, causing a regression and disconnection from the surrounding world.

In following with the tropes of many fantasy novels, The Wise Man’s Fear explores good and evil and the battle between the two. While Kvothe’s interactions with evil are limited compared to the events of the previous book, there is a clear conflict between positive and negative energies. However, Rothfuss uses this trope to explore the simplicity of evil and the complexity of goodness, showing that there is more to consider when navigating the two forces.

In the world of the novel, two forces are delineated as evil: the Chandrian and the Cthaeh. The Chandrian are mysterious, malevolent figures out of the world’s history. Not only are they destructive in the few stories that remain of them, but they take great pains to eliminate information from circulating about them. This involves perpetuating acts of evil, like mass murder. Kvothe’s firsthand experiences with the Chandrian inspire him to seek them out, hoping to kill them for what they did to his family. However, the maliciousness with which they prevent information about themselves from circulating prevents Kvothe from learning their weaknesses and true identities. The Cthaeh is evil in a different way. Rather than showcase evil through acts of violence, the Cthaeh manipulates the people she meets, changing their fortunes to create broader catastrophe in the world. In doing so, she causes direct harm and also effectively strips free will from her victims. She does this to Kvothe, and the ramifications of their interaction have yet to be fully observed.

“Good” as a concept is much more complicated. There are characters and groups whom the reader identifies as good, but they engage in behaviors or actions that do not fit traditional positive roles. Kvothe, for example, is the novel’s hero and protagonist. His search for justice and devotion to his friends aligns him with positivity. Yet the reader also sees him lie, steal, and commit murder, taking the law into his own hands. Kvothe and the reader are both meant to question his behaviors and what they mean for his broader role as the novel’s hero. The Amyr is another group with ambiguously good stature, for they are warriors elected by the church for their skill and moral fortitude. However, Kvothe notes that these warriors are often so highly regarded that they are seen as beyond reproach, with permission to do whatever acts they desire because it is seen as for the greater good. Although he presents drastic circumstances when describing the Amyr, it is understood that such absolute power inherently carries moral ambiguity; when someone cannot be challenged, it leads to a level of power and control that cannot be sustained.

Because this is the second novel of a series and Kvothe’s story is far from over, there is no clear victor in the battle of good versus evil. The conclusion presented within the story is that despite human errors, the desire to do good is as important as goodness itself. Morally wrong acts committed with good intentions cannot be automatically discounted just because of their connection to negativity. Kvothe represents this through his many mistakes and growing pains.