Words of Radiance

In Words of Radiance, characters from all levels of society feel a strong sense of responsibility and duty to the people in their lives and the world at large. For each character, the people that make up their personal communities are often their central focus in decision-making. For Kaladin, Bridge Four is his family, and their safety and prosperity are often at the center of his mind. In The Way of Kings, Kaladin works tirelessly to free them from the constant danger of bridge runs, and even though he succeeds, the tension over their wellbeing persists. His spren, Syl, challenges him to accept that he succeeded in his initial goal, and to relinquish the responsibility he feels: “‘In Bridge Four, you dedicated everything you had to saving them,’ Syl said. ‘Well, they’re saved. You can’t go about protecting every one’” (466). Syl reminds Kaladin that he led them to a better life. Her encouragement is a reminder that they are independent men who can make their own choices, and the weight of responsibility he places on himself is not healthy. Kaladin positions himself as the leader of these men, and as such, he holds himself responsible for any harm that comes to them.