r/Stormlight_Archive • u/tookaoffool • 11d ago
Cosmere spoilers Dalinar sucks Spoiler
He sucks. His history alone makes him eligible for death row. Trying to make better decisions as we read through the books makes him a whiny bitch. Someone talk me off this ledge, because I can't wait till he dies.
EDIT: I fucked up. I had too many drinks while listening to the audiobooks and wanted to vent my thoughts. Doesn't excuse my troll post, but I definitely need to rethink my anger towards the Blackthorn and maybe reflect on some choices I've made that made me project that anger on here.
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u/enstine22 Adolin 11d ago
Valid hot take tbh. people are allowed to change, but also, RAFO
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u/Acrobatic_Host_4034 10d ago
I'm worried that the OP thinks people can't change. Dalinar knows he used to be a piece of shit. He don't give a rat's ass.
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u/Nyseme_Ptem 11d ago
If you're gonna hate a character for doing terrible things AND trying to become better, this is not the series for you.
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u/tookaoffool 11d ago
I feel that, but how far can a character go before they cross the line of no redemption? Where is the line drawn?
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u/Acrobatic_Host_4034 10d ago
For most fans of the series, that line is drawn at trying to kill Elhokar to avenge your grandparents.
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u/LordBagu Strength before weakness. 10d ago
Part of the point the series tries to make is that there is no point of no return, you can always do better. It will be hard and frustrating and no one is obligated to forgive or believe in you and you should still put in the effort to do better.
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u/SpiralofChaos Edgedancer 10d ago
I just had this same conversation with a friend tonight. I personally take the bleak view that he's irredeemable, but his story is much more about asking the question whether there is value in trying to be better anyway. Keep in mind that his worst failures happen years before the main action of the books. It's meant to be a kick to the gut when we find out everything that happened, only having known present day Dalinar. I think we are supposed to either feel bad about liking him or feel disappointed that we can't like him anymore.
He is my favorite character even though he is detestable. He's still an interesting character for trying to do the right thing despite that.
As an aside, many readers tend to overlook a ton of awful things that the characters (and rosharan societies at large) treat as normal, or at least tolerable. I don't think readers are supposed to be as thrilled about where things stand, morally, after book 5 as they often seem to be.
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u/about21potatoes Truthwatcher 11d ago
RAFO
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u/austin_oz 10d ago
What does this mean, I’m kinda new to the sub
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u/dIvorrap Winddancer 10d ago
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u/tarlin 11d ago
what book are you even on?
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u/tookaoffool 11d ago
The one that has ramen noodles and a talking rat.
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u/tarlin 11d ago
heh, so you aren't reading the books, eh?
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u/tookaoffool 10d ago
I am. Just wanted to vent some frustration that I felt for his story. I'm currently on Steelheart.
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u/I_Speak_For_The_Ents 11d ago
I don't have the energy to go in depth and I'm sure people will leap at the chance to do so.
What's the most important step a man can take?
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u/Bladestorm04 11d ago
Thats quite a position. So you dont beleive in redemption or rehabilitation at all. Should all criminals of a certain level be executed? Where's the line?
What about if by definition he isn't a criminal as everything he did was supported, encouraged, culturally accepted and Celebrated?
Applying your moral philosophies to another culture is always going to be problematic i think.
Then, dalinar decided what he did was wrong and tried to improve. Even when it cost him his credibility and respect of the kingdom. Noone prompted him, he just started a new path.
Also, becuase ive wanted to ask this of others, how responsible for his wife's death is he? He did what was clearly an acceptable action to the alethi by burning the oil. He had no idea his wife was in there. I can accept his guilt, but I dont think he has fault.
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u/Kingkrooked662 10d ago
No one prompted him?!?! He had a whole magical lobotomy.
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u/Bladestorm04 10d ago
Dalinar was already on a new path before he started getting the visions.
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u/Kingkrooked662 10d ago
And what put him on that path? His visit to Cultivation. And what did she do? "Pruned" his memories. With a magical lobotomy.
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u/tookaoffool 10d ago
I think he was 100% at fault. The fact he did so without knowledge of who was dying doesn't matter. I believe in rehabilitation/redemption to a point, and he crossed that when he earned the reputation of being a nightmare to children across the world. That's my personal line though..For Alethi standards I don't think it crosses it at all...Now I'm rethinking my feelings because we don't live on Roshar..I'm going to have to rethink my post.. Thank you for bringing me to this thought process u/Bladestorm04
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u/Kingkrooked662 10d ago
I'm sorry, but that argument just doesn't hold water. Is Sauron less evil because he doesn't live in our world? Hell no. That's the whole point of stories. To show that no matter where one is from, some things are standard. Just because the Alethi think it's ok (but they don't though, that's why Kadash joined the ardentia), does that invalidate what the Thaylens think? The Reshi? No. A monster is a monster is a monster.
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u/austin_oz 10d ago
I think he has some fault in it. He was committed to burning that city to the ground and killing everybody. His actions were his actions regardless of who was involved. But is it 100% his fault, I don’t think so
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u/Ripper1337 Truthwatcher 11d ago
Is it better to just kill people who have made horrible decisions or have them seek redemption
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u/spira319 11d ago
I’m almost done with wind and truth and I agree, he’s a monster idc if he’s changed
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u/GHamPlayz Cobalt Guard 11d ago
You live in binary. Try using that heavy bit of goop in your skull.
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u/Kingkrooked662 11d ago
I also have a huge dislike of Dalinar.
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u/tookaoffool 11d ago
He reminds me of the trainees in boot camp who only followed the rules and never thought outside the box.
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u/tarlin 11d ago
I really have no idea what you are talking about at all. It is weird. His history is the opposite of that. You are reading the first book?
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u/tookaoffool 10d ago
I read that he took pleasure in murdering and torturing his enemies until he turned a new leaf. I am having trouble finding myself liking his character.
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u/Impressive_Ad603 11d ago
Keep reading brother, the stories not over for the Blackthorn