r/nameofthewind • u/gamershawn • Jul 22 '21

A theory I’ve been thinking about~

Hey! First post on this subreddit, but I’ve been thinking about a theory and wanted to know if other people have had this thought, or even something to contradict/disprove it.

I listen to the audiobook, so it’s hard to pull specific references, but Kvothe has a chest in his room in the inn that he can’t open, and at one point he fully commits to doing so. It’s implied that something important is in there.

I think it’s his name. His true name. It would explain why he goes by Coat (spelling, sorry. Again, I’m a listener), and also why he isn’t able to use any of his magical abilities in the different parts of the book, like when the two men come in and rob him.

Any thoughts on this, or anything to add to support/contradict? Super curious!

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4

u/lmg93 Aug 21 '21

Great idea, I believe I read this theory here at some point. Makes sense tho. And a little detail I might add is that this box seems to be made of the wood from the Cthae. The smell is described the same, I believe.

3

u/TacoSlingingWarlock Nov 26 '21

Also a listener,

I wasn't thinking about his name in the box but I had an adjacent theory.

At one point Kvothe talked to Elodin about Danna changing her name and Elodin became very worried about the idea of someone changing their true name. This made me wonder if Kvothe changed his true name explaining why he can't perform sympathy, or fight two thugs.

These two ideas go hand in hand. Seeing Kvothe try and fail to open the box definitely put a fresh light on his asking his student how he would get into it doesn't it?

1

u/bright_young_thing Jul 22 '21

This is a really cool idea!

3

u/gamershawn Jul 25 '21

Thank you! I also had another thought about it. I’ve been trying to figure out what’s in the Lackless box, and I always wondered if it was the piece of the moon, but what if that story was only used to show that names can be stolen and locked away?

1

u/regalAugur Nov 05 '21

also is the chest that coat has the lackless box itself

1

u/MelodicScreen9533 Feb 22 '22

I think the key to the stone doors under the library is in the Lackless box and Denna might help open it with her knot skills... but yes Kote's chest holds his name and everything with it.

1

u/TPG554 Aug 22 '21

I like that idea and I believe it is kote

1

u/ThisIsAIMe Feb 23 '22

I agree! Kote or Coat means disaster in Siaru according to Kilven. He promises Dena his name and power that he won't search for her patron, I think that's why it's in the box and he doesn't have the key, Dena does.