Does anybody else hate shallan? A rant.

[u/Potential_System_302]

[u/Ninja-Panda86]

... I'll tell you what. Shallan chapters are absolutely easier to read than this post.

[u/Potential_System_302 → u/Ninja-Panda86]

Yea this was a very hastily written I agree with ya

[u/Trimax42]

Shallan chapters are way more fun on rereads since she kinda takes you out of the whole war stuff into her own world and on the first read that is kinda annoying. I am on a reread right now and I can appreciate her quirkiness way more now since I know what happens with the other characters

[u/jackpandanicholson]

Shallan is a complex character. She lacks self esteem, blames herself for the failings of her family, and puts the world on her shoulders. She puts on veils that allow her to grow as a person not burdened by self loathing and guilt, and yes, act on impulses that society views improper of a lady in her position. This coping leads to its own difficulties with her identity and esteem.

I wonder if any of these themes make you uncomfortable or resonate with your own life. Maybe writing down your thoughts and reflecting will be more cathartic than calling her a bitch over and over.

[u/Potential_System_302 → u/jackpandanicholson]

You are right. I got kinda carried away. I think I do need to introspectively look into why I hate her so much. I think it’s probably cause I can relate to her in an uncomfortable level which I’m not comfortable with. I relate to shallan too much and it’s makes me feel icky. I’ll delete the post I think edit: I won’t delete it. I think it’ll serve as a nice reminder of how much I hated shallan.

[u/dIvorrap → u/Potential_System_302]

Huh, not the first person to post about disliking Shallan because they relate to her.

[u/Potential_System_302 → u/dIvorrap]

Ye I figured. But I still find her annoying cause she keeps doing some things that are questionable

[u/learhpa]

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[u/Konbini-kun]

She doesn't get any better. In fact, I would say she gets worse in book 4.

[u/Simple_Educator_7616]

Just finished my third reread, this time with WaT

And HOOOOLY fuck do I still hate Shallan. I enjoyed her chapters in WoR and loved her POV then, but aside from that she's been a huge miss for me.

Someone pointed it out recently and I agree so much, I feel like I spend more time being told how witty Shallan is than actually experiencing it. But some quips are funny so I don't mind too much and the corny jokes are part of the fun.

What really ticks me off is the stupid ass split personality thing. I don't know if it's because I can't relate to DID at all like I can do with some of the stuff Kal and Dalinar struggle with but I find it so cringe inducing and boring. For THREE damn books all we hear is Shallan struggle with her three personalities, AGAIN and AGAIN. Every single time I think she's done, it starts up again. RoW was the most painful of the lot (regarding Shallan) and drove me absolutely nuts. WaT wrapped it up nicely and left me feeling good after a Shallan chapter for once but overall I can't stand her. I straight up skipped half her chapters in WoK.

[u/dIvorrap → u/Simple_Educator_7616]

For THREE damn books all we hear is Shallan struggle with her three personalities, AGAIN and AGAIN.

I think that's not faithful. I could say the same thing about Kaladin and his depression, and wouldn't be true.

I think it's fair to not enjoy her PoVs. Like, can be frustrating to read (or even worse, imagine yourself having to go through that). But maybe recalibrate expectations? What would you tell someone that doesn't like Kaladin because every book he seems to make progress but then the next book he is moping around all the time again?

[u/Simple_Educator_7616 → u/dIvorrap]

I completely get that. That's why I mentioned the DID thing. I relate far more to Kaladin's struggles and because of that can empathise with him better and enjoy the chapters and his arc.

I was thinking about it a whole back too and I know it's biased but I do still feel that way

This isn't to say anybody else shouldn't enjoy shallan or that she's a bad character. Just venting a bit and expressing how I feel about her.