WARNING TO PARENTS: Why Eragon and Eldest are NOT family books

[Blurrai]

Scratch that, this books aren't even okay for adults.

And no, I will not complain about the magic or such in Eragon and Eldest. That's a touchy subject, but most magic goes over kid's heads. What kids focus on is the characters.

This is where the problems begin.

I could go on about the minor characters, because most of them are murderers at some point in the books. However, the main character, being the main one, obviously deserves focus, as the writer of the series, Paolini, has said Eragon is a wonderful role model for children everywhere.

That said, here are two solid facts: Eragon meets four, debatably five, criteria out of six to be a sociopath, and all the criteria to have Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

For those who have a life, unlike me, and therefore have not researched mental disorders, let me explain what this entails.

First off, Eragon is in essence a terrorist. The most villainous thing the villain has done thus far is tax people in excess. These taxes occur because of the resistance needlessly fighting against him. Without the resistance, there would be no tax, thus no evil left to the villain. Eragon, however, wants to kill him and all people around him. Eragon had, by all accounts, a peaceful childhood with a roof over his head, food on the table, and no valid reason to hate the King. But he does. He wants the King dead, he wants all those working directly with the King dead, then it has been hinted he might want the crown for himself. And what is the motivation? Taxes?

Oh, yeah, we really want kids to be just like him. But this isn't so bad, actually. Moving on...

Short sighted and incredibly stupid, Eragon will rush into anything and everything. And when he messes up, he'll throw the blame onto those closest to him - his mentor, his family, his dragon, even his love interest. It's all their fault for not stopping him, he'll say, then go off to do the same mistake again and again. In combat, other characters always rescue him. And then he berates them, because he could've done it, really. Lacking foresight and common sense, Eragon has no problem berating his half brother, who he thought had died, the second they meet, then, after insulting him and summarily getting his butt kicked by him, Eragon claims to be the victim, abused and unloved by his newly discovered family.

This is, still, not so bad as far as Eragon goes.
Here's what cinched his qualification as a sociopath upon deeper scrutiny.

He kills without regret, mercy, or hesitation. He never feels anything for ending the lives of innocent guards (really, he couldn't sneak around them?), a messenger just doing his job, and dozens of Imperial troops who were forced into their job. In fact, in Eldest while he was killing the last mentioned group of people, he laughed and thought it was too easy. And this is AFTER he has been told there is no afterlife, that this is it.

He also has no qualms about hurting those around him. His uncle, who raised him, his cousin, both his mentors, his dragon, his friends, his followers, and his love interest - all are there for him, but during the end battle, in the time of crisis, Eragon decided it was every man for himself and ignored them. Let those who had stood beside him and saved his life be slain - he was too busy killing at least a thousand or so innocent men. He has no problem insulting viciously anyone who does not praise him, and ignoring perfectly sound, logical advice.

He is unaffected by death. He devotes two paragraphs worth of thought to the death of his uncle and not even that to the death of his half brother. These were people close to him, and he honestly did not care and never in the span of six months after his brother's supposed death did he ever reflect on it; he forgot and ignored it. Same goes for the person who raised him.

In the habit of placing everyone in danger needlessly, Eragon handles very poorly the responsibility given to him. People close and dear to him are often thrust onto the frontlines BY him. People he doesn't know but who are on his side are as good as dead; his strategy in Eldest was to kill lots of the opposing (innocent) force himself, and the troops on his side are used sort of like a mass human sheild to keep back the enemy until Eragon can kill larger numbers of the enemy. Those on his side who die are not mentioned after the battle. Like all death in Eragon's eyes or at his hands, they didn't matter.

The Lord has put it on my heart to share this with people: Eragon is not a family book. Eragon is a terrible character. His love of killing is in no way Christian. He is reckless and uses everyone close to him as a shield for his stupidity.

No parent should let any kid under the age of 15 read these books.

Kids have always wanted be like their favorite characters from any given media, be it television, comic books, video games, or books. And I know I'm young and therefore my opinion is not inclined to mean much to a parent, but read this over again and ask yourself how many Christian values your kids are getting. Scratch that, there aren't even any non Christian values! Every religion looks down upon the abovementioned behaviors, and for good reason. Kids who think this is cool are destined to begin logicing things out. It's okay to hurt people who disagree with you, Eragon did it. Etc.

Please, do not let this crap into your house. I own both books and have read them over four times, and I can assure you there is nothing redeeming about it. There are no godly values (to say nothing of the author shoving his views of religion into the elves) and there are no ungodly values. There is nothing good here.

I will understand if this post needs to be moved, but parents have (or should have) the final say about letting this kind of thing into their kid's lives. Thus, it's here.

 

[Turtleopolis]

Interesting post, Blurrai!

Having only read one of the Paolini books, I'm kind of talking out my nose a little bit here. But I think that anybody who's done any semi-extensive reading in fantasy at all will be able to see that - while not horribly written - the storyline is incredibly derivative. (Take a little Anne McCaffrey, a little Tolkein etc.) It's sort of cases like Paolini's that makes me wish that young writers wouldn't be in such an all-fired hurry to be published; after a few more years and a little more life experience, he probably could have done a lot better.

Anyway, though - coming at this from an agnostic perspective, as you'll see in my icons - I think that books about deeply flawed characters can bring up interesting questions about human nature. And while I'm also not a parent, speaking hypothetically, I can see a lot of potential for interesting conversations stemming from those books. For instance, why does Eragon make the choices he makes? Are they good choices, or bad choices? Part of the point of fiction is to give us another lens through which to examine ourselves, I think. Just because we're following his story doesn't mean we have to agree with everything he does.

Just my fifth-of-a-dime.

Best,
turtleopolis

 

[Diane_Windsor]

That said, here are two solid facts: Eragon meets four, debatably five, criteria out of six to be a sociopath, and all the criteria to have Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

And where did you get your Doctorate in Psychology from? How long have you been a practicing psychologist? Are you a member of the American Psychological Association?

May I remind others that unless one has an advanced degree in psychology and have been practicing for some time then they are not qualified to diagnose individuals (either in real life or in fiction).

 

[Cordereko]

I see you say that you have read the books. But I happen to love these books. Now listen its OK. I'm a Christian but I think you missed some stuff. You make it sound so evil and demonic but there is something else to it.
Eragon was not wanting to kill Galbratorixs and his servents atleast right away. We know that killing is bad, and we know that anything that has something to do with magic we think BAD. But first Eragon had his family torn from him because the king wanted the Dragon Egg. You know what read my old book report I have from when I was a junior in High school. I want this also for the reason it might open my eyes to something I didnt see before. Please and may God watch over you.

(send private message for email information)

 

[Cordereko]

Ok Please read this, look very carefully for it is pretty dead on with the books.


Eldest Book Report
English language arts III Period 8


History
Early life

For the first 15 years of Eragon’s life, he lived on a farm in the small village of Carvahall. His Mother, Selena, vanished soon after his birth, leaving him in the care of Selena’s brother Garrow, and his wife Marian. Marian died a few years after Selena's departure. At this point Eragon lived with Garrow and Roran, Garrow's son. All this time, Eragon was ignorant regarding the identity of his father.
Due to the independent nature of his uncle, the three of them lived a secluded life from most of the villagers. Eragon, along with his uncle and cousin, survived on farming and hunting. Eragon was a brave and skilled hunter: he is one of the few who ever dared hunt in the large untamed range of the Spine Mountains.
Though his family was poor, Garrow instilled in Roran and Eragon principles of honesty and sincerity, and taught them to live honorably.
Although young, he has an adult mind due to having to grow up on his own.

Vengeance

Eragon is surprised to see a polished blue stone materialize one night in front of him while he is hunting in the Spine. A few days later, after a failed attempt to sell the stone, Eragon witnesses a baby Dragon hatch from the "stone", and realizes that it is actually a dragon egg. Eragon's hand touches the baby dragon's forehead and it leaves a Geodesy Ignasia, a silvery mark on his hand.
After asking about dragons to the village's elderly “storyteller”, Brom, Eragon gets a list of dragons' names. Saphira is one of those names and the dragon liked that name the best when Eragon presented them to her. While Eragon raises Saphira in secret, without revealing her presence even to Roran and Garrow, Roran decides to leave Carvahall and work at a mill in Therinsford. Roran says that he will come back with the money to build a farm and then ask Katrina, daughter of Sloan the village butcher, for her hand in marriage, for the love they share.
Eragon continues to raise Saphira in secret until two of King Galbatorix's servants, the Ra'zac, come to Carvahall looking for the egg. Eragon and Saphira escape by hiding deep in the Spine (by which Saphira "kidnapped" Eragon when her ancestral memories recognized the Ra'zac's scent), but Garrow is fatally wounded, and the house and the farm buildings were destroyed.
Once Garrow dies, Eragon is left with no reason to stay in Carvahall. He goes after the Ra'zac, seeking vengeance for the destruction of his home and uncle's death. He is accompanied by Brom, who insists on helping him and Saphira.
Eragon is a Dragon Rider because of his great bond with Saphira. Eragon learns, much to his surprise, that he shares the name of the very first Dragon Rider, an Elf named Eragon.
The situation within The Empire in Alagaesia was becoming increasingly unstable at the time. The evil king Galbatorix, who betrayed and slew the order of the Dragon Riders with the help of the Thirteen Forsworn- a group of thirteen Dragon Riders who swore fealty to Galbatorix — is beginning to move decisively against the Varden, a group of powerful rebels who want to overthrow the evil king. Galbatorix is the “last” remaining Dragon Rider.
Though the Forsworn were no longer alive, Galbatorix's Urgals attack Brom and Eragon while in the town of Yazuac, Eragon accidentally uses magic, even though he previously disbelieved in its existence and killed two Urgals that pursued him. Later on, Brom reveals that all Riders could use magic, and takes it upon himself to teach Eragon the Ancient Language and magic. Eragon is also given a mighty sword, Zar'roc, by Brom.
Eragon and Brom eventually lose the Ra'zac's trail. But, with the assistance of Jeod, who lived in the seaport city fortress of Teirm, they trace the Ra'zac to the southern city of Dras-Leona.
Eragon visits a shop in Teirm owned by the witch Angela, where he meets an intelligent and cryptic werecat named Solembum, and Angela herself. She tells his fortune, revealing that he would have a long life; that the great powers of the land would struggle to control him and that he would fall in love with a lady of noble birth. She also predicts that he would someday leave Alagaësia forever, and that he would face betrayal from within his own family.
As Eragon was about to leave, Solembum tells him:
"...When the time is right and you need a weapon, look under the roots of the Menoa Tree. Then, when all seems lost, and your power seems insufficient, go to the rock of Kuthian and speak your name to open the Vault of Souls."
Solembum does not elaborate, nor does he explain what or where the Menoa Tree or the Rock of Kuthian are.
On the way to Dras-Leona, Brom reveals some startling secrets to Eragon; he is a member of the Varden, and Brom then reveals that not all the dragon eggs were destroyed at the time of “the Fall of the Dragon Riders”: Galbatorix salvaged three eggs during his conquest. The one containing Saphira was stolen under the direction of Brom and Jeod. The remaining two eggs remained under Galbatorix's control, with the king's attempts to hatch them in vain. Brom also reveals that he killed Morzan, first and last of the Forsworn, and Galbatorix's most loyal servant. Thus, Eragon and Saphira are the Varden's last hope, because even if the other two eggs hatched, the Rider(s) would most probably be loyal to Galbatorix. Eragon and Saphira decide to join the Varden and fight the tyrant king, after they finish the task of killing the Ra'zac.
A beautiful elf, who is held captive in a prison, begins to appear in his dreams. Initially, Eragon does not think much about the dreams. Later on, he discovers through magic that the elf really existed, and he decides to somehow rescue her. She continues appearing in his dreams for some time.
In Dras-Leona, Eragon encounters the Ra'zac, but manages to escape. Eragon and Brom flee the city, but are ambushed in the night by the Ra'zac. A mysterious young man named Murtagh rescues them, but not before Brom was fatally wounded by the Ra'zac.
Brom dies shortly after this and revealing to Eragon that he was once a Rider, and that his Dragon was named Saphira, who was slain in the war against Galbatorix. In his final moments, Brom warns Eragon that Galbatorix was evil, and that he and Saphira must not submit to him. Eragon lays Brom to rest, and Saphira uses the unpredictable magic of the dragons to turn Broms tomb into diamond.
Eragon and Saphira decide to let Murtagh travel with them as they journey to the city of Gil'ead, in search of a contact who could lead them to the Varden. At Gil'ead, Urgals under the command of Durza, a Shade — an evil sorcerer who has been possessed by the spirits he summoned — capture Eragon and imprison him in the same prison where the elf was being held.
Murtagh and Saphira then stage a daring rescue, but Eragon, Saphira, and
Murtagh are confronted by Durza. The struggle ends when Murtagh shoots Durza between his eyes, throwing the Shade into a painful disembodiment.
Eragon insists on rescuing the elf as well. She remains unconscious, but he is eventually able to speak with her telepathically. She reveals to him that her name is Arya, and gives him the location of the Varden.
She tells him that they must reach the Varden if she is to survive, for she had been poisoned in prison, and would die without the antidote, called Tunivor's Nectar. He has by then temporarily forgotten about killing the Ra'zac and rushes to save her.

Journey to the Varden

Eragon, Saphira, Murtagh, with the unconscious Arya cross the Hadarac Desert, racing to reach Farthen Dûr, the Dwarven mountains that house the Varden, in time to save Arya. They are pursued by the Empire and the empire's allies, an army of Urgals and Kull. Before they reach Farthen Dûr, Murtagh, who had been reluctant to go to the Varden all along, reveals
that he is the son of Morzan, first and last of the Forsworn. With the Kull on their heels, they are rescued by the Varden and are taken to safety.
The Varden fight against Galbatorix, with the help of the Dwarves who are led by their King, Hrothgar. The Elves reside in secret in the forest of Du’Weldenvarden, providing covert support to the Varden. Surda, the kingdom in exile, is also sympathetic to the Varden's cause.
Ajihad, leader of the Varden, imprisons Murtagh when Ajihad learned of Murtagh's heritage. Arya was treated for her injuries and recovers. In the meeting with Ajihad, he learns that Saphira's egg was under the care of Arya, until she was ambushed by Durza while transporting it. He is then told that the Shade was not destroyed by Murtagh's well placed arrow, because
the only way to kill a Shade is with a stab through the heart. He also meets Angela and Solembum who had left Teirm to aid the Varden.
Ajihad wished to send Eragon to Ellesméra to complete his training; therefore, two magicians known as the Twins assessed his magicical abilities. The Twins were cruel to Eragon, and attempted to use him to further their knowledge of the Ancient Language. A partially-healed Arya intervened, however, when he was ordered to 'summon the essence of silver', a feat difficult to even powerful mages, and took the task of assessing Eragon upon herself, then sparring with him.
Eragon, although being soundly defeated, passed the test in Arya's eyes. He begins to feel deep infatuation towards her.
The Varden respect and even revere Eragon. Soon after he arrived in Tronjheim, he was approached by an elderly woman and an orphaned child, Elva, who was the woman's charge. The woman asked Eragon's blessing upon Elva, which he gave readily, using the Ancient Language:
“Atra gülai un ilian tauthr ono un atra ono waíse skölir frá rauthr”
which he thought meant, Let luck and happiness follow you and may you be shielded from misfortune. It is later revealed in Eldest that he made a mistake and said "Let luck and happiness follow you and may you be a shield from misfortune," which cursed her instead of the intended blessing.
This is revealed to be because he used the word Skolir (Shield), instead of skoliro (shielded).
Saphira gives the child her own special gift: a silver star, similar to Eragon's Gedwëy Ignasia, on her forehead. Saphira told Eragon that the child would have a significant future.
Not long after, war becomes imminent. Ajihad informs Saphira and Eragon of an impending threat: an intercepted message reveals that a mighty host of Urgals and Kull were marching steadily towards the Varden through the tunnels under the mountain range.
In the battle that follows, a seemingly endless tide of Urgals and Kull, against fierce resistance, forces its way towards Tronjheim. Within the dwarf city, Eragon is confronted once again by the menacing Shade, Durza, this time alone as he has gone ahead of her and Arya. Eragon is greatly outmatched by the Shade, but, thanks to a sudden distraction from
Saphira and Arya, Durza's attention is diverted long enough for Eragon to stab him through the heart.
Eragon pays a terrible price for his deed: his back is slashed from shoulder to hip, and the scar, which carried remnants of Durza's magic, would trouble him greatly over the course of the next few months.
Following Durza's demise, the controlling link the Shade held on the Urgals' minds breaks, which causes the Urgals to fight amongst themselves. The Varden rout the Urgal army easily in this state. Eragon faints and is besieged by what seem to be remnants of Durza's twisted mind. However, Mourning Sage/The Cripple Who Is Whole assists Eragon in banishing the Shade from his mind, and then urges him to follow Arya to Ellesméra, the capital of the Elves.
The book ends with Eragon promising the presence in his mind that he will go to Ellesmera.

 

[Cordereko]

Eldest
North to Ellesméra

The first events in Eldest are the attack on Ajihad's life, being ambushed by Urgals, then his death, and the disappearance of Murtagh and The Twins — two magicians of the Varden — who are captured by Urgals and assumed dead, and the election of a new leader of the Varden - Nasuada, Ajihad's daughter, to whom Eragon swears huge fealty following some internal politics among the
Varden's Council of Elders. Nausuada is grateful that he chose her over the council of elders, then Ajihad's funeral.
Eragon and Saphira decide to accept the advice of the Mourning Sage, and, accompanied by Orik and Arya, travel northward through eastern Alagaësia to Ellesméra, in order to complete his training as a Rider. Before the journey north, Eragon was asked by Hrothgar, king of the dwarves, to become a member of Dûrgrimst Ingeitum, one of the most influential of the
thirteen Dwarf clans, and to which Hrothgar and Orik belonged.
Eragon donned the helmet (that marked him part of that clan) and Orik helped him complete the ritual to make him a true member of the clan. This was the first time in history that a human would join a Dwarf Clan. After a long journey north, they reach Ellesmera, and Eragon and Saphira meet
Islanzadí, the Elven queen, and the enigmatic raven Blagden, who spouted riddles concerning Eragon's past and future. Eragon was surprised to learn that Arya was Islanzadí's daughter, and so a princess.

The Training of a Rider

Eragon's training began almost at once. His instructor was an ancient Elvish Rider named Oromis, who is revealed to be "The Cripple who is Whole", who had managed to prolong his life by means of countless tiny spells binding his weak body and large amount of power stored in his sword. Oromis and his Dragon Glaedr were the sole survivors of the Dragon
Riders of old. Though they escaped Galbatorix and the Forsworn, they were handicapped: Glaedr's left foreleg was missing, and Oromis was greatly weakened by an incurable disease, and the fact that he had been captured by Galbatorix's minions, who broke something in Oromis, meaning that he could not control large amounts of magic. However, Galbatorix is
unaware that a Rider had escaped the Fall.

Eragon's exercises with Oromis were frustrating at first, but gradually Eragon learned what it mean's to be a true Rider, guided by principles and making responsible choices, and came to understand that his "training" was an ongoing process that would last his entire life. He learned other things, as well, such as history, art and politics. His knowledge of magic and the Ancient Language expanded tremendously, but he is held back immensely by the pain from his scar made by Durza in the previous book.
To his horror, however, he learned from Oromis that he had cursed Elva instead of blessing her due to a mistake in his wording (having accidentally said "may you be a shield from misfortune", instead of "may you be shielded from misfortune", thus dooming her to a horrible life of constantly saving others from suffering by enduring it upon herself.) He resolved to revoke the curse, although such a feat would require tremendous magical ability.
Eragon's training also honed his fighting skills. He develops an intense rivalry with an elf named Vanir, and their mutual dislike came to a head during their sparring sessions. Eragon was defeated multiple times, often suffering bolts of agonizing pain from the scar on his
back.
Guided by Oromis, Eragon composed a poem to present at the Blood-Oath Celebration, a traditional Elvish ceremony commemorating the pact of peace between the Elves and the Dragons. During the festivities, a magical gift from the Dragons healed Eragon of his wound, and he was physically transformed, acquiring the features and abilities of an Elf. Only after this transformation was he able to beat Vanir, breaking the latter's arm. After this
transformation, Eragon was able to cast much more powerful magic; he could read and write more easily than before and was now as fit and strong as the most athletic elf in Alagaësia, he was also able to control a more powerful bow that queen Islanzandi made herself.

The Burning Plains

Nasuada made a momentous decision and moved the Varden to Surda. Here, she learns that the blessing Eragon bestowed on the child in Eragon was worded wrongly due to his lack of basic knowledge of the Ancient Language at the time, becoming a curse of sorts. Eragon too is horrified when he hears of this, and promises to try and nullify it. In the meantime the
girl, Elva, serves as a sort of bodyguard to Nasuada against Galbatorix's network of spies and assassins, the Black Hand, who are discovered in Surda.
Because Nasuada moved the Varden, the threat of war with Galbatorix seems imminent. Upon hearing of this, Eragon immediately leaves for the battle in Surda and finds the situation poised on the edge of battle. The armies of the Varden, together with the army of Surda, camp on a plain opposite the vast armies of Galbatorix. Meanwhile, Roran and his men take
command of a ship of the Empire — with the help of Jeod — the Dragon Wing, and arrive in time in Surda.
With his new skills, Eragon easily kills many of the Empire's soldiers. But his skills were not enough. He begins to tire out—the Empire's army was too large, when Hrothgar arrives with a huge army of Dwarves, turning the battle in the Varden's favor. Unexpectedly, another Rider appeared, mounted on a red dragon. He soon kills Hrothgar and Eragon and Saphira battle him. Wearied by the battle, Eragon was easily outmatched and driven onto the ground with Saphira, though he managed to hamstring the opposing dragon as he went down.

He and his opponent then face off with swords. The Rider's skill matched Eragon's, and soon gained the upper hand. Eragon, recognizing the other Rider's manner of fighting, Mainly by the way he spun his sword, pulls off his opponent's helm, revealing Murtagh. Murtagh revealed that he had been taken to Urû'baen by the Twins, and, when the red Dragon, Thorn, had hatched for him, he had been forced to swear allegiance to Galbatorix in the Ancient Language. He also revealed that Galbatorix knew his True Name, so he owned him in mind and body. His orders from Galbatorix were to try to
capture Saphira because she was the last female dragon in existence. Galbatorix needed her to fulfill his goal of rebuilding the order of the Riders. Murtagh decided to have mercy on them this one time, on account of their former companionship, but he claims Zar'roc as his own, and reveals that Eragon and Murtagh were brothers, meaning Eragon was the son of
Morzan. In truth, as is revealed by Oromis and Glaedr in Brisingr, Eragon is the son of Brom, but Eragon believes that he is Morzan's son until late in Brisingr.
Meanwhile, Roran kills the Twins, and the Empire is forced to retreat after the departure of Murtagh and Thorn. Haunted by this turn of events, Eragon imparts his newfound knowledge to Roran, Nasuada, and Arya. Eldest ends with Eragon and Roran reuniting, and Eragon promising Roran that he will help Roran rescue Katrina from the clutches of the Ra'zac.

Oh I never read anything about him being power hungry. He did not even want a position of such power. He said so very clearly in both books Eragon and Eldest. And he was young and making mistakes like any young unmature person would.
God Bless

 

[Niffer]

Firstly, I found both books to be fairly horribly written, so I didn't spend much energy trying to 'delve' into the psyche of the novel, but I think you're being a tad alarmist here.
It's a juv. fiction book..and a pretty innocent one at that.
As a Librarian and a Christian my biggest issues with kids and books generally come from the teen section, where there is book after book about being popular, anorexia/bulimia, self-mutilation, rape, teen-pregnancy...and I'm not talking about the: 'oh these are issues teens deal with.' ...these are books that can directly influence impressionable minds.
Some of the anorexia books HAVE caused young women to become anorexic or bulimic - they get into your head and mess you up.

I've yet to see a teen become a wizard from reading HP.....

SO! My point being, it's a book written for YA's..99% of readers won't be looking for the hidden psychological issues, they just want to read a book about a dragon.
I'd go so far to say the same about The Golden Compass series.

Christians can be such alarmists when it comes to these fantasy books, but there is much, much worse out there.

Peace,
- Niffer

 

[Ice Queen]

Have you read ALL four books? I personally would not go bashing or supporting something without knowing how it ends and how the characters develop. I have read all four of them, and I will say that a couple of your points are off the mark. You have to read all the books to see that. At least it gives me something to muse about though (I love psychology!).