As aFourth Wingreader, there are some harsh truths about theEmpyreanseries that just must be faced. Upon first reading, we may unquestionably support Violet’s point of view, yet after all the twists and turns revealed throughoutIron FlameandOnyx Storm, it’s clear that one character was right about her from the start.
That’s because the true nature of Navarre was not clear from the beginning, and it’s only with knowledge of the complex political undertones of this fantasy world that some characters’ actions start to make a lot more sense. With this in mind, it’s clear the controlling tendencies ofViolet’s mother were far less cruel than they initially appeared.
It May Be Harsh, But General Sorrengail Was Right To Make Violet Join The Riders Quadrant
Violet’s Mother Was Thinking Long-Term
When we first meet Violet inFourth Wing, she’s a frail, bookish teenager who has spent years training to be a scribe just like her late father. However, this lifelong ambition screeches to a halt when her authoritative mother, General Lilith Sorrengail, insists that she instead jointhe Dragon Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College.
General Sorrengail ruthlessly pushing her daughter into a life she was not prepared for appeared cruel and dangerous.
As the most dangerous of the four military quadrants, General Sorrengail ruthlessly pushing her daughter into a life she was not prepared for appeared cruel and dangerous. The riders must go through a deadly initiation process to bond with a dragon, and Violet’s weak nature made it look like she would almost certainly die before making it through.
However, General Sorrengail’s instincts were proved correct, asViolet not only made it past the Parapet alive but ended up being the first known rider to bond with two dragons. Time and again, throughout theEmpyreanseries, Violet defied the odds and revealed that the studious nature she inherited from her father actually gave her an advantage as a rider.
While Violet’s mother may have appeared domineering at first, the truth is that forcing Violet into becoming a rider gave her the skills she needed to survive and push back when the realities of Navarre’s war against Poromiel came to light. General Sorrengail foresaw Violet’s ability to enact real change and to be an important force inthe fight against the Venin.
Fourth Wing & Its Sequels Prove That Violet Is Meant To Be A Rider, Not A Scribe
Time And Again, Violet’s Scribe Background Has Been An Essential Assist
From the moment Violet entered Basgiath War College, she was thrown into a world designed to eliminate the weak, and she consistently proved she was anything but. While Violet has the intellect to be a great Scribe, there was something innately different about her that was recognized by the dragons Tairn and Andarna, and, of course, her mother, General Sorrengail.
Rather than retreat into the safety of books,Violet rose to the occasion to become a historic Rider who rejects the limitations others place on her. While on first read, it appears that General Sorrengail viewed Violet as in desperate need of training with the Riders Quadrant; later books make it clear that Violet’s mother recognized the Riders needed her.
In the many challenges that Violet faces throughout theEmpyreanseries, it’s through a combination of Scribe intellect and Rider heroism that she emerges victorious. The uniqueness of Violet’s multifaceted skills was part of whatmade Xaden Riorson fall for her in the first place, and without her mother’s meddling, it’s likely she wouldn’t have found that love.
Training To Be A Scribe Set Violet Up To Create Real Change
Without Violet’s Scribe Training, She Would Lack Important Knowledge
In the world of theEmpyreanseries, most characters suffer from black-and-white thinking about what they can be, with people falling neatly into easily definable categories, like Scribe or Rider. However,Violet is one of the few people who can traverse these two worldsand take the best from each to consistently have the edge against her adversaries.
Violet is studying old texts to uncover the hidden history of Navarre and come to a solution nobody else could have thought of.
It’s made clear that Violet’s background training for the Scribe Quadrant doesn’t make her a lesser Rider; it makes her a smarter one. When everyone else is focusing on brute force to fight back against the Venin, Violet is studying old texts to uncover the hidden history of Navarre and come to a solution nobody else could have thought of.
General Sorrengail’s Difficult Choice Could Be What Saves Navarre In The Empyrean Series
Violet’s Mother Was More Noble Than She First Appeared
General Sorrengail is one of the most polarizing figures intheEmpyreanseries, but she’s also the instigating factor of Violet discovering her potential as a Rider. While this maternal figure might come across as cold, controlling, and ruthless, her willingness to be seen as a totalitarian in the eyes of her child made her all the more noble.
While it’s true General Sorrengail was far from perfect, and she kept many important truths hidden from not just Violet but the entire kingdom of Navarre, she does deserve credit for setting her daughter on the path toward greatness. With larger political forces influencing her actions, General Sorrengail’s difficult decision to make Violet a Rider could be what saves Navarre.
As a character who walks the fine line between loyalty and rebellion, although General Sorrengail appears to assist the corrupt Navarre leadership, the way she has appropriately prepared her daughter to fight back showcases her as a double agent. While the way she went about it may have been morally questionable,General Sorrengail’s actions has empowered her daughter to survive.
