Raistlin and Raskolnikov (6/18/2000)
I read a lot of crappy fantasy novels in my misspent middle-school years, but one series I've always loved is Weis and Hickman's Dragonlance Chronicles. I just reread them for the third time (there's a new annotated version out that has notes from the authors, explaining what they were thinking when they did such-and-such). Although the trilogy seemed a lot better as a 12-year old, it was still very enjoyable this time around. And as I remembered, it was Raistlin Majere that stole the show...er...book. Well, actually Tasslehoff did most of the stealing, of scenes and otherwise, but it was Raistlin that kept the story interesting.
Now, everyone I've ever talked to regarding the Chronicles always gives it rave reviews, but then they talk about how much they like Tanis, the leader of the mismatched Companions. "Tanis this, Tanis that..." I nod my head absently as the Tanis-lovers go on and on about how "complex" a character Tanis is, how he is torn between good and evil, symbolized by his dueling loves for Laurana (good) and Kitiara (evil, but much more interesting), how his soul is torn by inner strife. Yawn. As though we've never seen a tormented hero struggle with a choice between good and evil, finally choosing good in the end. The Tanis subplot is just another tired cliche, just another boring bildungsroman.
In Raistlin, however, is something worthwhile. Raistlin was born weak and sickly, and depended on his burly twin brother Caramon to take care of him. Although Caramon loves Raistlin immensely, Raistlin hates his dependency on Caramon, and for that reason has a buried hatred for his good-natured brother. Seeking power through non-physical avenues, the frail Raistlin studies tirelessly to become a mage. Throughout his adventures, Raistlin proves entirely Machiavellian, willing to do anything for power. He turns from the red robes of neutral to the black robes of evil, to become even stronger, hoping to escape from a past where he depended on others for survival. In the end, Raistlin has a chance to kill a central character (Berem) and gain victory for the evil Dragonarmies, but he chooses to save the world instead. However, he does this not because he suddenly converts to good, but because he wants Caramon and others to know that for once, the whole world depended on him. Unrepenting, Raistlin continues to serve only himself, and his story is further recounted in Weis and Hickman's Legends trilogy, which I won't go into here.
It is no surprise that the Chronicles were so commercially successful given a character like Raistlin. For all the awkward and frail nerds who got picked last for softball in P.E., here was a frail weakling who went off the the Tower of High Sorcery (University), worked hard, put on the black robes of evil (medical scrubs), and came back to show all the jocks who had pushed them around (Caramon and Tanis) who was boss now. Raistlin was a hero for the socially marginalized. The geek in the back of the chemistry classroom read about Raistlin and vowed to return to the 10-year reunion in a porsche. In Raistlin, we found hope of eventual revenge for all of the petty slights school life inevitably imposes.
In many ways, Raistlin is the most complex and satisfying character of contemporary fantasy. For all of its majesty, none of the books in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series are so delightfully problematic as Raistlin. Rand al-Thor, after all, is just another Tanis, with an interior battle the outcome of which has always been certain. Raistlin, however, is truly unique--an evil character who never returns to good or even apologizes for all he's done in his pursuit of power, but who we root for nonetheless. Raistlin is a character that does wrong, but for once we see an evil character's motivations, and are reminded that, hey, he's a person too. A villain who's not really a villain, Raistlin exhibits the most realistic and compelling psychology of any character in a fantasy novel I've ever read. In fact, despite various differences, Raistlin reminds me most in spirit of Raskolnikov, from Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. Raskolnikov experiments with murder to see if he can really do it, to see if he is a superman above the rest of humanity's moral constraints. Unlike Raistlin, Raskolnikov is ultimately unable to continue hiding his perfect crime, feels remorse, and does what he can to atone. However, these two characters are nevertheless cousins, for both are wrongdoers who we readers end up caring about, despite--or perhaps because or--their villainy.
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