Chapter 16: The Glory of Ignorance
Spoiler Notice
This page contains spoilers for the entirety of The Way of Kings. Proceed at your own risk.
Summary
In a grim tavern in the mining village of Ironsway, Bavland, Szeth-son-son-Vallano sits on the floor, soaking in spilled beer. His current master, a transient laborer named Took, displays Szeth's obedience to curious miners, ordering him to jump, to pour beer on his head, and to cut his own arm. When Took commands him to cut his throat, Szeth softly explains he is forbidden to take his own life as Truthless. The miners are unsettled by Szeth's refined speech and bearing, which belie his wretch's appearance.
After Took's tall tales win no more drinks, he staggers into the dark streets with Szeth following. Footpads attack, killing Took with a knife to the neck. As they loot the body, one takes a quartz-studded rock from Took's pouch—Szeth's Oathstone. Szeth informs the footpad that whoever holds the stone is his master and must be obeyed in all things except self-harm. The footpad, intrigued by the prospect of a slave who will do anything, closes his hand around the stone, claiming Szeth as his new possession.
Key Events
- Szeth endures public humiliation under Took's commands, including self-injury.
- He explains the constraints of his Truthless status: obedience without suicide.
- Took tells fabricated stories about acquiring Szeth; in reality, he was traded for seeds.
- After the tavern, footpads murder Took and seize his belongings.
- Szeth's Oathstone passes to a criminal, binding him to a new master.
Character Development
Szeth remains trapped in his self-imposed penance following the assassination of King Gavilar. He clings to the hope that a worthless existence will prevent him from being ordered to kill again. His internal monologue reveals a man who both dreads and desires death, yet is bound by honor to suffer. The chapter deepens his tragedy: each day of menial labor is a victory because it keeps his deadly skills dormant, but the Oathstone's transfer to a lawless footpad threatens to end that respite.
Took is a delusional drifter who sees Szeth as a novelty. His casual cruelty—ordering self-harm for entertainment—highlights the casual mistreatment Szeth endures. Took's ignorance of Szeth's true nature ironically grants Szeth a measure of peace, a "glory" that ends with Took's death.
Themes, Symbols, and Motifs
The Glory of Ignorance is the chapter's title and central motif. Szeth’s masters never suspect he is a Shardbearer and Surgebinder, a Windrunner capable of immense destruction. This ignorance keeps Szeth from being forced into violence; each day of oblivious servitude is a triumph. The phrase underscores the grim safety of being underestimated.
The Oathstone symbolizes Szeth’s unbreakable bond to whomever holds it. It is the physical manifestation of his honor and his curse, allowing even a thief to command a demigod. Its transfer from a foolish traveler to a hardened criminal raises the stakes for Szeth’s future.
Truthless and Honor infuse every action. Szeth’s obedience is absolute because he believes he deserves punishment for his alleged betrayal of his people. His refusal to commit suicide reflects a twisted code: he must live to suffer, a perversion of the Radiant ideal of life before death.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter provides the deepest look yet into Szeth’s psyche after the prologue. It humanizes the assassin by showing his profound self-loathing and desperate strategy to avoid further bloodshed. The transition of the Oathstone to a new, amoral master sets the stage for future conflicts, reminding readers that Szeth is a ticking time bomb whose lethal skills could be unleashed at any moment. It also reinforces the theme of ignorance as a shield, contrasting with other characters who actively seek knowledge.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Szeth consider being treated as a wretch a "victory"?
Szeth believes that if he appears worthless, people will not ask him to do valuable things—like assassinate. Every day he performs menial tasks instead of killing is a day he is not forced to violate his conscience further. It is a grim form of harm reduction, allowing him to avoid repeating the trauma of Gavilar’s murder.
2. What is the significance of the Oathstone changing hands in this chapter?
The Oathstone binds Szeth to whomever possesses it. By passing to a violent criminal, Szeth’s situation becomes more precarious. Unlike Took, who was content with a novelty, the footpad may discover Szeth’s true capabilities or order him to commit terrible acts. The transfer underscores Szeth’s complete powerlessness and the capriciousness of his fate.
3. How does the chapter illustrate the concept of "the glory of ignorance"?
Szeth’s masters are gloriously ignorant of his identity as a Windrunner and Shardbearer. Their ignorance is a blessing because it spares Szeth from being weaponized. The "glory" is bitter: it means his suffering persists, but it also means he is not adding to the world’s pain. The title reflects the ironic salvation found in being underestimated.