Chapter 37: Errorgance
Spoiler Notice: This page contains spoilers for The Way of Kings. Read on at your own risk.
Summary
Shallan communicates with her brothers in Jah Keved via spanreed. They update her on the family’s deteriorating situation: creditors are closing in, the last quarries are failing, and their father’s steward Luesh has died. Nan Balat reveals that dangerous men, likely the ones who originally provided the Soulcaster, have visited demanding its return. They threaten the family if the fabrial is not given back. Shallan’s brothers urge her to steal Jasnah’s Soulcaster quickly, though they still don’t know how to use it. Shallan memorizes the conversation, then burns the papers.
Later, while studying the Alethi monarchy in the Veil, Shallan grows frustrated with the overly confident writers of the Assuredness Movement. She coins the word “errorgance” to describe their false certainty. Jasnah overhears and engages Shallan in a discussion about the purpose of scholarship—interpretation, not just information storage—and the need to act on knowledge. Their conversation turns to witty banter, and Jasnah suggests that Shallan channel her cleverness more carefully.
King Taravangian unexpectedly joins them for lunch. He tries to question Jasnah about her Soulcaster and her atheism. Jasnah evades the first topic but openly defends her disbelief in the Almighty, arguing that morality can exist independently of divine decree. Taravangian, though outmatched, remains genuinely curious. He then asks Shallan to draw his portrait. As Shallan sketches from Memory, she inadvertently adds two tall, willowy creatures with floating twisted symbols in the doorway behind the king. Horrified, she crumples the drawing and promises a replacement. After Taravangian leaves, Jasnah encourages Shallan to be both clever and appropriate, and Shallan privately wrestles with her guilt over the planned theft.
Key Events
- Shallan learns from her brothers that Luesh is dead and that dangerous men are demanding a working Soulcaster.
- The plan to steal Jasnah’s Soulcaster becomes urgent; Shallan must also discover how to operate the fabrial.
- Shallan coins the term “errorgance” to criticize the Assuredness Movement’s overconfident scholarship.
- Jasnah imparts lessons on true scholarship: interpreting information and acting on knowledge.
- King Taravangian visits and questions Jasnah about her Soulcaster and atheism; Jasnah argues for morality independent of the Almighty.
- Shallan unknowingly draws two cryptic figures with floating symbols while sketching Taravangian’s portrait.
- Shallan’s internal conflict deepens as she grows more attached to her studies and respects Jasnah.
Character Development
- Shallan: Her dual life intensifies: she is a spy and thief while genuinely enjoying scholarship. The coined term “errorgance” mirrors her own tendency toward unreflective cleverness. The cryptic figures she draws hint at latent abilities or influences she doesn’t yet understand, adding to her inner turmoil.
- Jasnah: She reveals more of her pedagogical methods and her respect for ideas over dogma. Her willingness to debate the king shows a principled openness, yet she remains guarded about her Soulcaster. Her praise of Shallan’s mind underscores her investment in her ward.
- King Taravangian: Portrayed as kind but intellectually overmatched, he is nonetheless perceptive enough to ask pointed questions. His appreciation for Shallan’s art and his benign neglect of courtly norms contrast with typical lighteyed rulers.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Errorgance: A neologism that encapsulates the chapter’s examination of false certainty. It applies both to the scholars Shallan reads and to her own quick-witted but sometimes thoughtless remarks.
- Scholarship vs. Ignorance: Jasnah distinguishes between passive information storage and active interpretation, arguing that knowledge must be applied to be meaningful.
- Morality without the Divine: Jasnah’s atheism frames moral behavior as a product of human reasoning and innate nobility, not divine command.
- Subconscious Imagery: The strange creatures in Shallan’s drawing recall the Cryptics, symbolizing forces beyond her conscious awareness and foreshadowing her deeper connection to the spren world.
- The Soulcaster Plan: Shallan’s mission represents a moral and emotional dilemma—she must betray a woman she is growing to admire for the sake of her family’s survival.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens the psychological stakes of Shallan’s arc. The pressure to steal the Soulcaster becomes existential as her family faces threats from unknown backers. Simultaneously, her intellectual awakening under Jasnah creates a painful loyalty conflict. The term “errorgance” provides a thematic lynchpin, critiquing unearned confidence in both scholarship and personal behavior. Taravangian’s appearance ties together the subplots of faith and artifice, revealing Jasnah’s philosophical stance and hinting at hidden dangers. The drawing of the cryptic figures is a crucial moment of foreshadowing, linking Shallan’s artistic talent to supernatural perception.
Study Questions and Answers
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What does Shallan mean by “errorgance,” and how does it reflect her own behavior?
Shallan defines errorgance as being twice as certain as an arrogant person while possessing only a tenth of the facts. The term criticizes scholars who overstate their case without proper evidence. Jasnah points out that Shallan herself often displays a similar tendency—quick wit without deep thought—making her errorgant in a milder sense. -
How does Jasnah’s argument for morality independent of the Almighty challenge Vorin belief?
Jasnah claims that people can know right from wrong through innate human understanding, not because a god defines it. She uses the analogy of mathematics existing without divine decree. This directly opposes Vorin doctrine, which holds that the Almighty determines all truth, and troubles even Shallan. -
What is the significance of the cryptic figures Shallan draws?
The figures appear spontaneously while Shallan sketches from Memory, suggesting her subconscious or an external influence guiding her hand. Their description—tall, with glassy cloaks and floating, angular symbols—matches the Cryptics, a type of spren. This moment hints that Shallan’s artistic Memory may be tied to deeper magical forces long before she becomes aware of them.