Chapter 72: Right for Wrong
Spoiler Notice: This page contains spoilers for The Way of Kings. Read at your own risk.
Summary
After the highstorm, Dalinar is certain that the figure in his vision was Nohadon himself. Speaking with Navani and Renarin, he describes the weight of authority he sensed. Navani insists that the linguistic evidence from the visions will prove Dalinar is not mad, but Dalinar remains troubled. He wonders if the visions are sent by a malevolent force like the Voidbringers, rather than the Almighty. Renarin, who has researched the Old Magic, agrees that its pattern of a single curse and boon does not fit Dalinar’s experiences.
Navani explains that the Desolations are ancient wars against the Voidbringers, though no primary accounts survive. She recounts the myth of Parasaphi and Nadris, in which the Desolations wiped out most of humanity. When Renarin and Navani leave, Navani lingers and closes the door. She confronts Dalinar about his trust and her own loneliness, her tears prompting him to kiss her passionately. In the aftermath, she reveals that the king of Jah Keved has been assassinated by a Shin Shardbearer, and that dark omens—stronger highstorms, the dying words of men—suggest something apocalyptic is coming. She declares her need for him. Dalinar promises not to abandon her, and though guilt over Gavilar’s memory tugs at him, he feels the world has somehow become more right for having gone wrong.
Key Events
- Dalinar confirms his vision was of Nohadon.
- Navani argues the linguistics will vindicate him, but Dalinar doubts the visions’ source.
- Renarin dismisses the Old Magic as an explanation.
- Navani summarizes the Desolations and the Parasaphi myth.
- Navani and Dalinar share a passionate kiss after she confesses her feelings.
- Navani reports the assassination of Jah Keved’s king by a Shin Shardbearer.
- Dalinar promises not to abandon Navani despite his guilt.
Character Development
- Dalinar: Torn between duty to his brother’s memory and his long-repressed desire for Navani, he finally surrenders to the moment. His introspection deepens as he questions whether the visions are trustworthy, marking a shift from blind faith to wary scrutiny.
- Navani: Reveals herself not just as a clever scholar but as a woman burdened by loneliness and sidelined by society. Her bold vulnerability and insistence on honesty push Dalinar out of his emotional stasis.
- Renarin: Quietly supportive, he shows his studious nature by having researched the Old Magic. His calm, logical presence helps ground the discussion.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Truth and manipulation: Dalinar’s internal debate over whether the visions are divine or a trap underscores the theme of uncertain knowledge.
- Forbidden love vs. duty: The kiss embodies the conflict between personal desire and social expectation, heightened by Navani’s status as Gavilar’s widow.
- Impending doom: The mention of assassinations, strengthening highstorms, and Jasnah’s search connects personal turmoil to world-shattering events.
- Passion-spren: The crystalline spren that appear during the kiss symbolize the raw, uncontrolled emotion in the scene.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 72 is a turning point for Dalinar’s personal arc and the overarching plot. While earlier chapters cemented the visions’ reality, here Dalinar acknowledges he must question their origin, introducing suspense about whether he is being led astray. His romantic entanglement with Navani adds personal stakes and complicates his political standing. Navani’s report of the assassination in Jah Keved and her fears link the Alethi conflict to a larger pattern, reinforcing the novel’s apocalyptic undertones. This chapter blends character intimacy with mounting external pressure, making it a fulcrum for the story’s emotional and mystical trajectories.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Dalinar hesitate to embrace the visions fully, even after proof they are real?
He fears the visions could be sent by the Voidbringers to manipulate him. The fall of the Knights Radiant and legends of possession haunt him, making him doubt whether the visions are a blessing or a trap. -
What drives Navani to confess her feelings to Dalinar?
She is tired of being treated as a relic—ignored by the political circles of the warcamps—and yearns for a genuine connection. Her fear of looming dangers and her enduring love for Dalinar prompt her to seize the moment. -
How does the chapter connect Dalinar’s personal struggles with broader events on Roshar?
Navani reveals the assassination of a major king by a Shin Shardbearer, echoes of the dying, and Jasnah’s hunt, all while Dalinar deals with visions of the True Desolation. These threads intertwine, suggesting that Dalinar’s personal crisis is part of a world-threatening pattern.