Eragon

“The sands of time cannot be stopped. Years pass whether we will them or not…but we can remember. What has been lost may yet live on in memories. That which you will hear is imperfect and fragmented, yet treasure it, for without you it does not exist. I give you now a memory that has been forgotten, hidden in the dreamy haze that lies behind us.”

Brom makes this statement in the guise of the village storyteller. However, his words contain secret meaning. In retrospect, the reader can see that the past casts a heavy shadow over his life. He cautions his listeners not to forget the past. This is a veiled hint to Eragon because his own future is bound to the long history of the Dragon Riders. 

“‘Yes, I heard your story the last time I was in town.’ ‘Story!’ roared Brom. Lightning flashed in his eyes. ‘If it is a story, then the rumors of my death are true and you are speaking with a ghost! Respect the past; you never know how it may affect you.’”

This quote is an overt statement of the hint offered in the preceding one. Brom directly addresses a boy whose destiny he already knows, even though Eragon himself is ignorant of his fate as a future Dragon Rider. Eragon still expresses the opinions of a rural farm boy not the heroic figure that he will soon become.

“First, let no one rule your mind or body. Take special care that your thoughts remain unfettered. One may be a free man and yet be bound tighter than a slave. Give men your ear, but not your heart. Show respect for those in power, but don’t follow them blindly.”

Garrow offers this advice to Roran as he is about to leave the village to work elsewhere. These words are far more applicable to his nephew Eragon than they are to Garrow’s own son. Throughout much of the novel, factions will compete to gain Eragon’s loyalty. Some will attempt to capture his body, while others will try to control his mind. Garrow’s words provide a guide as to how the young Dragon Rider ought to respond to such pressure.

“‘What is the worth of anything we do?’ The worth is in the act. Your worth halts when you surrender the will to change and experience life. But options are before you; choose one and dedicate yourself to it. The deeds will give you new hope and purpose.”

Eragon is devastated by the death of his uncle and the destruction of his farm. He asks Saphira for advice, and she gives it to him telepathically. The dragon wishes him to focus on the future rather than longing for a lost past. At most points in the story, Saphira is inclined to find meaning in action as opposed to premeditation.

“Because you can’t argue with all of the fools in the world. It’s easier to let them have their way, then trick them when they’re not paying attention.”

Brom has just picked the pocket of a dishonest toll bridge keeper who overcharged the travelers to cross. In making this comment, Brom exhibits the pragmatic attitude of experience. He has had a long life of suffering fools and realizes the futility of arguing with one. Eragon is still very young in the ways of the world, which is why he needs Brom’s guidance.

“‘Who could have done…’ He could not force out the words. Brom bowed his head. ‘Those who love the pain and suffering of others. They wear many faces and go by many disguises, but there is only one name for them: evil. There is no understanding it. All we can do is pity and honor the victims.’”

The two travelers have just come upon a village massacred by Urgals. To this point, Eragon has seen very little violence in his rural world. The closer he approaches the capital, the more evidence he sees of the worst crimes of those who seek power. Again, Brom offers the kind of advice that can only be acquired through life experience and personal tragedy.

“Brom’s brow darkened. ‘Be careful. It can be a terrible knowledge. To know who you are without any delusions or sympathy is a moment of revelation that no one experiences unscathed. Some have been driven to madness by that stark reality.’”

Brom alludes to the true name that every person bears. It contains the same elemental magic as the ancient language, and those who know one’s true name can exert power over their target. Brom implies that true self-knowledge can be unpleasant for those who would prefer to blind themselves to their own shortcomings. Eragon’s true name will not be revealed until much later in the series.

“Sometimes I wonder if we can ever understand the true motives of the people around us. They all seem to have secrets. It is the way of the world. Ignore all the schemes and trust in the nature of each person.”

Eragon carries on a telepathic conversation with Saphira. As the two delve deeper into the realm’s factionalism, it becomes hard to tell friend from foe. Both Eragon and Saphira are young by the standards of the world that surrounds them. However, the dragon carries the received wisdom of her species and can often provide sound advice to her human companion, who is chronologically older but less spiritually mature.

“Keep in mind that many people have died for their beliefs; it’s actually quite common. The real courage is in living and suffering for what you believe.”

Brom has just pointed out that the only way for Eragon to escape Galbatorix might be through death. That said, he also implies that dying for a cause is far less difficult than living for one. In some sense, Brom is indirectly referencing his own experience. The reader won’t become aware of his painful history and his past as a Dragon Rider for some time yet. Living with the losses Brom has sustained over the years is far more difficult than a single grand gesture of sacrifice.

“Beware of losing your way, for you are one of the few who are truly free to choose their own fate. That freedom is a gift, but it is also a responsibility more binding than chains.”

Angela reads Eragon’s future and gives him this wise advice. Her words will be repeated multiple times by other characters as the story progresses. All the factions in the novel want Eragon’s loyalty, but the choice remains his. Thinking for oneself is never easy, and Angela points out the heavy weight of taking responsibility for all one’s decisions. It isn’t possible to shift the blame to destiny when Eragon is in control of his own future. 

“You made some very bad choices that could have dangerous repercussions. Not the least of which is that you almost died. Died, Eragon! From now on you’re going to have to think. There’s a reason why we’re born with brains in our heads, not rocks.”

As Eragon’s mentor, Brom is charged with teaching the boy how to be a hero. While many aspects of that training consist of battle tactics and how to wield a sword, this isn’t all that Brom must teach his student. Eragon must know when to act and when to keep still. As an adolescent, he is inclined to be impulsive, but action without forethought is a sure way to get himself killed. 

“At a certain point you have to decide what to commit to. Will you hide for the rest of your life, or will you help the Varden? Those are the only options left to you, unless you join forces with Galbatorix, which I do not and never will accept.”

Saphira gives this advice to Eragon. He has just proposed that after they kill the Ra’zac they should return to Carvahall. Saphira rightly points out that the past is dead and gone. In contemplating the future, Eragon will soon need to decide what cause matters as much to him as avenging his uncle’s death. Her words imply that a single task will not suffice. Eragon needs to commit to a course of action that will sustain him for life.

“With a shudder he pulled off his bow and belted on Zar’roc. From this moment on, I’ll live by the sword. Let the whole world see what I am. I have no fear. I am a Rider now, fully and completely.”

To this point, Eragon has hidden the ill-fated sword that once belonged to Morzan. That gesture is an indication of his mental ambivalence about his future role in life. He wasn’t quite ready to turn his back on the simple life he had left behind in Carvahall. The gesture of strapping on the sword implies that he is ready to embrace his future and identify fully with the role of Dragon Rider. 

“With the Urgals under his command, the king has enough warriors to close the Empire’s borders and remain in control, no matter how disruptive people are. With such a rule of terror, he will be able to shape the Empire however he wants.”

Murtagh is an ambivalent character throughout the novel in terms of his political loyalties. He recognizes that terror tactics work. They may be unjust and cruel, but they will keep Galbatorix in power. Unlike Eragon, Murtagh doesn’t question the rightness or wrongness of this approach. He merely observes that it works.

“I am outside of the Empire. It was a strange thought. […] Now Eragon was free. No more would he and Saphira have to dodge soldiers, avoid towns, or hide who they were. It was a bittersweet realization, for the cost had been the loss of his entire world.”

Eragon and his group have just finished crossing the Hadarac Desert, which represents the limit of Galbatorix’s control of the realm. While the idea of liberation is a heady experience, it is also frightening. Eragon points out the personal cost of leaving the Empire behind, but he fails to note the uncertainty that lies before him. He isn’t sure what sort of reception he will receive from the Varden or whether he is merely trading a bad situation for a worse one. 

“‘But you can’t indulge in wanton violence. Where is your empathy?’ growled Eragon, pointing at the head. ‘Empathy? Empathy? What empathy can I afford my enemies? Shall I dither about whether to defend myself because it will cause someone pain? If that had been the case, I would have died years ago!’”

Murtagh has just decapitated a slave trader who was unarmed and on the point of surrendering. Once again, this conversation points out the distinction between Murtagh’s approach to life and Eragon’s. The latter is an idealist who fights on the side of virtue. Murtagh is a pragmatist whose life has been marked by violence from the very beginning. He can’t afford high-minded principles if he hopes to survive.

“‘These,’ he paused, then said with distaste, ‘rebels are trying not only to overthrow the king but to destroy the Empire…and I don’t want that to happen. It would sow mayhem and anarchy. The king is flawed, yes, but the system itself is sound.’”

Once again, Murtagh demonstrates his lack of allegiance to any cause but his own survival. He references the Varden in this quote. Despite his dislike for Galbatorix, he believes that the government of the Empire should remain. The resistance offers no alternative that will provide stability. His main concern is safety, though he doesn’t trust any faction to provide it.

“You are an enigma, Eragon, a quandary that no one knows how to solve. Everyone knows what the Varden want—or the Urgals, or even Galbatorix—but no one knows what you want. And that makes you dangerous.”

Ajihad has just made this observation about the new Dragon Rider. This quote succinctly summarizes the factionalism that besets the realm. The dwarves, elves, and humans are suspicious of each other, and all would covet the support of Eragon and Saphira. Conversely, not knowing Eragon’s agenda frightens them all. In such an atmosphere of distrust, forming a united front against Galbatorix is impossible.

“You must understand the unusual nature of your position. There are factions who want you to serve their interests and no one else’s. The moment you entered Farthen Dûr, their influence and power began tugging on you.”

This statement amplifies the previous quote. At this point, Eragon himself isn’t sure who he supports. Garrow’s advice in the early part of the novel foreshadows this choice. Eragon’s uncle advised that no one should rule his mind or his body. Those words may be sound, but the pressures and temptations now besetting Eragon make it difficult to comply with them.

“The Riders of old were arbiters of justice above and beyond the leaders of their time. […] I do have power, and I will wield it as I see fit. What I want to know is how you plan to use me. Then I will decide whether to agree to it.”

Eragon replies to Ajihad’s question about his allegiance. However, at multiple points in the story, the Dragon Rider expresses concern about not knowing what hidden agenda motivates those he meets. He has matured to the point where he no longer expects people to tell him the truth or to be transparent in their actions. Eragon is finally learning to use his brain rather than relying on physical strength or magic.

“Saphira snorted, and a puff of smoke rose from her nostrils. Wear it, Eragon. If you wish to remain above the forces here, do not let anyone’s disapproval dictate your actions. As you wish, he said reluctantly, buckling on the sword.”

Eragon is still young enough that the approval of authority figures matters to him. He would also like the love of the people. Unfortunately, Morzan’s sword carries negative associations for Murtagh and almost everyone else. As Saphira rightly says, if Eragon allows himself to be influenced by the good opinion of others, he isn’t free.

“His dark helmet was richly decorated, like a general’s, and a long snakeskin cloak billowed around him. Madness burned in his maroon eyes, the madness of one who enjoys power and finds himself in the position to use it.”

Eragon is involved in a duel with Durza. The novel has explored the pursuit of power in both its positive and negative aspects. Eragon wishes power so that he can use it for a just cause. Durza covets power for its own sake. This quote equates the love of power as an end in itself with madness.

“He had lost much that was dear to him, yet fate had given him rare and great gifts; for the first time, he was proud of simply who he was.”

For much of the story, Eragon spends time lamenting a lost past. He vacillates between the desire to return to his hometown and the wish to make the world a better place. In the book’s final chapter, he seems to have found a place to stand still. Instead of mourning the past or fearing the future, he holds himself in the present moment and expresses gratitude for what he finds in it.