The Price of Power

Robert Jordan, throughout the Wheel of Time series, is particularly interested in the various costs of the accumulation of power. Going from the responsibility of tending a few sheep to becoming the Dragon Reborn and savior of mankind who will unite the world is, naturally, a startling contrast for Rand al'Thor to endure. There are first mental costs. Rand now immediately distrusts people, motives, words, where before he was of a much more trusting manner. There is a sort of paranoia that comes with power. Rand sees ulterior motives where there are none, traps where none exist, and malicious intent behind innocuous things. However, some of Rand's hunches have been correct and have saved his life, so Jordan paints this paranoia as a necessary partner to the great power Rand possesses. Rand is also slowly going mad (due to the Dark One's "taint" on the...