Difference between revisions of "Dalinar Kholin"
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Dalinar cares little for social propriety, considering the opinions of others to be wholly irrelevant to himself so long as they don't actually impede his actions.{{book ref|sa3|12}}{{book ref|sa3|67}} He doesn't, however, deal well with not being in control; he finds the idea of events important to him being impossible for him to influence distressing, and has a bad habit of going over regular chain of command to claim power for himself.{{book ref|sa3|65}}{{book ref|sa3|4}}
As an extension of this, like his brother, he has a tendency to treat people, even those he loves, like tools.{{wob ref|12619}} He tends to believe that he knows what is best for people, and through this, can get rather commanding and controlling. An example of this controlling nature can be seen in how he forces Kaladin to retire as a soldier as he felt that it was best for him given his increasing trauma, refusing to take no for an answer.{{book ref|sa4|10}} It can also be seen in how he believes that some people, such as various Alethi Highrpicnes, need to be forced into doing what is right, that they cannot be trusted to make their own decisions.{{book ref|sa1|69}}{{book ref|sa4|50}} His complete opposition to the concept of democracy is likely a reflection of this controlling nature of his, and in his views on what the role of a leader is in society.{{book ref|sa4|50}} This nature of his can be found rooted in the Way of Kings, that which he bases his morality upon.{{book ref|sa1|12}}{{book ref|sa3|105}} It teaches that a monarch, or any ruler, provides stability and strength to his people, that he and his orders are the firm foundation upon which society stands.{{book ref|sa1|28}}{{book ref|sa2|38}} This book was the foundation upon which he built his new self and worldview, thus it stands to reason that his controlling nature is rooted in his interpretation of the teachings of the book.{{book ref|sa1|12}}{{book ref|sa3|105}}{{book ref|sa3|115}}
He can be somewhat egalitarian in his assessment of others, in particular soldiers, and will often promote men based not on eye color or social status, but rather on the ability they display.{{book ref|sa3|3}} This extends beyond the [[Vorin]] ranks system, as Dalinar is willing to give a chance to people he doesn't normally associate with fighting, like [[Parshmen]] or women, if he considers their skills valuable or if they are recommended to him by someone trustworthy.{{book ref|sa2|46}}{{book ref|sa3|117}} This doesn't mean he's entirely free of bias, however, and when the worlds of the court and the military collide, he can often end up referring back to the established social order, possibly without fully realizing it.{{book ref|sa2|62}}
He feels extreme guilt and self-hatred for various aspects of his past life; such as the burning of Rathalas and killing of his wife, which mentally broke him enough that it laid the foundation of his change in character;{{
As an extension from his lack of care of what other feel about him,{{book ref|sa3|12}}{{book ref|sa3|67}} he began to completely shirk the gender norms of society as he grew, learning how to read and write; and defending Renarin from mockery for his own failure to live up to the norms expected of him, and giving him solidarity.{{book ref|sa3|122}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|4}}{{book ref|sa4|44}}
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