Inheritance

“Galbatorix is mad and therefore unpredictable, but he also has gaps in his reasoning that an ordinary person would not. If you can find those, Eragon, then perhaps you and Saphira can defeat him.”

This passage exhibits Brom’s words, which are part of a message that was first introduced in Brisingr. Not only does this quote create continuity between the books, but it also serves as foreshadowing for the critical events to come. Specifically, Brom’s reference to a “[gap] in [Galbatorix’s] reasoning” sets up the idea that the tyrant is unaware of the moral consequences of his actions, and Eragon eventually uses this idea to defeat him.

“From what Roran understood, such attacks were common throughout the city. No doubt, Galbatorix’s agents were behind many of them, but the inhabitants of Belatona were also responsible—men and women who could not bear to stand by idly while an invading army seized control of their home, no matter how honorable the Varden’s intentions might be. Roran could sympathize with the people who felt they had to defend their families, but at the same time, he cursed them for being so thick-skulled that they could not recognize the Varden were trying to help them, not hurt them.”

This passage exemplifies the theme of Empathy as a Moral Compass. Roran points out the ambiguous morality of war and its impact on individual lives on any side of the conflict. He especially underlines the fact that most individuals are driven by a desire for self-preservation and believe their actions to be justified. This idea is reinforced throughout the story as the protagonists face battles of increasing risk and intensity.

“‘As painful as it is, you cannot allow your grief to dictate your decisions… It isn’t easy, I know—well I know it!—but you must be stronger than yourself, for the good of your people.’

‘Be stronger than myself,’ he said in a sour, mocking voice.

‘Yes. More is asked of us than of most people; therefore we must strive to be better than most if we are to prove ourselves worthy of that responsibility.’”

This conversation between Nasuada and King Orrin reveals The Importance of Balancing Power with Service. It also underlines the contrast between Nasuada, who is characterized by her selflessness, and King Orrin, who grows more and more entitled over the course of the novel. This contrast shows the impact that the pressure of responsibility and leadership can have on individual actions.

“Then Eragon understood the reason for the women’s outpouring of grief. Children cursed with a cat lip were rarely allowed to live; they were difficult to feed, and even if the parents could feed them, such children would suffer a miserable lot: shunned, ridiculed, and unable to make a suitable match for marriage. In most cases, it would have been better for all if the child had been stillborn.”

This quote describes the infant Hope, Horst’s and Elain’s daughter, who is born with a condition known as a cleft lip or a cleft palate (referred to as a “cat lip” in the narrative). When Eragon uses magic to heal Hope, he demonstrates both his empathy and his kindness, and the success of his spell reflects his considerable growth as a magic-wielder.

“Not a word did she say, nor did she attempt to slow or stop him. Nevertheless, Eragon understood her warning, for her very presence was a rebuke to him. Once before he had tampered with the fate of an infant, and with dire consequences. He could not allow himself to make such a mistake again, not only because of the harm it would cause, but because if he did, Elva would become his sworn enemy. Despite all his power, Eragon feared Elva. Her ability to peer into people’s souls and divine everything that pained and troubled them—and to foresee everything that was about to hurt them—made her one of the most dangerous beings in all of Alagaësia.”

Hope and Elva are two contrasting characters who illustrate Eragon’s journey over the course of the series. In Elva’s case, his first attempt to bless a child resulted in accidental but grievous and irreparable harm, leaving Elva condemned to bear a painful curse for the rest of her life. In Hope’s case, Eragon’s magic skills and awareness of the consequences of his actions have increased, and he is therefore able to heal her effectively and ethically, offering her a better life.

“Perhaps Arya is right, and experience is the only mentor that can help me now, Eragon thought. Experience requires time, though, and time is what I have the least of. We’ll be at Dras-Leona soon, and then Urû’baen. A few months, at the most, and we’ll have to face Galbatorix and Shruikan.”

This passage points out one of Eragon’s main struggles as he prepares to face his enemy. At this point in the narrative, the young Rider feels too inexperienced to imagine himself defeating Galbatorix, even though his path is leading inexorably to this final confrontation. By providing a glimpse of Eragon’s anxious thoughts, Paolini cements the protagonist’s status as a young and still-inexperienced hero who must yet make progress in his own self-confidence before he will be able to face his enemy.

“What of it? If you don’t make a few enemies every now and then, you’re a coward—or worse. Besides, it was worth it to see his reaction. Oh, he was angry!”

Angela indulges in sharp, exclamatory words as she recounts her playful prank on Grimrr Halfpaw, and her edgy but whimsical tone is typical of her character. Throughout the series, the witch remains a largely mysterious figure whose antics often function as comic relief. However, she also holds the more serious role of providing moral guidance to others. For example, her belief that not making enemies marks one as a coward suggests that Eragon’s desire for justice must result in risk and compromises.

“Roran looked each of them in the eyes, to make sure that he had their undivided attention, then he said, ‘Right, this is what we’re going to do—’ And he began to talk, quickly and intensely, for a full half hour, explaining everything that had occurred to him in that one, revelatory instant. As he spoke, Mandel began to grin, and though they remained more serious, Baldor, Delwin, and Hamund also appeared excited by the audacious nature of the scheme he outlined.”

This passage illustrates Paolini’s chief methods of creating anticipation; in practice, the author strategically omits key information about the characters’ plans of attack, only revealing these details during the events themselves. In this example, Roran explains his plan to take Aroughs, and the abrupt closing of the scene mimics the “fade-to-black” technique in cinema, in which characters begin to state their intentions before the movie cuts to a scene depicting the plan itself in action. In this example, although Roran speaks for “a full half hour,” his plan is not revealed until he and his companions implement it.

“Dras-Leona seemed as foul and evil to Eragon as when he had first visited it, and it aroused in him a lust for destruction such as he had not felt at either Feinster or Belatona. Here he wanted to lay waste with fire and sword; to lash out with all of the terrible, unnatural energies that were at his disposal; and to indulge in every savage urge and leave behind him nothing but a pit of smoking, blood-soaked ashes. For the poor and the crippled and the enslaved who lived within the confines of Dras-Leona, he had some sympathy. But he was wholly convinced of the city’s corruption and believed that the best thing would be to raze it and rebuild it without the taint of perversity the religion of Helgrind had infected it with.”

Eragon first visits the city of Dras-Leona in Eragon, the first book in Paolini’s series. In Inheritance, the narrative symbolically loops back to that moment and emphasizes Eragon’s growth as he approaches the conclusion of his journey. In addition, the city’s corruption symbolizes Galbatorix’s influence on Alagaësia, given that the heart of the king’s empire is dark and evil. Eragon’s desire to destroy Dras-Leona suggests that Galbatorix cannot be redeemed and should be annihilated from the realm so that peace can be truly restored.

“A deep calm settled over Roran.

Battle was about to be joined.

Men were about to die.

He might be one of them.”

The short, staccato sentences in this passage create a dramatic form of emphasis that contrasts with the chaotic scene of battle and death that rages before Roran’s eyes. While the potential for death looms, the calm, resolute tone of these sentences emphasizes Roran’s focus and clarity before the ultimate battle in Urû’baen. The passage also creates a sense of ineluctable fate by using the passive voice in the second sentence.

“You cannot predict every eventuality, and you cannot guarantee success every time you face an enemy, but by seeing all and discounting nothing, you may adapt without hesitation to any change. The warrior who can adapt the easiest to the unexpected is the warrior who will live the longest.”

Glaedr’s advice to Eragon in this passage becomes a recurring theme in the young Rider’s journey, for Eragon is repeatedly told that he must learn “to see what [he is] looking at” (96, 106, 235, 705). This concept foreshadows the final confrontation between Eragon and Galbatorix, when Eragon’s ability to empathize with even the smallest of creatures will prove crucial in defeating his enemy.

“How the shadow-of-Eragon that Blödhgarm wore was supposed to fool anyone, Saphira could not understand. He did not smell like her partner-of-heart-and-mind, nor did his thoughts feel like Eragon’s. Still, the two-legs seemed impressed by the apparition, and it was two-legs they were trying to fool.

On the left side of the rat-nest-city, the glittering shape of Thorn lay stretched out along the battlements above the southern gate. He lifted his crimson head, and she could tell that he had spotted her hurtling toward the break-bone-ground, as she had expected. Her feelings toward Thorn were too complicated to sum up in a few brief impressions. Every time she thought of him, she became confused and uncertain, something she was unaccustomed to.”

This quote is taken from the only chapter that is told from Saphira’s perspective. Although it is narrated in the third person, the Dragon’s narrative voice is characterized by her use of composite phrases in lieu of single words, like “rat-nest-city” instead of Urû’baen. This narrative tactic illustrates the idea that Dragons communicate through images and impressions as much as they communicate through language. As a result, Saphira’s narrative voice focuses on visceral details and offers up a distinctive, emotionally driven cadence.

“I’m glad you’re here to fight for us, and I’m glad to count you as my brother in all but name, but I wish we didn’t have to rely on a Rider or an elf or any sort of magician to win this war for us. No one should be at the mercy of another person. Not like this. It unbalances the world.”

Roran’s words to Eragon underline one of the main issues that the characters attempt to resolve at the end of the book: the ethical implications of wielding power. Across the series, Roran is characterized by his honesty and his practicality, so his comments about magic being an unchecked power in the world heavily impact Eragon. This conversation foreshadows Nasuada and Eragon’s debate about Galbatorix’s goal to eradicate magic, as well as their realization that Eragon himself has become too powerful to remain in Alagaësia. In turn, Roran’s comments hint at Eragon’s eventual decision to leave the realm forever.

“A dark and lonely plain lay before him, cut by a single strip of water that flowed slow-moving into the east: a ribbon of beaten silver bright beneath the glare of a full moon… Floating on the nameless river, a ship, tall and proud, with pure white sails raised and ready…Ranks of warriors holding lances, and two hooded figures walking among them, as if in a stately procession. The smell of willows and cottonwoods, and a sense of passing sorrow… Then a man’s anguished cry, and a flash of scales, and a muddle of motion that concealed more than it revealed.

And then nothing but silence and blackness.”

This quote depicts Eragon’s vision after Nasuada is abducted by Galbatorix. As Eragon becomes the leader of the Varden, he has a vision that foreshadows his decision to renounce his position of authority and leave Alagaësia entirely. Visions and prophecies are a typical narrative device used in fantasy literature to build suspense and intrigue. In addition, they tend to foreshadow the conclusion of the protagonist’s arc, as is the case with Eragon in this example.

“He stopped pacing and crumpled to the ground, wrapping his hands around the back of his neck. ‘It can’t be done. It can’t be done,’ he whispered, rocking from side to side upon his knees. ‘It can’t.’

In his despair, Eragon thought of praying to the dwarf god Gûntera for help, even as he had done before. To lay his troubles at the feet of one greater than himself and to trust his fate to that power would be a relief. Doing so would allow him to accept his fate—as well as the fates of those he loved—with greater equanimity, for he would no longer be directly responsible for whatever happened.”

This passage illustrates Eragon’s lowest point in the narrative. After Nasuada is abducted, Eragon despairs, feeling unable to live up to the heavy responsibilities of his leadership position and fulfill everyone’s expectations by defeating Galbatorix. He almost rejects the responsibilities placed onto him, as illustrated by his desire to “lay his troubles at the feet of one greater than himself.” Eventually, despite his lack of self-confidence, Eragon chooses not to give up because he is driven by his selflessness and his sense of justice.

“Down the stairs the footsteps came, steady and deliberate. She saw someone’s arm place a carved wooden chair at the very edge of her vision.

A man sat in it.

He was large: not fat, but broad-shouldered. A long black cape hung draped around him. It looked heavy, as if backed with mail. Light from the coals and from the flameless lantern gilded the edges of his form, but his features remained too dark to make out. Still, the shadows did nothing to hide the outline of the sharp, pointed crown that rested upon his brow.”

This passage is the first time that Galbatorix appears directly in the entire series. This initial depiction is vague and only partially describes the story’s antagonist, and the ongoing mystery surrounding his physical appearance heightens the weight of the moment and imbues him with an air of otherworldly menace.

“Rituals were all that allowed Nasuada to maintain her sanity. By them, she ordered her world—by them, she was able to endure from one moment to the next, for they gave her something to hold on to when all else had been stripped from her. Rituals of thought, rituals of action, rituals of pain and relief: these had become the framework upon which her life depended. Without them, she would have been lost, a sheep without a shepherd, a devotee bereft of faith… a Rider separated from her dragon.”

Nasuada is a strategic, dynamic leader, and her active resistance to Galbatorix’s torture illustrates the true strength of her character. Nasuada fights against Galbatorix’s magic and manipulation by relying on her reason and her “rituals,” and these practices emphasize her strength of will, marking her as a powerful opponent to Galbatorix and foreshadowing her eventual coronation as the new Queen of Alagaësia after he is defeated.

“Magic is the great injustice in the world. It would not be so unfair if the ability only occurred among those who were weak—for then it would be a compensation for what chance or circumstance had robbed them of—but it doesn’t. The strong are just as likely to be able to use magic, and they gain more from it besides. One need only look to the elves to see this is true. The problem is not confined to individuals; it also plagues the relationships between the races. The elves find it easier than us to maintain order within their society, for most every elf can use magic, and, therefore, few of them are ever at the mercy of another. In this regard, they are fortunate, but it is not so fortunate for us, for the dwarves, or even for the accursed Urgals.”

Galbatorix’s speech reveals the injustices involved in the inequitable use of magic throughout the world of Alagaësia. However, Galbatorix’s solution to the problem only creates suffering, oppression, and further injustice. Eragon and Nasuada, who identify the same problem, suggest different solutions based on their experiences. Nasuada, who is strategic and practical, wants to regulate magic safely. Eragon, who is guided by morality and empathy, chooses to remove himself from the political arena. The role of magic as a catalyst for power therefore illustrates The Importance of Balancing Power with Service.

“In the end, she decided she would ignore Murtagh’s past and judge him on his actions in the present and those alone. Good, bad, or some combination thereof, he was a potential ally, and she needed his help if she could get it. If he proved false, then she would be no worse off than she already was. But if he proved true, then she might be able to escape from Urû’baen, and that was well worth the risk.”

Nasuada’s rational assessment of Murtagh exemplifies the ambiguity that characterizes him throughout the book. Murtagh is a morally gray character who struggles to resist Galbatorix’s influence until he meets Nasuada, who pushes him to reclaim his agency. Nasuada’s ambiguous opinion of Murtagh foreshadows the end of Murtagh’s arc, since he eventually chooses to seek redemption.

“The name, his true name, was weaker and more flawed than he would have liked, and he hated himself for that, but there was also much to admire within it, and the more he thought about it, the more he was able to accept the true nature of his self. He was not the best person in the world, but neither was he the worst.”

When Eragon discovers his true name, he must plumb the very depths of his nature, accepting both strengths and flaws in equal measure. This process symbolizes his self-acceptance and emotional growth. Armed with a new level of self-awareness and confidence, he takes his place as a well-rounded yet flawed hero who is motivated by his desire to do good.

“Ah, I have been expecting you. Welcome to my abode. And welcome to you in particular, Eragon Shadeslayer, and to you, Saphira Brightscales. I have much desired to meet with you. But I am also glad to see you, Arya—daughter of Islanzadí, and Shadeslayer in your own right—and you as well, Elva, she of the Shining Brow. And of course, Glaedr, Umaroth, Valdr, and those others who travel with you unseen. I had long believed them to be dead, and I am most glad to learn otherwise. Welcome, all! We have much to talk about.”

In the deceptively warm and friendly tone of Galbatorix’s initial greeting to Eragon and his companions, the tyrannical king reveals that he knows everything about them, their plans, and their secret weapons. This opening sally reinforces Galbatorix’s power and heightens the stakes, indicating that Eragon is now more vulnerable than ever as he seeks to confront his nemesis. In addition, Galbatorix’s congenial tone exemplifies his dishonesty and his manipulative tendencies.

“Then and now, and ever since Murtagh’s departure, a sense of emptiness had gripped Eragon. He had expected to feel jubilant if they killed Galbatorix, and though he was glad—and he was glad—with the king gone, he no longer knew what he was supposed to do. He had reached his goal. He had climbed the unclimbable mountain. And now, without that purpose to guide him, to drive him, he was at a loss. What were he and Saphira to make of their lives now? What would give them meaning?”

After his climactic victory over Galbatorix, Eragon struggles to find a new purpose for his life. Although the ending of the book resolves the story’s main conflicts and provides hopeful hints about the future, it also explores the impact of such a monumental victory on a hero whose entire identity as been defined by his opposition to an antagonist. Those rhetorical questions foreshadow Eragon’s decision to leave Alagaësia and embrace a new role for himself.

“‘No doubt I would believe my reasons were just, but that’s the trap, isn’t it? The belief that I know better and that because I have this power at my disposal, I have a responsibility to act.’ Remembering her words from before, he echoed them back to her: ‘For the good of the many. If I was wrong, though, who could stop me? I could end up becoming Galbatorix, despite my best intentions. As it is, my power makes people tend to agree with me. I’ve seen it in my dealings throughout the Empire… If you were in my position, would you be able to resist the temptation to meddle, just a little, in order to make things better? My presence here unbalances things, Nasuada. If I am to avoid becoming what I hate, then I have to leave.’”

In this passage, Eragon demonstrates his intense self-awareness and sense of morality, and his mindset significantly contrasts with that of the now-deceased Galbatorix, who never cared about the impact of his actions on others. Even though Eragon loathes all that Galbatorix stands for, he is honest enough to recognize the parallels between them. Ironically, he also essentially agrees with Galbatorix’s assessment that magic enables certain people to obtain too much power. Unlike Galbatorix, however, Eragon chooses a selfless solution that ensures justice and peace in Alagaësia, and he does not seek to aggrandize himself.