Why Eddie? **SPOILERS**

[mkostecka]

Dear Stephen,

why?

Why?

Why?

Why Eddie?

When he fall down, because someone shot him, I asked 'why him'? It was too easy, stupid and... silly! I was angry and sad. He was a Gunslinger! He knocked Blaine the Mono, his habit into a cocked hat. And he die... It was so... human... So unrealistically, simple. He didn't deserve to this!

When I read that, I closed the book and cry.
For five days I was fought with myself, that I got on with it. For Eddie... and his ka-tet. But it was so... unfair...

I understood that Jake, Oy and first Rolands friends die. But they die for him, for the Dark Tower! And their deaths weren't lost labour...

Best wishes,
Marta

[michal]

Eddie is one of my favorite DT characters, and my favorite gunslinger. But perhaps because he is so lovable it had to happened the way it did. Because it made you feel so sorry. Because you cried. Isn't that the final proof of well-written person?

[thymeoperator]

anyone else think eddie is a very unfortunate name to have in sk's world??

[Fran D'Amico]

I don't know how much of mr Kings works you have read.In his books , just like real life,there is always a sacrificial lamb.This is just the way of the world.Does anybody ever live happily ever after?No. They were happy, and they lived,sometimes that just has to be enough.

[rjt65]

hahaaha Sai King proves he is great at what he does--- why why to a lot of his books!

really gets ya--ayuh!!! ;-)

[xkittyx]

I just got through Eddie's death yesterday, and yea, my eyes were leaking too. So unexpected even though I'd read it before...

[GNTLGNT]

Why? Because, just like in real life-people we love die! Uncle Steve never guarantees a happy ending, and it damn near killed ME when Eddie came to the clearing at the end of the path-but our Inkslinger stayed true to the face of his Muse in this case.

[milkguy420]

yes, while sad. it was one of those tragic events that happens----reflecting real life.

[Pucker]

It seemed pretty clear to me as the story rolled along that hanging out with Roland was not necessarily conducive to long life and general health. He's alone when we meet him. All his friends are dead. He rains destruction everywhere he goes.

There's a great line in The Outlaw Josey Wales wear Clint Eastwood, as Josey, says: "It seems like when I get to liking someone, they ain't around very long."

To this, his partner, Lone Waddy (Chief Dan George), replies: "I noticed when you get to disliking someone, they ain't around long either."

To me, this sums up Roland and his relationships succinctly.

[John Ulstad]

This was easily the most moving point in the series for me. I was actually sad

[Connie Reader]

anyone else think eddie is a very unfortunate name to have in sk's world??

right? haha! Poor Eddies.

It just worked out right. First drawn, first gone.

[Phantomking]

Eddie died like that because sometimes, that's how it happens. You can be the greatest gunslinger in the world, but it can all be gone in the blink of an eye.

[Connie Reader]

Just finished reading that part again :(

So sad when Brautigan says to Suz that he will die and she asks if he must die and Ted says "yes, he must die and you must bear it." It does seem quite unbearable. I also love the line Susannah says after that "you mustn't use your good-mind to steal my grief...for I'd open my mouth and drink it to the dregs. Every drop."

[AnniesGrrl]

I was also upset by Eddie's death, but less so than by those of Jake and (especially) Oy.

But what bothers me more about Eddie is the ending, where Susannah finds him and Jake in New York, and they are in some ways very, very different. Are these even going to be the same characters anymore? Eddie was defined in many ways by his experiences with Henry and the time he spent hooked on dope. And Jake was defined in many ways by growing up as an only child, and having his parents more or less absent. So if you change these things, won't they be completely different people?

[weetee]

I cried my eyes out, so sad! Although i kind of knew all along that it was going to happen like that. Still felt like i'd lost a friend

[Johannes]

I never really felt connected to Eddie. King brough Jake back to life, gave Susannah her own book and a half and let her ride off in the end. He hung on so many things it wasn't enjoyable at times to read, plus his wife was a better gunslinger then him, could throw plates, even Jake was good at it. It was in the cards if you ask me for him to die first, he was the weakest. Sad none-the-less but it was time for us as readers to realize ka-tet means nothing to Roland other then to protect himself and his goal and the weakest will always go first.

[~Ally~]

I never really felt connected to Eddie. King brough Jake back to life, gave Susannah her own book and a half and let her ride off in the end. He hung on so many things it wasn't enjoyable at times to read, plus his wife was a better gunslinger then him, could throw plates, even Jake was good at it. It was in the cards if you ask me for him to die first, he was the weakest. Sad none-the-less but it was time for us as readers to realize ka-tet means nothing to Roland other then to protect himself and his goal and the weakest will always go first.

I disagree with you on all of these points. Eddie was an amazing gunslinger, shown from the first gunfight with Balazar and his men. He had no previous firearm skills and as highlighted in the story, he performed during this ambush bare ass naked! The guy deserves big kudos for that alone.

Far from believing he was the weakest I feel Eddie was equally as strong as Jake and Susannah. They had all endured their own problems in life and dealt with them accordingly--as individuals--which formed the people they were to become by the conclusion of the story. Eddie went from a drug addict/trafficker with no future hopes and aspirations to a man who had fought his own demons, beaten them and became a loving husband who fought to protect those closest to him. I felt he was a courageous character, definitely not weak.

As for Ka~Tet meaning nothing to Roland? He seemed to have great admiration for his Ka~Tet, the story I read was one where these three people changed the person he was. Because of his involvement with this group--especially Jake--Roland finally learned what it truly was to love others and feel for something other than his Tower. Sure he still didn't get it right--yet--but he is getting there slowly. He loved every one of his Ka~Tet...even Oy.

This is my interpretation of Roland, obviously very different from yours, but that's where it's good King allows us "as readers" to choose what we believe is true instead of simply telling us. Each to their own, and all that jazz!

[Johannes]

I just don't know. I don't feel Eddie overcame or accepted his demons, I really don't. He always had a wise crack to cover that weakness. I saw weakness in his abilities after his wife killed the Bear and the flying bird came at him. He always seemed to doubt himself to me. All my own personal thoughts of course. I'll have to re-read to get another better understand but this is my initial reaction.

I was more upset I feel for this notion that they would all make it to the tower. It came all at once and very suddenly. Regardless of who went first, it still came on quite suddenly and revealed quite late imo.

[Elemeno P]

I always took Eddie as being the one that "thawed" Roland.

He began to see his Ka~Tet as a living/breathing entity versus a benign lifeless sentence or curse after his time with Eddie.

Like Ally puts it....there's no right or wrong way to look at it.

We're all just lucky we got to look at all.

[boogerb53]

I disagree with you on all of these points. Eddie was an amazing gunslinger, shown from the first gunfight with Balazar and his men. He had no previous firearm skills and as highlighted in the story, he performed during this ambush bare ass naked! The guy deserves big kudos for that alone.

Far from believing he was the weakest I feel Eddie was equally as strong as Jake and Susannah. They had all endured their own problems in life and dealt with them accordingly--as individuals--which formed the people they were to become by the conclusion of the story. Eddie went from a drug addict/trafficker with no future hopes and aspirations to a man who had fought his own demons, beaten them and became a loving husband who fought to protect those closest to him. I felt he was a courageous character, definitely not weak.

As for Ka~Tet meaning nothing to Roland? He seemed to have great admiration for his Ka~Tet, the story I read was one where these three people changed the person he was. Because of his involvement with this group--especially Jake--Roland finally learned what it truly was to love others and feel for something other than his Tower. Sure he still didn't get it right--yet--but he is getting there slowly. He loved every one of his Ka~Tet...even Oy.

This is my interpretation of Roland, obviously very different from yours, but that's where it's good King allows us "as readers" to choose what we believe is true instead of simply telling us. Each to their own, and all that jazz!

'Nuff said....

[~Ally~]

I just don't know. I don't feel Eddie overcame or accepted his demons, I really don't. He always had a wise crack to cover that weakness. I saw weakness in his abilities after his wife killed the Bear and the flying bird came at him. He always seemed to doubt himself to me. All my own personal thoughts of course. I'll have to re-read to get another better understand but this is my initial reaction.

I don't necessarily feel the wisecracks were to cover his weakness, those were just part of his personality. Yes, he sometimes used them as a defense mechanism in awkward situations...but that is what most real people with his personality would do anyway. We all have our own coping mechanisms, wisecracks were his.

Eddie doubted himself at times as he had always lived in Henrys shadow. Whenever he showed a talent for anything that would surpass Henrys standards he would squash that talent so as not to overshadow his elder brother, and if not Henry would taunt him until he gave up. It's natural for a person to doubt their abilities when they have lived like that, yet in the end he always overcame the doubts and succeeded in whatever he was attempting.

Again, I do feel Eddie overcame his demons. There were times he was unsupervised in "our world" and could easily have used drugs again, yet he never succumbed. Even in Rolands world he could have chewed/smoked the ole devil grass, but didn't. That shows inner strength of character and great willpower.

[cameroncrazy27]

Eddie had to go for this exact reason. As bad as Eddie's death hurt you (me as well), it hurt Roland even more. The whole principle of the Dark Tower experience is sacrifice. Roland and his ka-tet needed to be willing to sacrifice themselves for King, the rose, and the tower. Eddie ended up being a monumental sacrifice but regardless the tet needed to push on through his death.

[Aericanwizard]

I agree that the sacrifice was necessary, but I think that the manner of the death was profoundly important. The fact that Eddie died after the battle was done, basically for no gain, showed Roland that there were more important things than being willing to die for the Tower. Eddie died, but did it gain anything? Like a lot of you, Eddie was my favourite member of the Tet (besides maybe ol' long, tall and ugly), and I was devastated by his meaningless death. In the long run though, Eddie's death is one of the pivotal points in the journey to the Tower. Without his death, Jake may not have been able to do all that was necessary of him. Without Eddie and Jake's sacrifice, Susannah may have stayed with Roland to the end (and with a whole Tet, maybe Roland would have been more likely to storm the tower, guns blazing, do ya ken?), and without Jake's death, Oy would not have been so sure to carry out Jake's dying request. Ka is a harsh master, and although there is water if ka wills it, there is poison as well.

Long days and pleasant nights.

[thebarbster24]

Oh, I cried for Eddie. His death caught me completely unprepared. And then the next chapter focusing on Jake (my other fave character) dealing with this only to lose him too, so shortly after Eddie. I know that people die suddenly in real life, with no prior notice. And I know that stories often reflect real life. It's just that it's been some time since a book left me in tears for days.

[1BachmanKing9]

Why? Because, just like in real life-people we love die! Uncle Steve never guarantees a happy ending, and it damn near killed ME when Eddie came to the clearing at the end of the path-but our Inkslinger stayed true to the face of his Muse in this case.

Well said. This is I believe perhaps one of the largest keys to understanding why sai King is so successful.

[Robert Gray]

I suspect, given things Sai King has said himself about the process of writing, that he didn't know that Eddie was going to reach the clearing until shortly before it happened. I would suggest that both Eddie and Susannah were essentially "good" people whose lives were going to hell (if not already there) due to circumstances beyond their control. Their selection by Gan (for it could have been no other) to be people Roland drew from the cosmic tarot deck is likely because they deserved a shot at redemption, obvious or not.

Eddie ended up in his predicament because of love for his brother. He followed his brother into drug addiction and crime. Susannah was victimized by a genuinely evil monster and ended up with a chemical imbalance and an alternate identity over which she exuded little control. We can even look further to Jake, a good boy who is victimized by the "man in black" first and then later by Roland himself. We will leave him out of it for now though, as the imagery is most clear with Eddie Dean and his wife.

One could argue that both Eddie and Susannah were already dead, existing in a self designed hell. They existed in halve lives of drug addiction and insanity. The real question isn't why did Eddie have to die. We all die. We all reach that clearing one day. The more interesting question, from a philosophical and theological point of view, is why Eddie Dean was lucky enough to be saved before he reached that path. Eddie Dean was blessed in that he got to live again before he died. We don't weep for Eddie; we mourn for ourselves. He is no longer our companion on the path.