Did Susan Have to Burn?

[~Ally~]

There were so many times I wanted to smack her and tell Roland to think with his big brain, dammit!

Haha, that pretty much sums it up perfectly.

[Rolandlover]

I may possibly be the only DT fan that doesn't really care for Susan. It's not that I dislike her, but...I'm not particularly fond of her either. To me she is just meh! King described her as too perfect, kind of like every teenage boy's--and dirty old man's--idea of perfection which gave her an almost fairytale quality that didn't appeal to me. It's easy for people to talk of "true love" but all I see is teenage love, something they may have grown out of in time, as many of us do. I understand they both experienced situations that made them seem older than their years--but not always wiser--yet inside they were still teenagers and naive to the complexities of a real grown up relationship. I probably would have cared more for Susan's character and the relationship if they had been older, experienced "lust" elsewhere and gained enough experience to know what they felt was genuine love. But otherwise...meh!

I don't feel Roland sacrificed Susan--or anything--just to reach the Tower, it's much more complex than that. Roland believed Susan was safe and didn't intentionally leave her to burn. Did Susan have to burn? Hell yeh. That situation helped create the Roland we were travelling with, if she hadn't burned I doubt there would have been a quest for the Tower. The other sacrifices he makes in his quest aren't only to reach the Tower but to ensure it doesn't fall and destroy the very nature of existence. His sacrifices ensure all the Worlds keep turning, which is why I won't ever believe Roland needs to suffer and repeat his journey to find salvation. Without Roland there would be no existence for him to suffer in. The man made mistakes, it's called being human...but he deserves to live--and die--in peace. Sometimes in life we have to sacrifice things for the greater good.

I love Roland, sincerely. In my story he is at peace, happy, and reunited with those he loved and lost.

ICAM with your post! I'm meh on Susan too and I've said before that her and Roland's relationship was too cliche to me. Boy meets girl, girl dies tragically, boy never loves again. As for the Susan the character, i thought she was flimsy at best. I think if it was any boy that wasn't from Mejis, she would have fallen in love with them. Susan wanted out of Mejis and Roland was her ticket. I just want Roland to some how get over it and find love again. I guess it's the romantic in me. I share that with Roland lol!

[Danpd66]

I would have a difficult time falling in love if I were Roland, as it seems that everyone he loves is taken from him.

[Stan_Richards_of_Windsor]

Simple answer: "All things serve the Beam".If Susan would have lived, Roland would have her to distract him from The Tower

[Danpd66]

Sounds like she would have been a nice distraction!