Ka-tet membership

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

In The Waste Lands, on two separate occasions, it is mentioned that Roland is not a full member of the ka-tet that Eddie, Susannah, and Jake comprise.

From Chapter 4:
“Each member of a ka-tet is like a piece in a puzzle. Taken by itself, each piece is a mystery, but when they are put together, they make a picture . . . or part of a picture. It may take a great many ka-tets to finish one picture. You mustn’t be surprised if you discover your lives have been touching in ways you haven’t seen until now. For one thing, each of you three is capable of knowing each other’s thoughts—”

“What?” Eddie cried.

“It’s true. You share your thoughts so naturally that you haven’t even been aware it’s happening, but it has been. It’s easier for me to see, no doubt, because I am not a full member of this ka-tet—possibly because I am not from your world—and so cannot take part completely in the thought-sharing ability. But I can send. Susannah . . . do you remember when we were in the circle?”

And from Chapter 5:
Roland understood that he was not a full member of this ka-tet; he guessed that even Oy was more fully aware than he of the secret life which existed at its heart (he very much doubted that the bumbler had tracked Jake with his nose alone through those tunnels where water ran in polluted streamlets). Nevertheless, he had been able to help Jake when the boy had been trying to cross from his world to this one. He had been able to see . . . and when Jake had been trying to regain the key he had dropped, he had been able to send a message.

In the first quote Roland muses that it might be because he's from a different world. But in the second quote, he guesses that Oy (from his own world) might be more of a full member of the ka-tet than he himself is.

Any thoughts on this? It just struck me as odd.
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
Administrator
Jul 10, 2006
52,243
157,324
Maine
Thank you so much! In January, I'm starting a readthrough of all of King's books in order of publication. So, this board will be a friend for the next year or two.
Not to burst your bubble or put too much pressure on to get those books read, but the Board will be shutting down at the end of June 2020 when I retire. I hope you'll stick with us, though, and enjoy your time here. :)
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
Administrator
Jul 10, 2006
52,243
157,324
Maine
Well, that's a total bummer. :(
You've still got 6 months to join in the discussions in the meantime and one of our members has started another site where board members can go while this board is closed on the weekends, holidays, and moderator vacations. You can check it out and sign up if you're interested at this link. :)
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
In The Waste Lands, on two separate occasions, it is mentioned that Roland is not a full member of the ka-tet that Eddie, Susannah, and Jake comprise.

From Chapter 4:


And from Chapter 5:


In the first quote Roland muses that it might be because he's from a different world. But in the second quote, he guesses that Oy (from his own world) might be more of a full member of the ka-tet than he himself is.

Any thoughts on this? It just struck me as odd.
...welcome!....and Roland, because of his singular nature and quest is the quintessential loner....taking part in, but never being a true part of any endeavor....
 

wolfphoenix

She-Wolf finally Risen and Strapping On.
Apr 24, 2019
2,919
17,451
57
Howdy pjshifflet and welcome. Maybe due to his singular nature he thinks he is apart from the cohesiveness of the ka-tet. He drew a ka-tet and their job was to take him to the Tower. Once there, the ka-tet was gone. Who knows? Regardless of what Roland thinks, I see him as a member of the ka-tet. All the best, mal
................what spidey said, and "Alas! my worst enemies kingdoms for a keyboard!"
 

wolfphoenix

She-Wolf finally Risen and Strapping On.
Apr 24, 2019
2,919
17,451
57
In The Waste Lands, on two separate occasions, it is mentioned that Roland is not a full member of the ka-tet that Eddie, Susannah, and Jake comprise.

From Chapter 4:


And from Chapter 5:


In the first quote Roland muses that it might be because he's from a different world. But in the second quote, he guesses that Oy (from his own world) might be more of a full member of the ka-tet than he himself is.

Any thoughts on this? It just struck me as odd.
......like ur post very much,
welcome!
please do checkout the weekend playground :)
 

Drawn to Ka-tet

Well-Known Member
Mar 15, 2007
2,409
465
New Hampshire
In The Waste Lands, on two separate occasions, it is mentioned that Roland is not a full member of the ka-tet that Eddie, Susannah, and Jake comprise.

From Chapter 4:


And from Chapter 5:


In the first quote Roland muses that it might be because he's from a different world. But in the second quote, he guesses that Oy (from his own world) might be more of a full member of the ka-tet than he himself is.

Any thoughts on this? It just struck me as odd.
Hello and welcome. The ka-tet could not exist without Roland, as he drew them all together and yet he is separate from them. I think he's been damaged by be losing those that he loved in his youth. I also think he was damaged by the pink grapefruit as a young man. That searing assault on his psyche changed him from being able to share love ever again. Susannah, Eddie, Jake and Oy all are still capable of love and they are bound to each other by that love. I think that's the secret of ka-tet.
Long days and pleasant nights.
 

Edward John

Well-Known Member
Aug 15, 2019
4,004
18,785
23
Hello and welcome. The ka-tet could not exist without Roland, as he drew them all together and yet he is separate from them. I think he's been damaged by be losing those that he loved in his youth. I also think he was damaged by the pink grapefruit as a young man. That searing assault on his psyche changed him from being able to share love ever again. Susannah, Eddie, Jake and Oy all are still capable of love and they are bound to each other by that love. I think that's the secret of ka-tet.
Long days and pleasant nights.
Also remember Roland's original Ka-tet, Alain, Cuthbert, Jimmy, their demise also paves the way for the new Ka-tet, also remember the significance of Cuthbert at Jericho Hill and the horn.