The Name of the Wind

The power of the wind is unquestionable in this story, as it is a natural force that can move objects and even, as in the Hall of Questioning, answer critical questions about life. Kvothe’s goal is to learn the name of the wind, and the narrative’s mentions of wind are always meaningful. For example, in the Underthing, it is the feel of wind that helps Kvothe understand how to get into the Archives through a secret passage. Naming the wind helps him become a Re’lar, yet the wind will not give him answers, as in the end of the book, about Denna. This indicates that the power has certain limits.

Kvothe owns three separate lutes in this tale—one from his father, which Pike destroys; a secondhand one he purchases while at the University; and the second lute’s replacement after Ambrose throws and breaks it. For Kvothe, the lute is a comfort. It is a symbol of his Edema Ruh background, a reminder of childhood, and one of the few things that can soothe his soul during troubled times. More than that, the music the lute makes connects people to him and helps him make money. With the lute in Kvothe’s hands, the power of music, which is paramount in Kvothe’s life and in the course of the