The Wise Man's Fear

Kvothe’s lute is the essence of his identity as a musician and a necessary tool for his survival. His lute grants him access to the Eolian stage, where he makes money performing, and ensures his room and board as Anker’s residential musician. However, his lute is also his only surviving tie to his family, as he learned music and performance from them before their violent deaths. Kvothe’s love for music and story is peppered throughout the text, and it is his musical capabilities that link him to Alveron and ensure his fortune. The three times that Kvothe is without his lute are times of significant struggle and emotional harm. First, when Denna inadvertently steals it, he enters a depressive episode that is only alleviated upon its return, which also signifies an improvement to his circumstances. When he is with the Adem, his lute is frowned upon, forcing him to hide a key part of himself. In the frame narrative, Kvothe lives a life without music, emphasizing silence over noise.