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Is a Confessor's power really all that reliable?
I'm not ashamed to admit it, I watch the Jeremy Kyle show - someone has to. It was during a recent episode that I realised the lie detector test they use to 'catch out' guests works in the same way as a Confessor.A lie detector test cannot tell if you're lying, only if you believe you are.
In Legend of the Seeker episode 11, Confession, Kahlan's power ends up committing an innocent man to death. How is that possible if a confessed person cannot lie? It plays on the weakness of belief. If you believe in something so entirely, it wouldn't be a lie to you, it'd be real.
A Confessor therefore, cannot tell if you're lying, they can only tell if you believe in what you're saying. In the end it comes down to perception. Perception is a very selfish ideal, very one minded. Yet it's only validated through the eyes of others. Think of it as interpretation.
How is it then, that in today's world, the results of a lie detector test wouldn't stand up in court as evidence, yet in the Seeker's world, it serves as judge, jury and executioner? Who decided to give Confessors this much power? That's something I'd like to know.
Of course Kahlan does use other methods to catch someone out; basic psychology, reading body language - instinct. But then 'Body Language Reader' doesn't have the same ring to it as Confessor, does it?
Richard also made an interesting point in the episode: If confessing someone makes them fall in love with you, then maybe what they're telling you is what they think you want to hear? And although Kahlan vehemently refutes his argument, it makes you wonder. Especially since Finn in episode 10 is able to get around Dennee's command of drowning their child, by guessing what she really wanted despite it contradicting with her orders.
If Kahlan ever decides to quit her role as Confessor to the Seeker, there's always a position available as "Lie Detector" on the Jeremy Kyle show. Could you imagine the tag line? Husband believed I cheated - taken lie detector test to prove him wrong: Now I'm in love with a Confessor. It'd bring viewers in by the millions. ITV take note.
All joking aside though, if I were Richard, I'd be wary of accepting Kahlan's help again. Her power is not as infallible as she thinks it is. Her reliance on magic, her trust in it, shouldn't be favoured over more "real methods". Judging things by what you see with your eyes, with what you know in your heart - by what you feel in your gut is just as important. Why do you think Richard is such an effective Seeker? He's instinctual. Something most heroes tend not to show, relying solely on "magical powers" or weapons, or even their good ol' trusty wizened wizard.
The comments
Patricia says,
That's what I love about this show. The writers create these "absolutes" and then slowly, within the characters' arcs, everything comes into question. And that's what makes the characters so believable, because they are infallible, no matter how much powerful magic they wield.
In the episode "Sacrifice" we are brought face to face with a hard-line Mother Confessor who will not budge an inch on the question of Denee's boy-child, and I was siding with Richard -- how could she know? Just because a thing is done for a thousand years, does that make it irrefutable? And the writers then throw a curve-ball by having the Mother Confessor, well, confess, that she bore a son and kept him secret until she had to kill him. So... it leaves us with the idea that this poor woman is reliving her own horror and doesn't want it to happen again... is she taking out her anger and fear on this baby? Or....? Well, we find out in the final episode of the first season just how true it is.
As for Kahlen's lie detector abilities, I completely agree with you. She's been trained in the art of reading body language (which is why she finds it difficult to read a Mord-Sith -- because they are all psychotic, not because they have a special magic).
My friend and I were thinking how totally bad-ass it would be to have a Mord-Sith Confessor show up. Now THAT would be a very dangerous person.
Great editorial!
In the episode "Sacrifice" we are brought face to face with a hard-line Mother Confessor who will not budge an inch on the question of Denee's boy-child, and I was siding with Richard -- how could she know? Just because a thing is done for a thousand years, does that make it irrefutable? And the writers then throw a curve-ball by having the Mother Confessor, well, confess, that she bore a son and kept him secret until she had to kill him. So... it leaves us with the idea that this poor woman is reliving her own horror and doesn't want it to happen again... is she taking out her anger and fear on this baby? Or....? Well, we find out in the final episode of the first season just how true it is.
As for Kahlen's lie detector abilities, I completely agree with you. She's been trained in the art of reading body language (which is why she finds it difficult to read a Mord-Sith -- because they are all psychotic, not because they have a special magic).
My friend and I were thinking how totally bad-ass it would be to have a Mord-Sith Confessor show up. Now THAT would be a very dangerous person.
Great editorial!
colby says,
you are somewhat right about the confessor and the confessed but, if they committed the they will say they did but if they didn't and and the mother confessor asked them they would say no, perception is a major point in it but even if they think the mother confessor wants them to lie or say they did something to make her happy they wouldn't be able to when she says "tell the truth" or "don't lie"
Muse says,
Ok. To answer the question of who gave the Conffessors that kind of power...
THE WIZARDS OF OLD DID!
Read, read, read, read, read, read, read THE BOOKS!
That explains a lot.
Also, the whole confessing thing, I've got to agree with Colby up there. He has a point. So do you, but, i'm just saying that he makes sense too and kind of helps with your question asking.
I have to side with Richard though on the whole Male Confessor thing. Just because it's happened before , doesn't mean it WILL happen.
Even though in the Season One finale, although Kahlan tried that whole thing, her son still killed her. And Darken Rahl. ANd made his friend chop off his finger. And tried to kill RICHARD.
Eh, maybe it was just because Darken was his daddy.
Yeah. Bad seed! LOLZ!!!!
THE WIZARDS OF OLD DID!
Read, read, read, read, read, read, read THE BOOKS!
That explains a lot.
Also, the whole confessing thing, I've got to agree with Colby up there. He has a point. So do you, but, i'm just saying that he makes sense too and kind of helps with your question asking.
I have to side with Richard though on the whole Male Confessor thing. Just because it's happened before , doesn't mean it WILL happen.
Even though in the Season One finale, although Kahlan tried that whole thing, her son still killed her. And Darken Rahl. ANd made his friend chop off his finger. And tried to kill RICHARD.
Eh, maybe it was just because Darken was his daddy.
Yeah. Bad seed! LOLZ!!!!
Auremm says,
I agree with the 2 above me. And she killed her son (or tried) because he was abusing his powers to get what he wanted (like Darken Rahl wanted him to) and she didnt want Rahl to get that power.
As for the male confessors, they even say in the books that there are more then one reasons why females are favored, for one, males confessors lack the compassion a confessor needs when passing judgement, and are more likely to abuse their power.
and yes Mord-sith confessor ftw !!!
As for the male confessors, they even say in the books that there are more then one reasons why females are favored, for one, males confessors lack the compassion a confessor needs when passing judgement, and are more likely to abuse their power.
and yes Mord-sith confessor ftw !!!
rosefyre says,
i agree totally; i would love to see a mord 'sith/confessor, and am even going to put it in my fan fic, i think. as far as the confessor's powers issue, here's siomething interesting; kahlan's power as a confessor is absolute, untouched, pristine, untainted, and did i mention absolute (at least in the books, and i'm at the tenth book-so maybe later on in the last ones-). there are so very many discrepencies between the show and the books, it just boggles the mind, but i think in some ways the show is more true to life (ie. kahlan being tested with her power in the episode Confession) but most especially with their truest test -and prequel of things to come- in saving Denee's confessor-son. i thought it even brought richard and kahlan a little bit closer, as seeker and confessor, sure, but in a more personal way it did bring them a little closer.
Danny says,
The confessors power is absolute, It is not love as we know it. It is mindless obediance. Once confessed whatever ever has happened to that person or whatever he has done is the confessers to know. If they are innocent they are sent on their way and ordered to live normal lives (as normal as they can). If guilty then they are ordered to die which happens on the spot in the books. They do anything without question, without fear. In the books once confessed the only way to stop someone carrying out a order from their mistress is to kill him. Honestly the books are 1000 times better. The books explain, everything about the confessers power, about Richard being seeker/War wizard. There are alot of changes to the show which personally ruin it for me as im a big fan of the books. Dont get me wrong the show is amazing but i feel they dont do the books any justice. I mean come on at least keep to facts. Khalan was the last confesser/ mother confesser from the beginning, Denne actually did die, Denna was not ressurrected and zedd was alot older because he put the boundarys up and he is the only wizard of the first order left alive. Like i said it is a amazing show so please dont think im slating it down. lol. but to me the books will always out do this show.
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