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Jasper
Vetch, whose true name is Estarriol, is Ged’s closest friend and most steadfast companion at the School on Roke and in the years beyond their education. The dark-skinned Vetch comes from the East Reach of the Archipelago. A humble, patient young man who is a true friend to Ged, Vetch is a powerful sorcerer who nonetheless decides, after finishing his studies, to return to his hometown and serve as mage to the island from which he came. Whereas Jasper and Ged yearn (and fight) for power, glory, and renown, Vetch wants to use his skills to help others. While at school with Jasper and Ged, Vetch is constantly trying to de-escalate fights and skirmishes between the two pompous boys—even though his attempts are often unsuccessful. On the isle of Iffish in the East Reach, Vetch makes a name for himself as a powerful yet approachable wizard who is available to anyone who needs his help. He understands that a sense of duty is enough of a destiny for anyone—yet he maintains a sense of adventure and yearning that leads him to accompany Ged, years after they part ways on Roke, across the sea to the ends of the earth in order to confront the shadow that has been haunting Ged for years. Vetch knows that his friend has been burdened with a difficult lot, and he wants to do all he can to support Ged as Ged struggles against his own fate. Supportive, modest, and thoughtful, Vetch is a wizard of immense power, bravery, and heart.
Vetch / Estarriol Quotes in A Wizard of Earthsea
The A Wizard of Earthsea quotes below are all either spoken by Vetch / Estarriol or refer to Vetch / Estarriol. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 4 Quotes
No one knows a man's true name but himself and his namer. […] If plain men hide their true name from all but a few they love and trust utterly, so much more must wizardly men, being more dangerous, and more endangered. Who knows a man’s name, holds that man's life in his keeping. Thus to Ged, who had lost faith in himself, Vetch had given that gift only a friend can give, the proof of unshaken, unshakable trust.
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Chapter 9 Quotes
"Pride was ever your mind's master," his friend said smiling, as if they talked of a matter of small concern to either. "Now think: it is your quest, assuredly, but if the quest fails, should there not be another there who might bear warning to the Archipelago? For the shadow would be a fearful power then. And if you defeat the thing, should there not be another there who will tell of it in the Archipelago, that the Deed may be known and sung? I know I can be of no use to you; yet I think I should go with you."
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Chapter 10 Quotes
On the course on which they were embarked, the saying of the least spell might change chance and move the balance of power and of doom: for they went now toward the very center of that balance, toward the place where light and darkness meet. Those who travel thus say no word carelessly.
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“The wound is healed,” [Ged] said, “I am whole, I am free.” […]
And [Vetch] began to see the truth, that Ged had neither lost nor won but, naming the shadow of his death with his own name, had made himself whole: a man: who, knowing his whole true self, cannot be used or possessed by any power other than himself and whose life therefore is lived for life's sake and never in the service of ruin, or pain, or hatred, or the dark.
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Vetch / Estarriol Character Timeline in A Wizard of Earthsea
The timeline below shows where the character Vetch / Estarriol appears in A Wizard of Earthsea. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3
...Table—rumored to be enchanted to accommodate an endless number of people—Ged and Jasper sit near Vetch, a heavy-set boy even darker-skinned than Ged himself. Ged immediately takes a liking to the...
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Jasper and Vetch lead Ged up into the lush woods beyond town. At the base of Roke Knoll,...
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...regrets having come to Roke. When there is a knock at the door, however, and Vetch comes in to talk to Ged—asking questions about Ged’s youth and telling stories about his...
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Ged receives a warm welcome. Vetch compliments Ged’s otak and states that those who keep wild beasts are those gifted in...
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Chapter 4
That spring, as Ged resumes his training at the school, he sees little of Vetch and Jasper—as new sorcerers, they now study with the Master Patterner in a secret grove...
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...second day, the whole town sleeps in. On the second night of the festival, Ged, Vetch, Jasper, and several of their fellow students have a picnic and practice illusions beneath the...
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Vetch reminds the two that duels are forbidden. He urges them to come to their senses,...
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Jasper hides his eyes, and Vetch alone watches in horror as the faceless, child-sized shadow tears at Ged’s flesh. Vetch tries...
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As Ged returns to daily life, he notices that Vetch and Jasper are seemingly gone from the School. He does not attempt to make any...
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The night before Ged leaves for the tower, Vetch, who has been studying at the secretive Immanent Grove, arrives at Ged’s room to wish...
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Chapter 9
...aloft in defense. Ged, taken aback and frightened, addresses the man, telling his old friend Vetch that he’s hurt Vetch no longer recognizes him. Vetch, however, immediately drops his staff and...
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Vetch introduces Ged to the young woman beside him: she is his sister, Yarrow, a girl...
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Vetch asks what has brought Ged to Iffish, and Ged explains the entirety of his travels....
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...met, Ged could not even seize it and realized he had no power over it. Vetch, however, optimistically insists that Ged will find a way to name it and conquer it....
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The next day, Vetch goes out to attend to some errands before he leaves with Ged. Ged stays with...
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The next day, Vetch takes his leave of Ismay, informing the village elders that he is off to help...
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Chapter 10
As Vetch and Ged make their way across hundreds of miles of stormy seas, stopping on small...
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...shadow.” The only thing that brings Ged comfort is his thoughts of Yarrow. He tells Vetch how much he admires his whip-smart sister, who is like an uncatchable minnow. Vetch smiles...
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...After refilling their stores of water on a strange, remote island, the two continue on. Vetch questions whether Ged has them on the right path, but Ged says only that he...
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Soon, Ged and Vetch come to the last island in the Archipelago for food and a night’s rest. Beyond...
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Ged and Vetch sail onward, and, at last, Ged summons a wind to carry their ship eastward. Ged...
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The next day, Vetch questions whether Ged is perhaps being led into a trap—the shadow, Vetch points out, does...
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Once the ship is aground—even though Vetch cannot see what land they may or may not have come to—Vetch and Ged both...
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Vetch hurries to help Ged, fearing his friend is overpowered, yet he finds himself unable to...
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...over.” Ged begins to laugh. He declares that he is whole, free, and healed. As Vetch looks carefully upon his friend, he sees that it is true: Ged has not lost...
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...fortnight of sailing and using enchantments to sweeten the seawater and catch fish to eat, Vetch and Ged find land again. The weather is calm and steady, and both men delight...
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No song remains of Ged’s encounter with the shadow—the very song Vetch promised to write and sing. However, there is an enduring tale of a boat that...
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