Was Rand al'Thor supposed to be a symbol for Jesus?

Question

Rand al'Thor has several moments that could be considered "biblical", including (spoilers): >!"redeeming" mankind by cleansing Saidin", Dying to save the world, and being reborn after death, etc Has Robert Jordan ever commented on this? I am really looking for a quote by either Robert Jordan or Brandon Sanderson, rather than a passage from a book.

Answer 1

Hello! I have been waiting my whole adult life for a reason to be considered an expert and academically answer a Wheel of Time question!

Yes! Robert Jordan was, indeed, asked about this very thing. In an interview from DragonCon back in June of 1997, a fan going by "Ishamael" brought this up to Mr. Jordan. The transcript is as follows:

ISHAMAEL

How much of Jesus Christ is there in Rand? We have the wounded palms, side wound, crown of swords... How representational of Jesus Christ is Rand?

ROBERT JORDAN

Rand has some elements of Jesus Christ, yes. But he is intended more to be a general "messiah figure." An archetype such as Arthur, rather than a manifestation of Jesus Christ in any way.

https://www.theoryland.com/intvmain.php?i=79

So his answer does then beg the questions: What does it mean to be a Messiah figure and what is an Arthur-like archetype? Someone who is considered a Messiah figure is one who is viewed as any sort of redeemer (i.e. someone whose whole point of being is to save all or a group of people from something negative, from a detrimental way of life, and/or someone who will take on the brunt of the punishment for the masses). This Messiah figure is usually proven to be "a cut above" the rest; a person who reaches a god-like level of power and/or influence. They are also usually destined to be a martyr -- which leads us in to an Arthurial Archetype. King Arthur, the Once and Future King, is an Anglo-Saxon myth based on a collection of earlier Celtic myths. King Arthur is an archetypal hero, meaning he is born to less than favorable circumstances, goes on an epic quest, faces several trials and tribulations, is selfless, courageous, and has a strong desire to help others. Sometimes, these Messianic and Arthurial figures are destined to die for their cause -- but that doesn't mean they have to stay dead!

The Wheel of Time series pulls inspiration from several cultures around the world. You can find examples of these two main character types of Rand Al'Thor in other mythologies found in India, China, the Middle East, Africa, and several European countries. Rand fits into the perfect definition of going on a Hero's Journey.

The Wheel of Time is my favorite book series, so thank you for allowing me to answer your question!