Shared traits of Fitz's biological kids he didn't raise (Nettle, Dutiful) vs. kids he raised (Bee, Hap, even Per and Spark to an extent)
Nettle and Dutiful
chafe under authority but ultimately make sacrifices, even when it hurts
believe in duty and sacrifice, and hold others to their standards
Secretly carve out their own life (Nettle marrying Riddle, Dutiful Wit-bonding)
strong sense of politics and law (puts diplomacy ahead of personal grievances, like Dutiful trying to kill IceFyre, Nettle policing Bee's manners and presentation)
don't feel like they belong, hide the aspects of themselves that others will judge (Nettle's manners, Dutiful's Wit)
mostly stick to traditional power hierarchy, expect obedience
disciplined
uphold tradition, (exceptions for legalizing the Wit, which was Kettricken's mission, and marrying Riddle)
place a lot of importance on blood relations to understand identity, more static understanding of themselves
have a concept of a true identity, which is why they are so important to each other: they can be "themselves" around family
respond to Fitz's emotional distance by respecting/mirroring it (Nettle never really knowing Fitz until he has the Skill-spilling incident, Dutiful exerting his royal authority over Fitz)- However, this is mostly in F&F. in TMT we see kind of the opposite, Nettle and Dutiful being very curious about Fitz. Fighting to break down his Skill-walls and discover his secrets. But they are both, even then, very sensitive to rejection. Nettle takes it personally when Fitz takes the delvenbark, Dutiful is jealous of Hap.
values are largely determined by the ones who raised them. Nettle is just like Molly and Burrich, Dutiful is just like Kettricken.
have honestly had pretty good childhoods
intelligent, disciplined, dutiful
Bee and Hap, (also Spark and Per occasionally)
independent, used to freedom
struggle under systems that oppress their free will
and they won't change to satisfy the system, they will change the system- or remove themselves from it (Hap leaving his apprenticeship to be a traveling minstrel, Bee destroying Clerres, Bee sneaking out to play with Thick, Spark and Per running away to save Bee)
strong sense of justice- Fitz treats them as equals, respects their autonomy (Hap screaming at prison guards and even Lord Golden when Tom is injured, Bee destroying Clerres, hating Shine, Per beating up Taffy, Spark getting mad at fitz for arguing with the Fool, etc.)
never belonging growing up, unable to hide their differences, and forcing the world to change to accept them
obedience and loyalty is always mutual and conditional (including Spark and Per- they only listen to Fitz when they really want to. otherwise they feel fine disobeying him, especially if it's for his benefit)
less traditional ideas about power, honor, family, and even gender (Spark's fluid identity/ acceptance of Beloved, less stigma about illegitimacy, less stigma about assassination and spying as dishonorable, found family)
both artists
Bee finds a lot of identity as a Farseer initially, but the name ends up as a constraint bc she's so much more than that. instead of biological family as the main identity fixer for Bee, Hap, Spark, and Per, they create more fluid identities based on their connections and actions. Hap is not just a Red-Ship Bastard, he's a famous minstrel. Bee is the White Prophet, best friends with Per. Per is Fitz's man, and Bee's man. Spark is also Ash, assassin and spy, girl and boy and young woman.
no concept of one's "true self", ever evolving and changing. believe that they can change and do change
inherent, profound curiosity of the world
stubbornly attach themselves to Fitz, and don't let his distance get in the way of their relationships. (Per going after Fitz and getting drugged, Hap visiting Tom every day when he's ill even when he can't see him, Bee spying on Fitz to learn more about him, Spark, Per, Hap, and Bee all going to the quarry, even sneaking around the king's authority and becoming ill in the case of Hap, i mean there are just countless examples)
they have wolf values based on ability to survive independently, and loyalty to the pack. (Hap trying to pay for his own apprenticeship, and saying he'll take care of Tom in "his old age" lol, Bee priding herself in her tasks at Withywoods, and surviving her kidnapping) Fitz clearly also prizes Per and Spark for their practical life skills and thoughtfulness. (Per bringing oats for food bc he wouldn't feed a horse anything he also wouldn't eat, Spark constantly finding solutions to make the Fool feel safe and comfortable)
have experienced awful things as children
self-possessed, proactive, and stubborn
The main reasons for these differences come down to age, upbringing, and Fitz.
Dutiful and Nettle are older than Bee, Spark, and Per, and most of Hap's examples here are from TMT. As they have gotten older, they have "matured" by settling into their assigned roles. King, Skillmistress. They still rebel against the proscriptive expectations of them. That's why Nettle marries Riddle. But they don't have Hap or Bee's lifelong expectation of self-determination and autonomy. Spark and Per are unique, as they were raised to be servants. But even early on, they find their own ways of making their life their own. Perseverance befriends Bee. Spark is raised as a boy, and becomes an assassin's apprentice. After meeting Fitz, and swearing loyalty to Fitz and Beloved respectively, they arguably gain more independence. Their ties to Withywoods and Chade are almost severed, tragically, but they gain control over the direction of their lives. Bee is maybe the best example of this. Even after being kidnapped, she exercises a level of action and choice making that determines the fate of the world. But, as with Fitz, the cost of independence is almost always loneliness.
Dutiful and Nettle both have pretty great lives. As children, they were raised with love and support, and never went hungry. They had difficult transitions into adulthood with politics and magic. But ultimately they were able to make that transition. On the other hand, you have Spark and Hap, who had awful experiences in early childhood. Bee, Per, and Spark all experience singularly traumatic events. They all have known starvation, the threat of abuse, ostracization, and losing parents at very young age. I believe that suffering isn't inherently edifying- just look at Kennit. But the survival of these traumas, with support from Fitz and others, makes these kids grow into highly self-possessed individuals. Perhaps facing death at such a young age makes one unwilling to wait for things to get better. That's why they respond so virulently to injustice. That's why they disobey orders if they feel they have a reason. That's why they fight, tooth and nail, to create a better world. Hap becomes a minstrel for a freer life, and molds culture and history. Spark has to fight for the right to live. She cultivates relationships with people who understand her, and goes to great lengths to protect her friends. Per beats up Taffy to try to make Withywoods a safe place for Bee. And Bee destroys Clerres.
A lot of this comes from Fitz's unique outlook on the world, which impacts his parenting style. His Wit affords him a view of the lifeforce of every living thing. This is the fundamental quality of Fitz that guides his every choice. He believes that every living thing has a right to exist. And that means that every living thing is equal, in a way. Perhaps not equal in skill, which is why he doesn't have a problem with hunting. But he believes that no one is born above another. That's what gets him in so much trouble, and what makes him such a great character. So while Burrich raises Fitz and Nettle to be obedient, Fitz raises Hap and Bee to make their own choices wisely. While Kettricken raises Dutiful to sacrifice himself for others, Fitz raises Hap and Bee to take care of themselves. While Nettle and Dutiful mostly adhere to a rigid power structure, Fitz raises his kids with wolf values. Survival, and pack. Loyalty =/= obedience, loyalty is mutual love. Fitz doesn't think his own judgement is superior in any way to Hap, Bee, Spark, or Per. He asks for their opinions and insights. He only overrides their judgement when he is confident he is correct. That's why there is such a disconnect between Nettle and Bee. She can't comprehend Fitz's "lax" parenting style. But Hap sees Bee as his little sister, and connects to her in a way even Fitz can't. Fitz doesn't care about bloodlines, birthright, or managing his kid's public image. He cares about making them feel loved and respected.
The theme of ROTE is that anyone can be a Catalyst and change the world for the better. But they can only do that if they feel like they can. So many adults think of children as a different species, or objects, or as extensions of themselves. They think their role as parent is to mold their child into a proper adult. ROTE encourages us to consider the interiority of the child. From the very first pages of Assassin's Apprentice, we see how a child can misinterpret the well-meaning actions of adults around them. How they are influenced by their environment. A child is a person. And they earn their personhood by being born. No one can take that away from them. The only things a parent can do is teach them, teach them by example, and love them unconditionally.
