I believe Taim is a Darkfriend (like many have said before me), but I believe he was "turned" sometime later in the series. I believe at the time where he was hoping Rand was still sane he was at that time still in the Light (As much as he could ever be), and after that he was turned.

Taim and Moridin look nothing alike.  If Moridin was in Taim's body, then he would have to be weaving a diguise to fool the other Forsaken ... which makes zero sense.

 

Taim: Slightly shorter than Rand, dark face and hair, dark tilted Saldaen eyes, hooked nose and high cheekbones

 

Moridin: As tall as Rand and almost pretty enough for Graendal, strong, almost square chin, bright blue eyes and black hair.

 

Taim is not Moridin.  Taim is not Demandred.  Taim is not Be'lal.  Taim is not Bela.  Taim is not Rhuarc, or Lan, or Suroth, or Else Grinwell, or the Creator, or yo mama (or Yo-Yo Ma).  Mazrim Taim is Mazrim Taim.

 

The similarity between Taim's comments and Moridin's comments at Shadar Logoth can be explained by the fact that they have similar desires, not that they are the same person.

 

He has probably had contact with, and recieved instruction and instructions from both Demandred and Ishamael/Moridin at various times.  But he is not either of those persons.

phlpr23; That Taim was turned after he met Rand theory doesn't fit with the "so-called Aiel" comment and others.  It also doesn't fit with the personality polarisation thing.  I didn't realize you posted Robert before I was done

OK gotcha.

i will be more clear. i do not believe taim is moridin. i believe taim is a forsaken, chosen, not a mere darkfriend. i think that taim knows enough of the other forsaken's mannersims to mimic them,and i think he does this in mockery of the others.

i do not believe taim is moridin. i believe taim is a forsaken, chosen, not a mere darkfriend.

 

That, I agree with.

I don't think Graendel was forcibly turned.  I always took her personality change as in she felt that the strict life of asceticism she led was all for nothing, especially seeing how nobody else in the world seemed to care about such things.  I think of her more as some real repressed religious girl, who when she goes off to live at college and has freedom for the first time, just goes hog wild :p