Just as a hobbit was able to give words of hope to Beregond upon arriving at Minas Tirith, the son of that soldier is able to offer such words to another hobbit after Merry watches everyone leave for what he feels is certain doom. So must we comfort each other in days of leavetaking and loss.
Aragorn gives mercy and pity to those unmanned by the horror of approaching the Black Gate. He pardons those who do not wish to continue and allows them to retain their dignity and not leave in cowardice and shame, but free to choose something else to still help the cause that was more up to their strength. This emboldens some to continue on their hard Road, their fear overwhelmed by gift of compassionate understanding and replaced with love and courage. Others leave with their dignity intact, glad they can do something elsewhere and not worry that they are cowards because their hearts did not have enough strength to follow Aragorn
The Mouth of Sauron tries to trick Gandalf and the others into thinking that the imprisoned Frodo’s fate lay with them, but the wizard rejects that lie utterly. Though they did not know it, Frodo and Sam have already escaped, and while, it is indeed true that Frodo was “changed and broken” by his ordeal, it can be hoped that out of such brokeness came a beautiful new being that Sam would have seen when he came to the Undying Lands.
Pippin comes to the point Denethor had as the hopelessly outnumbered army of the West is surrounded by the incredible host that pours out of the Black Gate and the surrounding area. But the tween has the completely opposite reaction. He is not crippled or driven mad by despair so that he does nothing. Even as he acknowledges that, as far as he knows, his death is but moments away, Frodo is doomed to unspeakable torment and Merry will soon be dead also, he responds instead with compassionate insight into the heart and soul of the one who had been overcome, and resolves himself to fight to his last breath. “‘Well, well, now at any rate I understand poor Denethor a little better. .. But now I must do my best.’” So he does, killing the troll that would have killed Beregond. When he is felled by the corpse of that troll, he is calmly accepting of the death that is near.
End of Book V and what an ending!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Saturday, December 26, 2009
The Last Debate
When Aragorn, Éomer, Gandalf and others gather to discuss what is next to be done against Sauron, Gandalf’s advice that “I do not counsel prudence” may seem surprising at first, but it is not. The entire Quest was founded on the seemingly imprudent decision to send a “witless halfling” (as Denethor previously called Frodo) into the heart of their enemy’s realm with the very object that would ensure his victory if he recovered it. Even Gandalf himself does not know whether that was “wisdom or great folly,” but he also knows what seems folly to men is actually the wisdom of God as is shown many times throughout the Bible and in this tale, and it is this “imprudent” God Gandalf serves and trusts. He know that such battles as we must fight against the Enemy and his myriad slaves are not always physical ones, but are at all times spiritual ones. The wizard acknowledges that military victory is not possible against the Dark Lord, but that victory as a whole still is, if the Ring-bearer is able to continue to struggle toward either the ruin of Sauron or their own downfall. To the military minds of the Steward and his elder son, the strategy agreed to at the Council of Elrond seemed the greatest folly, but to minds attuned to the wisdom of God and the realty of the spiritual battlefield, it was deemed the only possible hope of victory, with the clear knowledge of very thin the thread was upon which that hope hung.
With the idea of strengthening that hope, Gandalf gives his “imprudent” counsel that the army of the West come to the Black Gate to challenge Sauron, walking wide-eyed into an ambush of their own making, and realizing how very small was the possibility that they would survive. The rationale Gandalf has for this is the same as Treebeard and Théoden who said they would rather fight and die, than hide from the enemy and still be overwhelmed. Even the near certainty of death does not cause the commanders to quail at such counsel, but embrace it, in the hope that it will give Frodo and Sam the time they need to accomplish their task. They are willing to sacrifice their lives for the hobbits, just as the hobbits are willing to sacrifice theirs for them. Such willing gifts of their lives would help a new age come, even if they never saw it, or their cowardice would help ensure that they would die, knowing that the age would never come for them or anyone. Everything is so very interconnected in this tale. God is behind it all, but it very much depends on the free will decisions of the children He is guiding.
The very same applies to all of us, for none of us are alone in the world. What we say and do impacts others, for good or ill. Our choices have consequences that ripple out and we cannot know at all times what will happen to others based on decisions we make. As Gandalf says, we have no responsibility to influence everything in the world, but only do what we can in our own little plot of time and space, and leave the world better for our efforts so that other generations can build on it. What they will have to contend with is not for us to be concerned, but only that we have done our part to make it easier to them.
The choice to storm the Black Gate is also founded partly on love and regard for Aragorn, just as the choice to tread the Paths of the Dead were. Faramir has already given instant fealty to his king and Éomer and Prince Imrahil here speak of theirs. That Aragorn is a pre-figuring of Christ is often pointed out in his role as healer-king, but here, as with Jesus, it is evident that there must have also been a force to his personality and presence that caused others to acknowledge him as their lord and willingly offer their lives to him in service, even to the point of death.
With the idea of strengthening that hope, Gandalf gives his “imprudent” counsel that the army of the West come to the Black Gate to challenge Sauron, walking wide-eyed into an ambush of their own making, and realizing how very small was the possibility that they would survive. The rationale Gandalf has for this is the same as Treebeard and Théoden who said they would rather fight and die, than hide from the enemy and still be overwhelmed. Even the near certainty of death does not cause the commanders to quail at such counsel, but embrace it, in the hope that it will give Frodo and Sam the time they need to accomplish their task. They are willing to sacrifice their lives for the hobbits, just as the hobbits are willing to sacrifice theirs for them. Such willing gifts of their lives would help a new age come, even if they never saw it, or their cowardice would help ensure that they would die, knowing that the age would never come for them or anyone. Everything is so very interconnected in this tale. God is behind it all, but it very much depends on the free will decisions of the children He is guiding.
The very same applies to all of us, for none of us are alone in the world. What we say and do impacts others, for good or ill. Our choices have consequences that ripple out and we cannot know at all times what will happen to others based on decisions we make. As Gandalf says, we have no responsibility to influence everything in the world, but only do what we can in our own little plot of time and space, and leave the world better for our efforts so that other generations can build on it. What they will have to contend with is not for us to be concerned, but only that we have done our part to make it easier to them.
The choice to storm the Black Gate is also founded partly on love and regard for Aragorn, just as the choice to tread the Paths of the Dead were. Faramir has already given instant fealty to his king and Éomer and Prince Imrahil here speak of theirs. That Aragorn is a pre-figuring of Christ is often pointed out in his role as healer-king, but here, as with Jesus, it is evident that there must have also been a force to his personality and presence that caused others to acknowledge him as their lord and willingly offer their lives to him in service, even to the point of death.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
The Houses of Healing
Gandalf acknowledges the fulfillment of both Pippin's and Merry's vocations when the wizard comes to find them after the battle. The losses would indeed have been far worse if the hobbits weren't there. Perhaps Théoden's life could have been saved if Gandalf had been there, but perhaps not. Certainly Faramir's would have been lost.
Aragorn shows his humility by refusing to enter the City as a conquering king, but only as a healer. It is in this guise that he is recognized nonetheless for who he truly is, a king who cares deeply for his people. The first he heals is Faramir, whose reaction to Aragorn is diametrically opposed to that of his father. Upon waking, while still very weak from his wounds and fever, the new Steward of Gondor immediately gives love and fealty to his healer and king. Denethor destroyed himself so he wouldn't have say such words; Faramir returns from near-death so he could. Éowyn is healed next and a wind from the West accompanies that.
Merry is the third to be healed, and it is to him that Aragorn gives the wise words to remember Théoden gladly, instead of avoiding the beloved pastime of smoking because the reminder of the king's death would bring grief. We should remember such words when the need is upon us for there is much to celebrate in the memory of a loved one who has passed beyond us, not just reasons to grieve. Just as Aragorn tells Merry to "smoke and think of him," there are things we can do also to remember our dear ones: going to a favorite restaurant, park, theatre, bookstore, or just sitting in the living room across from the chair where the beloved once sat so often. Go there and absorb the presence of the one who is gone, not just their absence. The loss will be too keen at first to do this, but it will bring so much healing and peace, once we are able to do so. I would think there were many times Sam, Merry and Pippin did this after Frodo left for the West.
Aragorn is also wise in that he wishes the full news of Denethor's death to be kept from Faramir until he is stronger and has duties to distract him from dwelling on it too deeply. The yet-to-be-crowned king is not only well concerned for his people's physical well-being, but their spiritual wellness as well, which is another mark of his true identity.
Aragorn shows his humility by refusing to enter the City as a conquering king, but only as a healer. It is in this guise that he is recognized nonetheless for who he truly is, a king who cares deeply for his people. The first he heals is Faramir, whose reaction to Aragorn is diametrically opposed to that of his father. Upon waking, while still very weak from his wounds and fever, the new Steward of Gondor immediately gives love and fealty to his healer and king. Denethor destroyed himself so he wouldn't have say such words; Faramir returns from near-death so he could. Éowyn is healed next and a wind from the West accompanies that.
Merry is the third to be healed, and it is to him that Aragorn gives the wise words to remember Théoden gladly, instead of avoiding the beloved pastime of smoking because the reminder of the king's death would bring grief. We should remember such words when the need is upon us for there is much to celebrate in the memory of a loved one who has passed beyond us, not just reasons to grieve. Just as Aragorn tells Merry to "smoke and think of him," there are things we can do also to remember our dear ones: going to a favorite restaurant, park, theatre, bookstore, or just sitting in the living room across from the chair where the beloved once sat so often. Go there and absorb the presence of the one who is gone, not just their absence. The loss will be too keen at first to do this, but it will bring so much healing and peace, once we are able to do so. I would think there were many times Sam, Merry and Pippin did this after Frodo left for the West.
Aragorn is also wise in that he wishes the full news of Denethor's death to be kept from Faramir until he is stronger and has duties to distract him from dwelling on it too deeply. The yet-to-be-crowned king is not only well concerned for his people's physical well-being, but their spiritual wellness as well, which is another mark of his true identity.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The Pyre of Denethor
As Gandalf and Pippin meet Denethor in the Houses of the Dead, the wizard tells the Steward he has no authority to command the hour of his death or to rob Faramir of his choice whether to live or not. Only "the heathen kings, under the domination of the Dark Power, did thus," Gandalf says. For a moment, as Denethor watches his son be taken away, the Steward's soul stood on the knife's edge, like Saruman's and Sméagol's had before, and Frodo's would later, and like them, Denethor's wavered, then fell into darkness. Due to mercy and pity already given, Frodo's returned to the light. The others didn't have that to fall back on so when they lost their balance, they fell further into darkness.
Denethor reveals the truth of Gandalf's words when he reveals that he is indeed under dark domination when he brings out the palantír he had been using. He declares Gandalf's hope for victory to be naught but the ignorance of the black fleet of the Corsairs that the Steward has seen coming up the Anduin. He has given up without a fight. Aragorn saw the same thing and had the opposite reaction. So did Éomer. They had not been poisoned by Sauron as had Denethor.
But to the Steward it would not have mattered, even if he had known, whether the fleet was manned by Umbar pirates or by Aragorn. Either way his days were over. Denethor states his case against Aragorn and why he does not wish to step down to him. He says if he can't have things his own way, then he'll have no way. Despair and pride had completely unbalanced his mind. All the grief in this chapter and Théoden's death in the previous one is caused by the madness Sauron induced in Denethor by the Steward's foolish use of the palantír.
After Denethor's death, Gandalf looks abroad and sees all the things "of great sorrow and renown" that had happened upon the field of the Pelennor. He grieves greatly for the loss of Théoden that perhaps he could have prevented had it not been for Denethor's mad desire to kill Faramir. But he is also aware of the fall of the Witch-king.
Denethor reveals the truth of Gandalf's words when he reveals that he is indeed under dark domination when he brings out the palantír he had been using. He declares Gandalf's hope for victory to be naught but the ignorance of the black fleet of the Corsairs that the Steward has seen coming up the Anduin. He has given up without a fight. Aragorn saw the same thing and had the opposite reaction. So did Éomer. They had not been poisoned by Sauron as had Denethor.
But to the Steward it would not have mattered, even if he had known, whether the fleet was manned by Umbar pirates or by Aragorn. Either way his days were over. Denethor states his case against Aragorn and why he does not wish to step down to him. He says if he can't have things his own way, then he'll have no way. Despair and pride had completely unbalanced his mind. All the grief in this chapter and Théoden's death in the previous one is caused by the madness Sauron induced in Denethor by the Steward's foolish use of the palantír.
After Denethor's death, Gandalf looks abroad and sees all the things "of great sorrow and renown" that had happened upon the field of the Pelennor. He grieves greatly for the loss of Théoden that perhaps he could have prevented had it not been for Denethor's mad desire to kill Faramir. But he is also aware of the fall of the Witch-king.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
The Ride of the Rohirrim
As Éomer observes, there are several ways that the contriving of evil defeats itself. The dark gloom that presses down on all their hearts also cloaks the passage of the Rohirrim. The wanton destruction of the out-wall also serves to aid the warriors for now they can ride swiftly to the aid of the beleaguered Citadel instead of having to waste time and spend many lives to win through. Their enemy has done the work for them.
Merry thinks more than once upon his folly of disobeying the king’s orders to stay behind. The romantic glory of being in battle has yielded to reality and he wonders what good at all he will be able to do. He thinks he will be nothing but a nuisance as he remembers Théoden’s words: “....in such a battle what would you do, Meriadoc?” We shall see, shan’t we? Gandalf has already alluded to the fall of the Witch-king, but no one yet knows how it will come about.
When the king and his warriors come before Minas Tirith and see the devastation already wrought, it is enough for anyone to have despaired. But Théoden has the opposite reaction to that of Denethor, who has already despaired and is preparing to take his own life and murder his son. Théoden and his knights refuse to surrender to such, and so are able to help aid the City that its Steward already considers lost.
Merry thinks more than once upon his folly of disobeying the king’s orders to stay behind. The romantic glory of being in battle has yielded to reality and he wonders what good at all he will be able to do. He thinks he will be nothing but a nuisance as he remembers Théoden’s words: “....in such a battle what would you do, Meriadoc?” We shall see, shan’t we? Gandalf has already alluded to the fall of the Witch-king, but no one yet knows how it will come about.
When the king and his warriors come before Minas Tirith and see the devastation already wrought, it is enough for anyone to have despaired. But Théoden has the opposite reaction to that of Denethor, who has already despaired and is preparing to take his own life and murder his son. Théoden and his knights refuse to surrender to such, and so are able to help aid the City that its Steward already considers lost.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
The Siege of Gondor
Pippin may not think that his silly hobbit songs are fit for the grand hall of Denethor, but the Steward is quite right to challenge that claim for indeed such cheer from a people untouched by the Shadow would be welcome in such a dark time, and enough to make the Rangers’ unknown job of keeping them that way seem worth it.
Denethor says he would have kept the Ring “...hidden dark and deep. Not used, I say, unless at the uttermost end of need.” But the Steward has already reached that point. Gandalf tells him that he doesn’t trust him or even himself to keep the Ring unused, for he knows the terrible power of that object to overthrow any will, no matter how strong in resistance: “Were it buried beneath the roots of Mindolluin, still it would burn your mind away...” Denethor doesn’t believe the greater wisdom and knowledge of Gandalf. He believes he would be strong enough to resist, and with the surety of victory that the Ring would bring, they “should not then shake with dread under this gloom, fearing the worst...” Yes, that fear would have been removed, but not in the way Denethor believes. The Steward does not have the wisdom and prudence of his younger son either. Faramir has strength and love for his land that Denethor only thinks he has. The Ring would have been impossible for the older man to resist. His test would have been similar to Galadriel’s who had long mused over what she would do with the Ring, but unlike that lady Elf, the Steward would have failed his test.
Gandalf is, at first, quite startled and afraid to hear from Faramir that Frodo and Sam have gone with Gollum to Cirith Ungol. Such would be the reaction of any of us since we do not know all that is ahead. But as he later tells Pippin, he also sees hope which comes from his faith and trust in the One he serves with his whole mind, heart and soul. This ability to go quickly from fear to hope comes only from one Source and Sam’s soul draws on it ever more as well, as does Pippin, Aragorn and Faramir. Gandalf knows he cannot control everything and be everywhere he would like to be. Instead, he places his faith in the One Who is everywhere and sees all things and trusts that all things shall work out as they should. Perhaps even his fall in Moria and surrender to the One Whose will it was, was brought about to strengthen that faith and trust so when it was tested again, it would not fail then either, but be there to strengthen Pippin and the men of Gondor. Through Gandalf’s return with greater power, it had been revealed that apparent disasters - either Moria or Faramir’s news of the hobbits’ path - were really the ways through which God chose to bring great good.
This point of view is the opposite of what Denethor has. He has been corrupted by Sauron through the palantír and so is in despair, but it is interesting that what brought him to his final madness was something he saw that Sauron was not even aware of. Like we do all too often, we jump to worst-case scenario with no in-between. The fact that we do not know what is ahead causes us much fear and anxiety that could be diminished or eliminated all together if we had the same faith Gandalf does and the same hope Sam does. The only way Denethor sees that his anguish could be relieved is if he has the Ring in his possession, but what he sees in the palantír on March 13th, the day Faramir is injured, breaks him completely. It is not clearly stated in the text, but it is obvious from the hints there, the pale light that is seen in the chambers and the date it was seen, that Denethor has seen Frodo, captured in the Tower and the Ring nowhere to be seen. Denethor has placed his hope for victory in the wrong place and so collapses completely. Gandalf has not. Such faith and trust that God knows and sees all things, and will take care of us through the worst storms, is the only thing that we should rely on, for it is the only thing that will not fail.
Denethor says he would have kept the Ring “...hidden dark and deep. Not used, I say, unless at the uttermost end of need.” But the Steward has already reached that point. Gandalf tells him that he doesn’t trust him or even himself to keep the Ring unused, for he knows the terrible power of that object to overthrow any will, no matter how strong in resistance: “Were it buried beneath the roots of Mindolluin, still it would burn your mind away...” Denethor doesn’t believe the greater wisdom and knowledge of Gandalf. He believes he would be strong enough to resist, and with the surety of victory that the Ring would bring, they “should not then shake with dread under this gloom, fearing the worst...” Yes, that fear would have been removed, but not in the way Denethor believes. The Steward does not have the wisdom and prudence of his younger son either. Faramir has strength and love for his land that Denethor only thinks he has. The Ring would have been impossible for the older man to resist. His test would have been similar to Galadriel’s who had long mused over what she would do with the Ring, but unlike that lady Elf, the Steward would have failed his test.
Gandalf is, at first, quite startled and afraid to hear from Faramir that Frodo and Sam have gone with Gollum to Cirith Ungol. Such would be the reaction of any of us since we do not know all that is ahead. But as he later tells Pippin, he also sees hope which comes from his faith and trust in the One he serves with his whole mind, heart and soul. This ability to go quickly from fear to hope comes only from one Source and Sam’s soul draws on it ever more as well, as does Pippin, Aragorn and Faramir. Gandalf knows he cannot control everything and be everywhere he would like to be. Instead, he places his faith in the One Who is everywhere and sees all things and trusts that all things shall work out as they should. Perhaps even his fall in Moria and surrender to the One Whose will it was, was brought about to strengthen that faith and trust so when it was tested again, it would not fail then either, but be there to strengthen Pippin and the men of Gondor. Through Gandalf’s return with greater power, it had been revealed that apparent disasters - either Moria or Faramir’s news of the hobbits’ path - were really the ways through which God chose to bring great good.
This point of view is the opposite of what Denethor has. He has been corrupted by Sauron through the palantír and so is in despair, but it is interesting that what brought him to his final madness was something he saw that Sauron was not even aware of. Like we do all too often, we jump to worst-case scenario with no in-between. The fact that we do not know what is ahead causes us much fear and anxiety that could be diminished or eliminated all together if we had the same faith Gandalf does and the same hope Sam does. The only way Denethor sees that his anguish could be relieved is if he has the Ring in his possession, but what he sees in the palantír on March 13th, the day Faramir is injured, breaks him completely. It is not clearly stated in the text, but it is obvious from the hints there, the pale light that is seen in the chambers and the date it was seen, that Denethor has seen Frodo, captured in the Tower and the Ring nowhere to be seen. Denethor has placed his hope for victory in the wrong place and so collapses completely. Gandalf has not. Such faith and trust that God knows and sees all things, and will take care of us through the worst storms, is the only thing that we should rely on, for it is the only thing that will not fail.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
The Muster of Rohan
When Éomer counsels his king to remain behind in Edoras, Théoden refuses such advice, echoing what Treebeard had told Merry and Pippin. The king says he will not hide in the hills for what use would that be if the battle was lost? He would be no safer there than in the midst of a battlefield, for eventually war would come to his own doorstep. He says it would not be a grief to him, even to die, if the battle was won. We shall see later this is the opposite of what Denethor does, hiding in his tower, refusing to fight because he considers the battle already lost. At the same time the king of Rohan actively fights his physical and spiritual battles, the Steward of Gondor has already surrendered and kills himself. They die on the same day but in opposite ways.
The men of Rohan have less of an awareness of God’s movement in their lives, but they do have great belief in the prophecies and stories of old. This is shown when, in an attempt to soothe his niece’s grief over the departure of Aragorn, Théoden recounts the tale of Brego and Baldor hearing the ancient man at the Door of the Dead tell them that the way is shut “until the time comes.” The king thinks perhaps the time has come and Aragorn will be allowed to pass. Théoden and Éomer both recognize the greatness of the man. The king uses that recognition to create and bolster his hope that Aragorn would survive what no one else has. Éomer, however, already grieves for the loss of such greatness for he can only seen it thrown away on such a deadly path.
True indeed are the king’s words when he bids the errand-rider from Gondor to wait until morning to see the strength that is already gathered for the defense of that man’s land. Such a sight would give him new heart, and the knowledge that more would be added. For any of us, day can bring new hope when the darkness is banished for a while. But when day does not come as bright as it should because of the storm coming from Mordor, this does not dim the dedication to fight. Instead, these clouds are another way that Sauron defeats himself, for now the Rohirrim can move more quickly to the defense of Minas Tirith, needing no longer to hide their numbers by more secret paths, but remaining hid by the clouds themselves.
It is also in this chapter that the disobedience of Éowyn and Merry takes place, defying the orders to stay behind, though for a long time, we do not know it is her that carries the valiant hobbit into battle. This will be to fulfill another prophecy though neither is aware of it, showing that one does not need to be even aware of one’s vocation to bring it to fruition, just as God will later use Sméagol.
The men of Rohan have less of an awareness of God’s movement in their lives, but they do have great belief in the prophecies and stories of old. This is shown when, in an attempt to soothe his niece’s grief over the departure of Aragorn, Théoden recounts the tale of Brego and Baldor hearing the ancient man at the Door of the Dead tell them that the way is shut “until the time comes.” The king thinks perhaps the time has come and Aragorn will be allowed to pass. Théoden and Éomer both recognize the greatness of the man. The king uses that recognition to create and bolster his hope that Aragorn would survive what no one else has. Éomer, however, already grieves for the loss of such greatness for he can only seen it thrown away on such a deadly path.
True indeed are the king’s words when he bids the errand-rider from Gondor to wait until morning to see the strength that is already gathered for the defense of that man’s land. Such a sight would give him new heart, and the knowledge that more would be added. For any of us, day can bring new hope when the darkness is banished for a while. But when day does not come as bright as it should because of the storm coming from Mordor, this does not dim the dedication to fight. Instead, these clouds are another way that Sauron defeats himself, for now the Rohirrim can move more quickly to the defense of Minas Tirith, needing no longer to hide their numbers by more secret paths, but remaining hid by the clouds themselves.
It is also in this chapter that the disobedience of Éowyn and Merry takes place, defying the orders to stay behind, though for a long time, we do not know it is her that carries the valiant hobbit into battle. This will be to fulfill another prophecy though neither is aware of it, showing that one does not need to be even aware of one’s vocation to bring it to fruition, just as God will later use Sméagol.
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