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06-08-2005, 07:12 AM | #1 | |
Fair Dinkum
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Houston, TX
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LotR Discussion Project: Chapters X & XI
Chapter X & X1- The Voice of Saruman and The PalantĂ*r
- by Radagast the Brown & Lin (Sorry for the delay! Both of us were really busy) These chapters, while rather short, are quite informative. Chapter X- The Voice of Saruman Gandalf carries out the âdangerous, and probably uselessâ task of paying a last visit to Saruman. He is accompanied by ThĂ©oden, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Merry & Pippin, and some Riders of Rohan. We learn of the power in Gandalfâs voice. If I may refer to Letters here, Tolkien says explicitly that Sarumanâs voice is highly persuasive, not hypnotic: Quote:
Saruman patronisingly offers to aid ThĂ©oden, who takes a while to speak because he strives âwith anger or doubtâ. I suppose that Saruman does this out of desperation, though he must know that there is little aid that he can actually provide. ThĂ©oden, however, rejects Sarumanâs offer and in doing so, fulfils his role of King, which he has recently taken on once more. His speech is so stirring and dignified; itâs one of my favourite passages in the book. Saruman then tries (again, condescendingly), to form an alliance with Gandalf. Instead, Gandalf offers the chance to Saruman to redeem himself, and to be âfreeâ, but only after relinquishing the Key of Orthanc and his staff. Saruman, enraged by this, turns to leave, but is pulled back, against his will, by Gandalfâs command. Gandalf exerts his new power and authority as Gandalf the White; he casts Saruman from the order and the White Council, and also breaks his staff. Itâs interesting to see Sarumanâs demise. He has paid for his greed and betrayal, and has been slowly corrupted by it. âHe will not serve, only commandâ says Gandalf, and this is true to the very end, as we see by his refusal to leave Orthanc. (This is also seen later, but nowâs not that time for that). Is there this weakness in all of us? After all, the greatest of the Istari was corrupted, and Gandalf admits that he doesnât quite trust himself with the Ring and so forth. In his anger, Wormtongue throws a mysterious ball (note: with poor aim, probably because he doesnât know if he hates Gandalf or Saruman more) at the company, which Pippin retrieves, but which Gandalf quickly takes off him. We learn from Gandalf of, what seems to be, Sarumanâs inevitable doom by the choices he has made. What, at this point in time, do you think will become of him? The company leave Treebeard and his Ents, who pledge to guard Isengard for as long as necessary. There are hopeful plans made for the future, with Legolas asking to see Fangorn after the War. The Hobbits are added to the Entsâ Long List, so we can see how the hobbits have already begun to make their mark in history. Chapter XI The PalantĂ*r Upon leaving Isengard, the group see Sarumanâs emblem, the White Hand, broken by the Ents. This seemingly representâs Sarumanâs hopelessness. The company head back to Helmâs Deep, and stop for the night. Pippin is restless and resents Gandalf taking the PalantĂ*r off him without telling him any information. Merry is so weary he falls asleep straight away, but Pippin, drawn by curiosity and also some other force, takes the PalantĂ*r from Gandalf and peers into it. He is terrified by he is confronted by- Sauron, who still believes the PalantĂ*r is with Saruman and wants it to be returned to him. Pippin is distressed by the ordeal, having felt that he was âfalling into piecesâ, and his body becomes rigid. He is reproached by Gandalf, but forgiven. The Orthanc-stone is now identified undeniably as the PalantĂ*r of Orthanc, and Gandalf gives it to Aragorn, to whom it rightfully belongs. They now know of the link between Isengard and Mordor. Gandalf admits that Pippinâs inquisitiveness has saved him, because he may have otherwise attempted to probe it and revealed himself to Sauron. Again, they ride, and are passed by a NazgĂ»l, Gandalf warns them that âThe storm is comingâ, and they ride with urgency. Pippin and Gandalf ride on Shadowfax, and Pippin learns much about the PalantĂ*ri. They ride rapidly to Minas Tirith, leaving the others far behind. |
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