LOTR Read-Along: The Two Towers: The Voice of Saruman

 

So, we're almost to the end of book three and quite a lot have happened. From Merry and Pippin's escape and meeting Treebeard and the Ents. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimili's run across the wildlands, reuniting with Gandalf (now Gandalf the White), riding to Rohan and saving King Theodan, the Battle of Helm's Deep, the sacking of Isengard and finally meeting up again with Merry and Pippin. Now the former Fellowship and King Theoden and his men must face one final battle. Confronting Saruman.

Gandalf and Theoden are not by nature violent or cruel. They believe in absolute justice, but also mercy when it is most required. In spite of all the destruction that Saruman has unleashed, and the lies and deceit of Wormtongue, the great Wizard and the wise king know that death will not bring back what has been lost. They head into the Orthnac, Saruman's great tower, to try and reason with him. However, Saruman is beyond reasoning. His mind and spirit have been completely corrupted by evil and he will not be swayed.

As usual, he tries to penetrate the minds of those below him with truth that is embedded within a web of lies. Try as he may, he cannot persuade Gandalf. So he turns to Theoden in hopes of creating an alliance with him. Theoden's answer is not what he expected,

'We will have peace!' ... 'Yes we will have peace,' he said, now in a clear voice, 'we will have peace, when you and all your works have perished - and the works of your dark master to whom you would deliver us! You are liar, Saruman, and a corrupter of men's hearts. You hold out your hand to me, and I perceive only a finger of the claw of Mordor. Cruel and cold! Even if your war on me was just - as it was not, for you were ten times as wise as you would have no right to rule me or mine for your own profit as you desired - even so, that will you say of your torches in Westfold and the children that lie dead there? And they hewed Hama's body before the gates of the Hornburg, after he was dead. When you hang a gibbet from your window for the sport of your own crows, I will have peace with you and Orthanc. So much for the house of Eorl. A lesser son of great sires am I, but I do not to lick your fingers. Turn elsewhere. But I fear your voice has lost its charm.'

 How after such a speech could anyone conceive the thought of uniting with Saruman? Afterwards, Saruman disappears without a trace. Leaving behind a powerful object of magic that, in typical Saruman fashion, tempts one of the Fellowship.

This was a good chapter. It almost dealt with spiritual warfare in many ways. Saruman in considered the greatest (or was the greatest) and most powerful beings in Middle-Earth. His power is insurmountable, his knowledge unparalleled. And yet, for all that power and knowledge of the darkness of Sauron and Mordor, Saruman was taken captive. It proves that it doesn't matter how much you know or how much you can do, evil will always find you and manipulate you to its will.

Heidi's Questions:

• What stuck out to you the most in this chapter?

 - Theoden's speech by far was the most powerful and memorable part of this chapter and maybe the whole series. As someone who has been under mind control that almost killed him as well as almost destroy his family and his kingdom, Theoden was not going to falter again.