Yet another chapter title callback, this time to “The Black Gate is Closed,” the 3rd chapter of the 2nd book of The Two Towers.
Another callback, of sorts: back in my write-up of “Journey to the Cross-roads” I said that Frodo and Sam’s journey south to the cross-roads just crackled with escalating tension. Well, this time Tolkien again shows his skill at creating atmosphere when Our Heroes’ journey north from the cross-roads just crackles with escalating tension. Something about Ithilien, I suppose.
I used to be rather confused by how readily Aragorn let those who were overcome by fear leave the army. I mean, that’s pretty much the definition of desertion, isn’t it? But during my read of this chapter for this post, it suddenly made sense. This isn’t Tarmon Gai’don, a last desperate battle where they need all they have for any hope of victory, as happens so often in fantasy. This is a feint, and is being undertaken in the assumption that every one of them is going to die. They need to see it through, but there’s nothing to be gained by forcing those who have lost their courage. I feel like Tolkien’s WWI experiences might be playing their part here. While the notion of the uncaring and disinterested WWI generals (“lions led by donkeys”) has been pretty much shown to be a myth, the notion of being forced to march to battle and die for no purpose might well have struck a nerve with Tolkien.
The Mouth of Sauron. His origin isn’t clear. He’s referred to as a “renegade,” which to me implies he was at one point a man of Gondor, but overall I suspect he’s from one of the other Númenorean realms-in-exile. It’s interesting to think about that Arnor and Gondor aren’t the only remnants of Númenor - the Númenoreans had established colonies all along the coasts of Middle-earth.
They’re just the remnants of the Númenorean Faithful. Plenty of other Dúnedain would have survived the Downfall, and even if they’ve intermixed with the Men of Middle-earth over the years, there would still be occasional throwbacks. Denethor and Faramir are proof of that. That’s my assumption on the Mouth of Sauron’s origin.
I vaguely remember reading this chapter for the first time, and I don’t think that I was overly worried by the Mouth of Sauron having the cloak, mail, and dagger. It’s easy enough to imagine how the bad guys would have them, given the ending of The Two Towers.
If there’s one thing that Peter Jackson & company did that just straight-up pissed me off, it’s having Aragorn kill the Mouth of Sauron. It was pointless, it was gratuitous, it was against character, and it was something Tolkien made a point of saying they would not do:
‘Is there anyone in this rout with authority to treat with me?’ he asked. ‘Or indeed with wit to understand me? Not thou at least!’ he mocked, turning to Aragorn with scorn. ‘It needs more to make a king than a piece of Elvish glass, or a rabble such as this. Why, any brigand of the hills can show as good a following!’ Aragorn said naught in answer, but he took the other’s eye and held it, and for a moment they strove thus; but soon, though Aragorn did not stir nor move hand to weapon, the other quailed and gave back as if menaced with a blow. ‘I am a herald and ambassador, and may not be assailed!’ he cried. ‘Where such laws hold,’ said Gandalf, ‘it is also the custom for ambassadors to use less insolence. But no one has threatened you. You have naught to fear from us, until your errand is done.’
I will say, speaking of “how it felt to read this the first time,” I 100% thought that Pippin was dead, and his hearing “The Eagles are coming!” was all in his head.
And that wraps up the first book of The Return of the King. We’re now on the home stretch.
Next time, Sam is there to kick some ass and eat potatoes in the Tower of Cirith Ungol. And he’s all out of potatoes.