"The Houses of Healing" - Ben's Thoughts

I just can't bring myself to like these filler chapters. I'm not sure what the purpose of "Houses" can be, other than -- as Jacob noted -- heavy-handed allegory. Why was it necessary to spend so many pages on Aragorn healing Faramir, Merry, and Eowyn?

Part of me argues that it's to establish Aragorn's bona fides as a king, and that probably is what Tolkien is going for. It seems that in his mind, Aragorn must be established as both the proper heir to the throne by lineage -- his direct ancestry to Elendil and Anarion -- but by right as well, and by acceptance by the people. First he pauses before the gate and puts away his emblems of kingship before entering, to mollify the Stewards who have ruled there for so long. Then when he does enter he does so anonymously, hidden in his cloak and only when bidden by Gandalf. And finally, his great work of healing in the city, which earns him the love and trust of the people, is only done when the people "followed after him; and when at last he had supped, men came and prayed that he would heal their kinsmen or their friends whose lives were in peril through hurt or wound, or who lay under the Black Shadow." Tolkien establishes Aragorn as no tyrant, but as a benevolent ruler who accepts responsibility when called upon by his people.

But so much about this chapter rings false to me. Are we to believe that Gandalf, the wizard of action that was chomping at the bit to get out into the thick of the battle just a few minutes ago, is going to hang out in the Houses of Healing observing the battle from afar? While he is the main caretaker of the wounded until Aragorn arrives, I think the text makes it plain that there is little he can do for them. But again, are we truly to believe that Gandalf, a Maia spirit, doesn't know about or cannot harness the healing properties of aethelas? Quite unfortunately, the text supports the inference that the properties of kingsfoil are only at their peak when used by the legitimate king himself, and by no others. Such plot contrivances irritate me to the extreme. Why is that the case? For what purpose? This certainly was never before mentioned when kingsfoil was used in Book I (again by Aragorn, however, I will note).

The lovey-dovey vibe the chapter tries to pull off also rings somewhat false to me. Aragorn goes from one patient to the next, and they each awake with cliched sayings and sticky sweet praises. Equally irritating is Aragorn's exchange with Merry poking fun of the master of herb-lore and his love of languages. This seems like the Professor is trying to cheekily make fun of his own proclivities, but it doesn't fit with how Aragorn has been portrayed throughout the book and doesn't fit the tone of the chapter, either. I just... am baffled by the chapter in general It's just a slog. It's just bad.

I will note that Gandalf's explanation about what truly ails Eowyn, although a further extrapolation of what she already communicated to Aragorn in "Grey Company," contains excellent turns of phrase; so much so that Peter Jackson excised it from "Return of the King" (in fact, he excised this entire chapter and plot-line) and gave the line to Wormtongue to speak directly to Eowyn in "Two Towers." It's unfortunate that is chapter is such an great example of how beautifully Tolkien could write, and how poorly (at times) he could plot.