"The Black Gate Opens" - Ben's Thoughts

The thing about Tolkien's worldview, the underpinning that guides the plot, history, and characters of The Lord of the Rings, is that there exists a very clear good and a very clear evil.

Yes, yes, a spectrum exists between the two poles. It's not always simplistic to place Tolkien's characters on that spectrum, either; just look at Denethor, who we've discussed at length in the past few chapters, and Gollum, who we addressed in Book IV and we'll talk more about as we move into Book VI. But the point remains -- Tolkien's Middle-earth contains a transcendent good: the justice and truth and legitimacy of Aragorn's claim to the throne, Gandalf's motives, the hobbits' innate goodness; as well as the most base and wretched evil: Sauron and all he represents.

This is at once refreshing and frustrating. It's refreshing because it's so unlike our own world. The main characters of LOTR have a clear and obvious objective to work towards: defeat Sauron. All other goals fall short of that one; Sauron must be stopped or he will destroy everything good and right about Middle-earth. The narrative voice states this is his intention; Gandalf and Elrond and other characters who we have no reason to doubt states this as his intention. (Interestingly, whenever a spokesman of Sauron himself or one of his minions expresses their worldview, they distort that picture considerably; but their actions speak louder than their words in every instance.) On the flip side, it's frustrating because that duality is so unlike our own world. There are very few human beings that I think we can safely label as wholly and irredeemably evil or totally and completely good (certainly the latter). Even with organizations and individuals that I abhor; that stand in fundamental opposition to my own values and choices, I can see their perspective and at least some good in them.

So perhaps this duality is why these apocalyptic chapters of "Return of the King" don't resonate with me as much as they once did. When I was young, the righteous utterances of the heralds thrilled me ("Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth! Justice shall be done upon him. For wrongfully he has made war upon Gondor and wrested its lands. Therefore the King of Gondor demands that he should atone for his evils, and depart then for ever. Come forth!"). But now, when I can see so many shades of gray in the world, my reading is soured by the fact that very little in my life will ever be as clear-cut as that.

This issue is stated as one of the draws of so-called "high fantasy," of which Tolkien was a pioneer. As the argument goes, we read such texts in an attempt to escape from the uncertainty that surrounds us on a daily basis. But I'm not so sure that really nails the draw down. I feel like the goodness and purity exhibited in these texts are more ideals to strive for, in Tolkien's mind, than methods of escapism or paragons of unattainability, either one. Circling back around, perhaps that's my suspicion because even some of Tolkien's most bulletproof characters have doubts from time to time, are exhibited as not being unshakable in their worldviews. Interestingly, this chapter is a distorted mirror of "The Voice of Saruman," in that the company is confronted by dangerous half-truths; most of those listening suppose that all hope and, indeed, need for resistance, is futile; and assume that Gandalf will capitulate to the demands of the encroaching representative of evil. Even more startling is the fact that, here, Gandalf himself seems affected by the Mouth of Sauron's words -- when he sees Frodo and Sam's gear in the hands of the Enemy, he is horrified, and must collect himself and his thoughts before returning a stinging rebuke.

This final chapter in Book V is plot-light, but with good reason; it places front and center both the conflict between the opposite poles that I've been discussing, and the frailty of the individuals involved. This is further highlighted by Tolkien inserting the snippet about how some soldiers could not physically or mentally continue onward and had to be given an alternative assignment by Aragorn. No man can or should be forced onto the "best" path -- but, in Tolkien's Middle-earth, a best path clearly exists.