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Kalimac · 05-20-2002, 11:41 PM

I thought I'd read somewhere in the letters (argh! No copy with me! Does someone have theirs around?) that Tolkien himself was rather dissatisfied with the title "The Two Towers" and even makes a reference to the fact that it's ambiguous since there are at least four towers which could put in some sort of claim as being one of the two. Orthanc I think is pretty indisputably one of them since it's center-stage for such a large part of the book and so much of importance happens there - the Ents attacking, Saruman's staff being broken, the Palantir etc. As for the other tower I'd have to agree with the movie interpretation and say Barad-Dur, since its influence is felt all the way through Book IV - all of Frodo's visions of the Eye in the dark tower are visions of that tower, and it's the major stronghold of Sauron. Minas Morgul and Cirith Ungol are both unpleasant places, but their significance in TTT is comparatively fleeting. Cirith Ungol only pops up at the end and the book ends before Sam or even Frodo gets inside it. As for Minas Morgul, its interest for them is more historical than anything - "This was once Minas Ithil, but then..." - until they see the host ride out. Important, but again, it doesn't have an overriding influence on the story the way Barad-Dur does.

[ May 21, 2002: Message edited by: Kalimac ]

05-20-2002, 11:41 PM	#12
Kalimac Candle of the Marshes Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Flyover Country Posts: 780	I thought I'd read somewhere in the letters (argh! No copy with me! Does someone have theirs around?) that Tolkien himself was rather dissatisfied with the title "The Two Towers" and even makes a reference to the fact that it's ambiguous since there are at least four towers which could put in some sort of claim as being one of the two. Orthanc I think is pretty indisputably one of them since it's center-stage for such a large part of the book and so much of importance happens there - the Ents attacking, Saruman's staff being broken, the Palantir etc. As for the other tower I'd have to agree with the movie interpretation and say Barad-Dur, since its influence is felt all the way through Book IV - all of Frodo's visions of the Eye in the dark tower are visions of that tower, and it's the major stronghold of Sauron. Minas Morgul and Cirith Ungol are both unpleasant places, but their significance in TTT is comparatively fleeting. Cirith Ungol only pops up at the end and the book ends before Sam or even Frodo gets inside it. As for Minas Morgul, its interest for them is more historical than anything - "This was once Minas Ithil, but then..." - until they see the host ride out. Important, but again, it doesn't have an overriding influence on the story the way Barad-Dur does. [ May 21, 2002: Message edited by: Kalimac ] __________________ Father, dear Father, if you see fit, We'll send my love to college for one year yet Tie blue ribbons all about his head, To let the ladies know that he's married.