Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar
The very last paragraph of this chapter struck me today. Treebeard pledges the Ents to watch over Isengard and Saruman. What he says is not an oath, so he could not be accused of oathbreaking later on, but it does sound like a promise, doesn't it? That sounds like a very long time; however, Treebeard released Saruman a relatively short time later, a matter of weeks or months. Was Saruman's voice so powerful that an Ent broke his promise? That is a grave matter indeed!
|
Well, technically, he didn't promise not to release Saruman, he just said the Ents wouldn't get
tired of watching over him any time soon. From what's said later he didn't release Saruman because he got tired of watching him, but because he couldn't stand to see him caged. Besides, Treebeard is responding to Gandalf's statement that Saruman must not be allowed to
escape - which he doesn't.....