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Originally Posted by obloquy
No, the Witch-King always had more power than the first two books suggest
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As Tolkien states in that paragraph, the WK's peril is "almost entirely due to the unreasoning fear" he inspires. What other power do you have in mind, before the Pelennor Fields, when his spells crush the gate? Moreover, your own argument about the first two books not depicting WK's power gives more weight to the idea that the issue at the Siege of Gondor is not about showing WK's place in hierarchy, but showing his (inner) power.
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but his mission was to hunt in secrecy
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Then again, we know from the Hunt for the ring, UT, that Sauron conveyed to the WK that secrecy must be abandoned - that is, before Frodo set out on his quest.
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He is admonishing Zimmerman not to reveal the Witch-King's power this way
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Tolkien admonishes Zimmerman not for revealing WK's power, but for underestimating it at night.
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No, there are no reasons given in this thread that render the alternative interpretation "unlikely."
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Well, if you choose to ignore the prologue, Gandalf's and Bombadil's words depicting the WK to the reader as a leader of armies .... fine.