Saruman appearing to the Three Walkers - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lost One · 10-28-2003, 05:48 PM

I would think the basic situation is clear enough: it was Saruman, come to meet his raiding party, excited that they might be bringing him the Ring and worried in case someone (one of the Uruks?) started to take an interest in it. He had a quick look at the three, and scared off their horses to prevent them pursuing him, but the beasts coincidentally encountered Shadowfax and were not panicked off. There is no way Gandalf would have been dissembling - he just wouldn't, and in any case what possible reason would he have for this? It was never picked up. The answer to the apparent confusion lies in Tolkien's literary and dramatic purpose at this point: we think it's Saruman (which it is), and expect trouble; the old man (apparently) reappears and serious trouble looks imminent. But it's Gandalf! Huge and pleasant surprise - Tolkien's beloved eucatastrophe.

10-28-2003, 05:48 PM	#39
Lost One Haunting Spirit Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 67	I would think the basic situation is clear enough: it was Saruman, come to meet his raiding party, excited that they might be bringing him the Ring and worried in case someone (one of the Uruks?) started to take an interest in it. He had a quick look at the three, and scared off their horses to prevent them pursuing him, but the beasts coincidentally encountered Shadowfax and were not panicked off. There is no way Gandalf would have been dissembling - he just wouldn't, and in any case what possible reason would he have for this? It was never picked up. The answer to the apparent confusion lies in Tolkien's literary and dramatic purpose at this point: we think it's Saruman (which it is), and expect trouble; the old man (apparently) reappears and serious trouble looks imminent. But it's Gandalf! Huge and pleasant surprise - Tolkien's beloved eucatastrophe.