LotR -- Book 5 - Chapter 02 - The Passing of the Grey Company

[Lhunardawen]

(I must say this should be a chapter with a lot of interesting discussions, and I'm looking forward to thought-provoking posts...and greater participation by other BDers.)

With Gandalf once again gone, I sort of expected Aragorn to take over the tasks the wizard unexpectedly left behind: one, to assume leadership of the rest of the Fellowship; and two, to maintain the strong ties they have formed with Rohan. But earlier on in the chapter Aragorn was already certain that he has a different path to follow than that Gandalf forged for him. The remaining members of the Company - Legolas, Gimli, and Merry - still look to him for leadership and express their desire to follow him wherever he goes. Curiously though, Merry seemed to want to come just so he could be of use, more than any reason else. His attitude at this time was endearing; he really wanted to help, but he acknowledged the fact that he could be bothersome to the Riders. We see his level of security take a slight plunge as he begins to entertain thoughts of being useless and unneeded, more so this time since Pippin was not with him to share with the feeling as he did at the foot of Orthanc. A little later, as they have encountered unknown travellers in the forest, he once again "felt more like unneeded baggage than ever." With the help of his survival instinct, he recovered from the feeling and tried to make himself useful. Following his line of thought,

Supposing the king's small escort was trapped and overcome, but he escaped into the darkness - alone in the wild fields of Rohan with no idea of where he was in all the endless miles?

it would seem that he was only after his own welfare, or at least thinking more of himself than the others. But later on, when they are assured that the travelers are friends, we see this is not so.

...but it seemed that there would be no need to die in Théoden's defence, not yet at any rate.

This early, without a command or imposition but by his own will, he chooses to fight for the king and offer his own life for him, if needs be.

The king and the hobbit's conversation afterwards is one of the most touching dialogues in all the books. It seems to me here, though, that Tolkien was already setting the stage for Théoden's death. Just when the king becomes a little more "human" by showing his sensitivity to Merry's needs, just when their relationship becomes official and more intimate, just when Merry (and the reader) begins to sincerely love him...Théoden foretells his death through a simple phrase: "For a little while."

Shifting gears...The final trial for Aragorn in preparation for his kingship has come the moment he decided to take the Paths of the Dead. I find it funny that this same man who once warned Gandalf of going into Moria is about to go through another dangerous road himself. (Hmm...Aragorn has inherited Gandalf's flair for dark, scary pathways! ) In both situations they have this in common: they consider the end more important than the means. Gandalf led the Fellowship through Moria despite the warnings and the danger because the Ring has to reach Mordor somehow. Aragorn is going through the Paths of the Dead despite the Rohirrim's fear and trembling, Eomer and Théoden's disappointment, and the fact that he is leaving Merry alone with the Rohirrim because he has to reach Minas Tirith, and attend to an unfinished business along the way. Once he becomes king, he can no longer think about his own safety, nor that of any single person or a handful of people. He has to think about the welfare of the kingdom as a whole. Even if the means seems dangerous, hopeless, or even strange, he has to resort to them if left with no other choice. Aragorn acknowledged the drive of need, more than his fear, or his unwillingness, or anything else that might serve as a hindrance.

If there is anything Aragorn has mastered in this circumstance that would be beneficial to him when he becomes king, it is leadership. Being a leader is not just about pushing the people you lead to go where they need to go. At the risk of getting no for an answer, Aragorn told Gimli and Legolas:

"Therefore, only of your free will would I have you come, for you will find both toil and great fear, and maybe worse."

But apparently, the two have completely accepted Aragorn's leadership. Halbarad, for his part, did not discount the dangers...

"This is an evil door," said Halbarad, "and my death lies beyond it."

but he followed nonetheless.

Finally (for now), I believe these words say all about what Aragorn has exemplified at that time:

"But we must go in, and therefore the horses must go too," said Aragorn. "For if ever we come through this darkness, many leagues lie beyond, and every hour that is lost there will bring the triumph of Sauron nearer. Follow me!"
Then Aragorn led the way, and such was the strength of his will in that hour that all the Dúnedain and their horses followed him.

I'll let the book speak for itself. Now is that guy swoon-worthy or not?

EDIT: I suddenly had the urge to ask...why is the chapter entitled the way it is? Is the passing literal, or figurative?

[Kuruharan]

What do you think of the passage of the Paths of the Dead?

Problematic...difficult. How were these spirits denied the Gift of Men for so long? Was it in some way their own choice to remain and by the time Aragorn came along they had changed their minds and decided they wanted to go West?

(I think in some ways Tolkien had written himself into a strategic box. Too many enemies to deal with effectively. The Dead may be similar to the Eagles in some ways. Yes, you may attack me now. )

[Aldarion Elf-Friend]

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

Problematic...difficult. How were these spirits denied the Gift of Men for so long? Was it in some way their own choice to remain and by the time Aragorn came along they had changed their minds and decided they wanted to go West?

I got the impression that the denial of the gift of men was a curse based on their earlier treachery. Aragorn offered them a chance to redeem themselves and thus be released to wherever men go when they die.

[Celuien]

Originally Posted by Aldarion Elf-Friend

I got the impression that the denial of the gift of men was a curse based on their earlier treachery. Aragorn offered them a chance to redeem themselves and thus be released to wherever men go when they die.

It does seem that the reason is Isildur's curse:

But the oath that they broke was to fight against Sauron, and they must fight therefore, if they are to fulfil it. For at Erech there stands yet a black stone that was brought, it was said, from Númenor by Isildur; and it was set upon a hill, and upon it the King of the Mountains swore allegiance to him in the beginning of the realm of Gondor. But when Sauron returned and grew in might again, Isildur summoned the Men of the Mountains to fulfil their oath, and they would not: for they had worshipped Sauron in the Dark Years.

Then Isildur said to their king: "Thou shalt be the last king. And if the West prove mightier than thy Black Master, this curse I lay upon thee and thy folk: to rest never until your oath is fulfilled. For this war will last through years uncounted, and you shall be summoned once again ere the end."

This gets back to the importance of oaths and oathbreaking. The Dead are bound by their promise, and so long as it remains unfulfilled, they must remain. However, I don't think it is within Isildur's power to keep them from going on to their ultimate fate. Sauron's keeping the Nazgul is the only other example I can think of where the sprits of Men have been prevented from passing beyond the world. Wild thought: having sworn their oaths, perhaps Eru has stepped in to temporarily rescind the gift until they make good on the oath.

[Kuruharan]

Wild thought: having sworn their oaths, perhaps Eru has stepped in to temporarily rescind the gift until they make good on the oath

I'm not too sure about that. Doesn't Tolkien say that Eru only directly intervened in the breaking of Numenor and the return of Gandalf? Keeping the spirits of the dead in Middle earth was not something the Valar were empowered of themselves to do (although they apparently could.)

As I said, it is a very problematic part of the story.

[Celuien]

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

I'm not too sure about that. Doesn't Tolkien say that Eru only directly intervened in the breaking of Numenor and the return of Gandalf? Keeping the spirits of the dead in Middle earth was not something the Valar were empowered of themselves to do (although they apparently could.)

As I said, it is a very problematic part of the story.

Well, like I said, it's just a wild thought. Quite a problematic part of the story.

Maybe stepping in isn't quite the right term. Something more along the lines of triggering a consequence pathway related to swearing their oath would be more accurate. And there is the issue of who does have the authority to keep the dead in Middle earth, since neither the Valar or descendants of Isildur can be responsible.

I'll have to look around for the statements on direct intervention - no time to check just now...

[HerenIstarion]

What I'm going to put down is a speculation, or impression rather.

What Aragorn does, if fighting fire with fire as he puts against Sauron forces similar to his own

What Isildur has done, seems a repetition on a minor scale of what Sauron has done to his Ringwraiths, so oathbreakers leave an impression (left on me when I pondered the subject) of neither alive nor dead rather than dead proper.

It is just as good that in fighting fire with fire, Aragorn extinguishes both fires. Rare case, as usually the excersise is likely to bring more fire about