LotR -- Book 5 - Chapter 10 - The Black Gate Opens

[Lalwendë]

Aragorn said naught in answer, but he took the other's eye and held it, and for a moment they strove thus; but soon, though Aragorn did not stir nor move hand to weapon, the other quailed and gave back as if menaced with a blow. 'I am a herald and ambassador, and may not be assailed!' he cried.

What happens when Aragorn does this works on two levels. It can simply be seen that Aragorn's presence or hard stare is the thing which makes the Mouth of Sauron quail, but it could also be that Aragorn is using (my old favourite ) osanwe. This 'mental strife' happens on several occasions in LotR, and to view it as osanwe of course depends upon whether you know about/have read the Osanwe Kenta, which I am beginning to think was written by Tolkien to 'explain' these occurences to some extent.

At its head there rode a tall and evil shape, mounted upon a black horse, if horse it was; for it was huge and hideous, and its face was a frightful mask, more like a skull than a living head, and in the sockets of its eyes and in its nostrils there burned a flame. The rider was robed all in black, and black was his lofty helm; yet this was no Ringwraith but a living man. The Lieutenant of the Tower of Barad-dur he was, and his name is remembered in no tale; for he himself had forgotten it, and he said: 'I am the Mouth of Sauron.' But it is told that he was a renegade, who came of the race of those that are named the Black Numenoreans; for they established their dwellings in Middle-earth during the years of Sauron's domination, and they worshipped him, being enamoured of evil knowledge. And he entered the service of the Dark Tower when it first rose again, and because of his cunning he grew ever higher in the Lord's favour; and he learned great sorcery, and knew much of the mind of Sauron; and he was more cruel than any orc.

I wonder if the description of what the MoS wore reminded anyone else of the uniforms worn by the Guards in Minas Tirith? He wears a 'lofty helm' as they do, minus the wings. And he too is descended from Numenor. That he and Aragorn may share a common ancestry makes their 'struggle' more interesting.

The MoS is obviously a descendant of the Black Numenoreans ('who came of the race of those that are named the Black Numenoreans'), which hints that they, like the Gondorians, must have preserved their culture to a certain extent.

This culture 'worshipped' Sauron, rather than Eru which brings me to another thorny idea. It is not obvious that there is any organised religion in Middle-earth and it is not clear if anyone actually 'worshipped' Eru; there is the instance where Faramir's men 'look to the west', but this is not an overtly ritual moment and could easily be in remembrance of Numenor. Yet now we know that some people in Middle-earth do have some kind of religion, except it is of an evil bent, and they worship Sauron. Why do they do this? Because they are 'enamoured of evil knowledge'.

I'm not sure if there is some kind of message in this, but what it does show is how Sauron may have tempted followers to him, through his 'evil knowledge'.

And now he shall endure the slow torment of years, as long and slow as our arts in the Great Tower can contrive, and never be released, unless maybe when he is changed and broken, so that he may come to you, and you shall see what you have done.

I wonder if this type of torture is any different to what the WK threatens Eowyn with? The MoS seems to have been bestowed (cursed?) with unnatural long life, and though this cannot have been for the same length of time as those lives which the Nazgul have 'lived', I do wonder how this can be. Surely the MoS will lead a tortured existence if his life has been extended? When he says that Frodo 'shall endure the slow torment of years, as long and slow as our arts in the Great Tower can contrive', it is clear that Sauron knows how to extend life; but there must also be some kind of palliative which means they do not live a tortured existence.

I think one of Sauron's temptations for Men may be that he can extend life, and thus many will flock to his 'side'; perhaps he then keeps them in line with the promise of something which will also ease the suffering they would endure as they entered unnatural lifespans.

[Essex]

this might be better discussed in the field of cormallen chapter discussion, but I've always thought Pippin DID die, and was brought back to life through the 'Grace of the Valar' because of his great deeds. I have this view because of Gimli's line to him on the field of Cormallen

I love you, if only because of the pains you have cost me, which I shall never forget. Nor shall I forget finding you on the hill of the last battle. But for Gimli the Dwarf you would have been lost then. But at least I know now the look of a hobbit's foot, though it be all that can be seen under a heap of bodies. And when I heaved that great carcase off you, I made sure you were dead.

Now, I suppose we could put this down to a mistake by the dwarf, but why would Tolkien write it like this? Why wouldn't he say 'I thought you were dead' for example - Anyway, may resurrect this when the Cormallen chapter comes up, but raised it here as Pippin died at this point. I remember first reading Pippin's demise as a young teenager in my bedroom at home late one night, and falling to sleep balling my eyes out......

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Essex, I think it's a matter of use of language - "I made sure you were dead" means "I was sure you were dead" - that's how we would say it today. We may often be mistaken even though we are sure of something. I also think the Valar were a bit more exclusive in their use of resurrection - Pippin is no Gandalf; he's not absolutely necessary to the success of the Quest, so there would have been no reason for him to die and come alive again.

[drigel]

Most of the quotes I was going to use have been touched upon. I like this chapter especially because of the Mouth of Sauron. Throughout the work thus far, Sauron is an Eye, a character that dominates the story, yet never really seen physically. The author uses this tool to great effect in the story, enhancing the evil doings and strategies of the character of Sauron. But with the MoS, we are placed as close as we ever will be to Sauron himself. Here we have an entity who, unlike a Wraith, is cogent and communicates excellently.

Aragorn said naught in answer, but he took the other's eye and held it, and for a moment they strove thus; but soon, though Aragorn did not stir nor move hand to weapon, the other quailed and gave back as if menaced with a blow. 'I am a herald and ambassador, and may not be assailed!' he cried.

Before the Oswane Kenta came to light, I read that passage as some kind of mental \ psycho struggle. After all, the MoS faces and works for Sauron Gorthaur. I dont think a hard stare from anyone would affect him in any way....

[arcticstorm]

There are a few things I would like to point out about the MoS. When I read through the book I really enjoyed this scene btu I knew that Sauron did not have the ring, because we left off from book four with Sam taking the ring in "The choices of Master Samwise." However this would be torture to the men of the west not knowing if Sauron had retrieved the ring. I beleive Gandalf at first was mortified, but then realized, wait, they brought out Sam's sword with all Frodo's gear. The trained observer could tell that Sauron did not have the ring, even if they skipped book four and read from 3 to 5 to 4 to 6. The reason Ia m bringing this out is because a blade of Gondolin woul dbe more telling than a blade of the downfallen west. Even the MoS's words point to the fact that Sam is still free if Frodo is not. I do not have my books on me, but the MoS says something along the lines of

and a spy out of that rat-land called the shire

or something along those lines. If Sauron had caught them both, he would have said some spies. I b eleive Gandalf after thinking about everything realized this and knew that Sam was wise enough to realize that the quest cannot fail. evidenced by the fact that he would have taken Galadriel's light and Frodo's sword, this can be seen by the fact that Galadriel's light was not a token brought out to be shown. This is why I think Gandalf rejected the terms.

[Celuien]

When the Mouth of Sauron brought out Frodo's belongings, I felt my heart sink. I flashed back to the image of Sam banging on the doors of the Orc tower at the end of TTT and thought that he had been unable to rescue Frodo. I also found myself wondering even more what had happened to Sam after the fateful events of Cirith Ungol. At any rate, those who were not present at that scene might have thought Sam was captured as well.

He signed to one of his guards, and he came forward bearing a bundle swathed in black cloths. The Messenger put these aside, and there to the wonder and dismay of all the Captains he held up first the short sword that Sam had carried, and next a grey cloak with an elven-brooch, and last the coat of mithril-mail that Frodo had worn wrapped in his tattered garments.

Since Gandalf et al would have no way of knowing that Sam traded swords with Frodo, the appearance of Sam's sword with the other "tokens" would have been an alarm signal that they had both been captured. But as the conversation progresses, I agree with arcticstorm that it becomes more apparent that the Mouth was only referring to Frodo in his bluff. And I think that Gandalf was aware of the bluff.

It seemed then to Gandalf, intent, watching him as a man engaged in fencing with a deadly foe, that for the taking of a breath the Messenger was at a loss; yet swiftly he laughed again.

Gandalf has been watching the Mouth's responses closely throughout. His last exchange with MoS almost seems to have been a test to see if he was bluffing about having Frodo prisoner or not. When MoS is at a loss to respond, I think that was all Gandalf needed to figure out the bluff. Of course, I wasn't as quick and needed to charge on to the next chapter to find out what happened to Sam, all the while mourning Frodo in the Dark Tower.

Some interesting discussion on the age of MoS:
Magic in Middle Earth

I'd always thought the horse was a real one, possibly one of the horses stolen from the Rohirrim, then made to look frightening by sorcery. No real evidence for that theory though, other than Éomer's speech to Gimil in TTT.

Some years ago the Lord of the Black Land wished to purchase horses of us at great price, but we refused him. for he puts beasts to evil use. Then he sent plundering Orcs, and they carry off what they can, choosing always the black horses: few of these are now left. For that reason our feud with the Orcs is bitter.

[The Perky Ent]

This is one of my favorite chapters in the book. There are many emotions through each of the characters that catch my eye. A few months ago, I became very obsessed with those who would not fight

Originally Posted by The Black Gate Opens

So time and the hopeles journey wore away. Upon the fourth day from the Cross-roads and the sixth from Minas Tirith they came at last to the end of the living lands, and began to pass into the desolation that lay beofre the gates of the Pass of Cirith Gorgor; and they could descry the marshes and the desert that stretched north and west to the Emyn Muil. So desolate were those place and so deep the horror that lay on them that some of the host were unmanned, and they could neither walk nor ride further north.

Aragorn looked at them, and there was pity in his eyes rather than wrath; for these were young men from Rohan, from Westfold far away, or husbandmen from Lossarnach, and to them Mordor had been from childhood a name of evil, and yet unreal, a legend that had no part in their simple life; and now they walked like men in a hideous dream made true, and they understood not this war nor why fate should lead them to such a pass.

'Go!' said Aragorn. 'But keep what honour you may, an ddo not run! And there is a task which you may attempt and so be not wholly shamed. Take your way south-west till you come to Cair Andros, and if that is still ehld by enemies, as I think, then re-take it, if you can; and hold it to the last in defense of Gondor and Rohan.

Well that hurt my hands typing This passage that I have just quoted keeps on intriguing me with possibilities every time I read it. One of them being 'What if Aragorn was not full of pity for the men, but full of wrath. Would he, or could he, cast upon them a curse of the proportion used by Isildur to curse the men that woudn't come to his aid?'. Of course, this brings up many questions, as the famous curses in Tolkien Lore (Curse on the Children of Hurin, and the curse of Morgoth) seem to occur just by the Valar merely speaking them. But as I have said, this involves that which belongs on another thread. Mercy seems to be a key thing throughout the works of Tolkien, and I can only assume Aragorn's mercy was put to good use. Other questions about the matter arise, such as: If the orcs had emptied Cair Andros to fight in Minas Tirith, where would the men go, were they successful in reclaiming the fort (A thought I almost based an RPG off of), and who would have control of the island after the war (Gondor seems the obvious answer, but Aragorn includes Rohan in a manner that could be debated).

Just a quick scratch of the surface. I'll try and analize The mouth later


Edit:

Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar

Essex, I think it's a matter of use of language - "I made sure you were dead" means "I was sure you were dead" - that's how we would say it today. We may often be mistaken even though we are sure of something.

I've learned the lesson of watching words every since I came across "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo, which of course means "Romeo, Romeo, why are you Romeo?" Quick lesson in English literature!


Edit 2: Oh, and I did think Pippin died the first time I read this. Not just because of his injuries, but because he had seemed to lose the will to live.