Theoden's selective outrage

[The Mouth of Sauron]

After the Ents demolished Isengard, Theoden had a real rant at Saruman during the Orthanc encounter. He castigated Saruman over the dead children in the Westfold and the mutilation of Hama's body at the Hornburg.

But surely uppermost in Theoden's mind at that time would have been the death of his only son, Theodred, at the 1st Battle of the Fords of Isen ? Why didn't he have a go at Saruman about that ?

[Inziladun]

Perhaps, since Théoden was not a personal witness to the death of Théodred at the Fords of Isen, and he had so lately witnessed the atrocities of Saruman's troops in the Westfold and at Helm's Deep, it was the latter events that stood the clearest in his mind at the time of his encounter with Saruman.
Théodred's death could well have been one of the factors leading to his rejection of Saruman, though.

[Kitanna]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Perhaps, since Théoden was not a personal witness to the death of Théodred at the Fords of Isen

I'd say this is a likely reason. But also was Theodred's body mutilated upon his death? Anyone would be outraged at the death of children. And Theoden rages about Hama's mutilation more than his death alone. If Theodred was killed and his body not tampered with maybe Theoden viewed this as a far more honorable way for his son to die.
Of course it is surprising he would have nothing to say about his only child's death...

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Kitanna

If Theodred was killed and his body not tampered with maybe Theoden viewed this as a far more honorable way for his son to die.

According to the UT section The Battles of the Fords of Isen, Théodred's body was not dishonoured, and his end was valiant. He fell while defending the Fords, and his last words were 'Let me lie here--to keep the Fords till Éomer comes!'

[Mnemosyne]

Also, Theoden is acting in full righteous indignation Kingly Capacity here. To bring up something so terribly personal might lead to a loss of dignity.

Though Theodred was his heir as well...

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Mnemosyne

Also, Theoden is acting in full righteous indignation Kingly Capacity here. To bring up something so terribly personal might lead to a loss of dignity.

That's what I thought too. He was perhaps taking upon himself the role of speaker for the whole nation, a honorable one, not just for his own personal damage (even though - well, depending how exactly it was considered in Rohan - often whatever happened to King or his family was considered in many cultures the same as if it happened to the whole nation). Háma doesn't quite fit into the picture, though, because it sounds like that here Théoden would still be angry (he had had long time to mourn over his son's death, so he could have been okay with that, but Háma's death as a loyal and close servant was perhaps far too recent) and bringing in kind of more individual matters. Though maybe he was just sort of "reminding" the soldiers next to him, who have known Háma, so this was actually not speaking to Saruman, but more to the soldiers (especially face to Saruman's voice - that actually sounds likely to me, Théoden was just "countering" the Voice about himself and wanted to make sure that even his men see the whole truth clearly).

[JulietteKlonk]

Hello,nice story.