Wk2 Bk5 Ch2: Aragorn & Orthanc Stone

[Stormrider]

From: AnnieLT (Original Message) Sent: 3/24/2003 10:42 PM

The picture was lost--it was a picture entitled "Wisdom to Wield" by Michael Apice

Bk. 5, Ch 2, DISCUSSION: Aragorn and the Stone of Orthanc

'Come, Legolas and Gimli! I must speak with you as I eat.'
Together they went back into the Burg; yet for some time Aragorn sat silent at the table in the hall, and the others waited for him to speak. 'Come!' said Legolas at last. 'Speak and be comforted, and shake off the shadow! What has happened since we came back to this grim place in the grey morning?'
'A struggle somewhat grimmer for my part than the battle of the Hornburg,' answered Aragorn. 'I have looked in the Stone of Orthanc, my friends.'

The dwarf’s reaction is great astonishment and fear of what Aragorn might have revealed. Aragorn reminds Gimli who he is and continues to describe his experience.

What does Aragorn see when he looks into the palantir?

What does Aragorn reveal and what effect do you think this had, ill or good, on Sauron and on the events of the war?

What did Aragorn learn from looking into the Stone of Orthanc?

[Stormrider]

From: DaleAnn Sent: 4/9/2003 8:34 AM
I'd like to tackle the last question first. "What did Aragorn learn.." Not only did Aragorn learn about the Corsairs coming up the Anduin, he learned much about his own power. As the Heir of Isildur he owned the Palantiri and it was his right therefore to look into it. He had no issue with that. But, what he learned was that in at least one sense, he was more powerful than Sauron because as he stated "I wrenched the stone to my own will." This must have been a big boost to his self-esteem as a leader. And not only could he do this, but he also, prevented Sauron from entering his mind.

What is most important about this whole episode, to me, is: we readers finding out just how powerful a Man can be: alone against this "Supernatural" force of Sauron. We know that Galadriel (a very powerful Elf) kept Sauron from entering her mind. We know that Saruman and (as we find out later) Denethor were influenced by Sauron through the Palantiri. The only reason that Pippin "survived it" was because Sauron was at first confused and by his appearance and then focused on Saruman's "capture" of Pippin. Given time, Sauron would have learned everything. We are reminded, too, that Gandalf feared looking into the Stone.

It is difficult to stay within the chapter when talking about the affect that Aragorn had on Sauron in this episode. So, I will just state that if I were in Sauron's shoes, I'd know that I had underestimated my foe. I'd wonder if he had MY Ring. At this point, I'd just hope that my army well outnumbered his, so that I could still overwhelm him. --DA