Wk 11 Bk6 Ch5: The Coronation of King

[Stormrider]

From: Stormridr (Original Message) Sent: 6/1/2003 9:08 PM

The Crowing of Elessar
Danbury Mint Plate
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Ioreth the wise woman is relaying information to her kinswoman as the Coronation is about to begin. She says "The hands of the king are the hands of a healer." And Mithrandir said that men would long remember her words. Ioreth spoke these words in the chapter "The Houses of Healing."

How did she know this? Is she a "seer"? Is this one of the legends passed down through the ages in Gondor? Did she hear this from someone else?

Aragorn is met outside the Gate to the City of Minas Tirith by Faramir the Steward and Húrin the Warden of the Keys, other Captains, various important personages, and all the people in their colorful garments.

Faramir announces Aragorn: "Men of Gondor, hear now the Steward of this Realm! Behold! One has come to claim the kingship again at last. Here is Aragorn son of Arathorn, chieftain of the Dúnedain of Arnor, Captain of the Host of the West, bearer of the Star of the North, wielder of the Sword Reforged, victorious in battle, whose hands bring healing, the Elfstone, Elessar of the line of Valandil, Isildur's son, Elendil's son of Númenor. Shall he be king and enter into the City and dwell there?"

Why does Faramir list all of Aragorn's credentials?
Why does he ask the peoples' approval? Isn't this a given?

Aragorn was not able to receive the crown from his father before he died, so Faramir brought from Rath Dínen the crown of the last king Eärnur.
Who was Eärnur and why did he not have a son to pass on the kingship?
Wasn't there even another close kin that could take over?
Wasn't there a crown that Aragorn should have received from the Northern Kingdom?

Why does Aragorn speak the words that Elendil spoke:
"Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta!"(Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come. In this place will I abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world.)

[Stormrider]

From: Alaere_Dûnhilien Sent: 6/5/2003 3:40 PM
I don't think Ioreth is really a seer, but she's old and wise, and very perceptive. She knows a lot of 'conventional wisdoms', and believes in them too even though nothing seemed to support this wisdom anymore in her days. I suspect that what she says about the hands of the king comes from the same source as where she got the Athelas rhyme, and most people shrugged that off being old wives's tales (amongs others the 'Chief Healer'; don't know if this is the correct name, I read this part in Dutch). So, I think it's one of the old legends that she still remembers, and perceptive as she is, she recognizes the changing times, and Aragorn on his arrival. She's smart enough to link everything together.

As for Faramir's announcements and reciting all of Aragorn's credentials and asking the peoples approval: we are at a coronation, and these things always happen with a lot of ceremonials, even in our own world. So it's all part of the ceremony. People need these ceremonies and rituals, because it sort of comforts them. We have rituals for all kinds of special occasions (even birthday cakes are actually a ritual), it probably brings order into a chaotic world, or at least a sense of order. It makes us feel safe too I think. And also very important: rituals varie from culture to culture, so they are also a part of who we are, of our identity as a society and as individuals. We're all part of that or this culture who celebrates in this or that manner; we feel we are part of a group, and not outsiders.

Concerning Aragorn speaking Elendil's words: these are meant in a symbolic way (of course). He's the heir of Isildur, and a descendant of Elendil, he is one of the last Númenoreans. Figuratively speaking, he also came from over the sea, since his ancestors came from there. It does seem appropriate to me that he officially takes up his birthright with the words of his ancestor. And the last part especially is also applicable in this; after all, it is the intention that he and his heirs are there to rule Gondor and Arnor unto the ending of the world?

Alaere