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Book 3, Chapter 9
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Two Towers, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Decline and Decay
Good and Evil
Duty
Joy and Optimism vs. Despair
Power
Heroism, Honor, and Glory
Summary
Analysis
The hobbits, the Three Hunters, Théoden, and Éomer follow Gandalf, who intends to speak to Saruman before they leave, up to the foot of the tower beneath the window. He warns them to be cautious—Saruman is dangerous—and then shouts for Saruman to come out. Wormtongue fetches Saruman, who asks why they disturb his rest in a smooth voice enchanted to sound pleasant and reasonable.
Though he continually seeks power, Wormtongue seems to occupy a perpetual role as a mouthpiece for more powerful men. Though Wormtongue had the power to influence Théoden with his voice, it was nothing compared to Saruman’s voice. Even trapped in his tower, Saruman has the ability to harm and influence his enemies.
Themes
Saruman flatters and offer help to Théoden, who hesitates before Gimli breaks the silence and calls Saruman a liar. Saruman addresses Théoden again, asking to make peace with him, and again Théoden remains silent, struggling either with doubt or anger. Éomer, not fooled by Saruman, reminds Théoden of the deaths of Théodred and Háma, and asks if Théoden will make peace with a murderer. After Saruman tries to enchant Éomer, Théoden finally speaks, telling Saruman that there will be peace between Isengard and Rohan, but only when Saruman and all his plans are destroyed. His speech startles the riders of Rohan out of Saruman’s enchantment and enrages Saruman, who leans out the window and threatens their lives in a hissing voice.
The hotheads of the group—Gimli and Éomer—are best able to oppose Saruman’s influence, confident in their beliefs and in their grudges. Théoden, already proven to be susceptible to external influence, wavers under Saruman’s power and, for a moment, appears to be captured by it. However, he adheres to his duty and his purpose, arguing with Saruman as vehemently as Éomer does. The authority in his voice breaks the men of Rohan free from Saruman’s spell, even though it lacks magical power. This suggests that where power aims at dominance through manipulation, it’s ultimately less effective than power founded on integrity and respect for one’s people.
Themes
Using the power of his voice again, Saruman attempts to convince Gandalf that he regrets the harsh words of their last meeting and to cajole Gandalf into joining him and healing the world together. The listening riders of Rohan feel convinced that Gandalf will betray them and join Saruman, but Gandalf only laughs, breaking the spell again, and asks Saruman to come down from the tower. Saruman hesitates, then refuses, though Gandalf assures him that he won’t harm him. Instead, he offers Saruman a chance to leave freely under his protection if Saruman gives up the key to the tower and his staff, to be returned to him later, if Saruman deserves them.
Already weakened by years of Wormtongue’s persuasion, the men of Rohan are quick to believe that Gandalf might betray them. Still, Gandalf is a bearer of hope and comfort, and his laugh, a mark of joy, finally breaks Saruman’s hold over the riders. Gandalf hopes that Saruman, who was once his friend and ally, will give up his pursuit of power, and offers him the chance to do so. Though Saruman has done evil in the world, he was once a truly righteous person; there is conflict in him, and hunger for power has made evil win that conflict in recent years. Still, if Saruman has been corrupted, he might be redeemed with the right help.
Themes
Saruman laughs at the offer and turns away from the window but is dragged back against his will when Gandalf shouts, “Come back, Saruman!” Gandalf declares that he is no longer Gandalf the Grey, but “Gandalf the White, who has returned from the dead.” Gandalf casts Saruman out of the Council of Wizards and raises his hand to break Saruman’s staff in two. As Saruman falls back into the tower, a heavy object thrown by Wormtongue falls from the window and strikes the stairs near Gandalf, breaking the stone. The object, a ball made of crystal with a glowing fire inside, is unharmed and rolls towards Pippin, who picks it up. Gandalf takes it from him quickly, wrapping it in his cloak. He comments that Saruman will be angry when he realizes what Wormtongue gave them.
Saruman has no desire for repentance or for Gandalf’s freely offered help. He doesn’t trust Gandalf, expecting him to seek to empower and enrich himself, as Saruman himself would. Saruman no longer believes in selflessness, especially among the powerful. Since Saruman refuses to give up his power, Gandalf takes it from him, not to use for himself, but—in breaking the staff before Saruman’s eyes—to remove from the world. Gandalf’s haste to take the crystal ball from Pippin and his remark about its importance to Saruman indicate that it’s both powerful and dangerous.
Themes
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They agree to leave before Wormtongue throws anything else down at them. Saruman’s power is lessening and, though Gandalf can’t destroy Orthanc, Sauron might be able to. Gandalf doesn’t plan to do anything else with Saruman, but simply let him “fester” in his tower. Still, he hoped that Saruman might change his ways and join them since he would have been a powerful ally. Gandalf meets with Treebeard one more time and introduces him to the Three Hunters. Legolas praises Fangorn forest and asks permission to bring Gimli there. Treebeard is wary of a dwarf with an axe but agrees once he hears that Gimli killed 42 orcs at the battle of Helm’s Deep. Treebeard promises to remember the hobbits in the ents’ list of creatures and to ensure that Saruman doesn’t escape Orthanc.
Gandalf reveals that he didn’t only want Saruman to freely concede his power; he wanted him to change sides again and aid them in the fight for Middle-earth. Instead, Saruman would rather remain trapped in his tower—his bid for the power of the Ring failed, and now he is nearly defenseless against Sauron. Saruman’s fear suggests that when a selfish quest for power fails, it leaves one vulnerable to those more dominant. Treebeard has reclaimed the lands of Isengard for the natural world. He will remain and keep watch over them and Saruman to ensure the land heals as much as possible.
Themes
