In "The Return of the King," Aragorn must travel the paths of the dead, because he needs more men to save Gondor. He, Legolas, Gimli, and 30 Dunadan take the forbidden road.
What are the paths of the dead? Well in the mountains there lived a tribe of people. These men swore their allegiance to Gondor, that they would come to its aid in times of war. Yet, when Gondor was in great need, they fled and hid in the mountains. So Isildur cursed them so that they should never rest, until they had fulfilled their oath.
"'...The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the Paths of the dead."' (Tolkien, RK pg. 51) Word was sent to Aragorn that he must travel the Paths of the dead, so he ventured that accursed road. Aragorn had to do this because he is the true King of Gondor, so only he could conquer and have the alliance of this dead army. He had to now, for Gondor was being attacked by the vast horde of orcs that had march onto Minas Tirith.
On this journey, Aragorn went to the King of the Dead, and he agreed to help Aragorn. Thus they exited the caves in time to see a fleet of black ships on the river, on its way to attack Gondor. It was then that the dead attacked these ships, and the men either dived overboard in fear or were killed. Then the Dunadan and Aragorn boarded the ships to sail to Gondor under the banner of the White Tree which Arwen had made for Aragorn. Before they departed Pelargir to aid Gondor, Aragorn, the heir of Isildur, released the dead from the curse of Isildur, and they departed to their final rest.
Only in the movie do they journey all the way to Gondor where the dead kill every single orc on the fields of Minas Tirith, thus completing the victory of this battle. There, on the battlefield before Minas Tirith, Aragorn held the oaths of the dead fulfilled, and their souls rested in peace. Either way, this is a happy ending for everyone!
4 comments:
IT is almost like purgatory.
Thank you for that analogy Father. That is very true.
Re-reading 'The Return of the King' recently, it really stuck me how loaded with symbolism that this particular bit of the book is.
To quote...
' Presently Eomer came out from the gate, and with him was Aragorn, and Halbarad bearing the great staff close-furled in black, and two tall men, neither young nor old. So much alike were they, the sons of Elrond, that few could tell them apart: dark-haired, grey-eyed, and their faces elven-fair, clad alike in bright mail beneath cloaks of silver-grey. Behind them walked Legolas and Gimli. But Merry had eyes only for Aragorn, so startling was the change that he saw in him, as if in one night many years had fallen on his head. Grim was his face, grey-hued and weary.'
JRR Tolkein: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Book V, Chapter 2: The Passing of the Grey Company
Firstly, the Grey Company arrives, with Aragorn's second in command Halbarad, and the brothers Elladan and Elrohir, making me think of Peter, James and John. The Grey Company has been sent by Galadriel - Marian intercession perhaps? And, before taking 'The Paths of the Dead', Aragorn sets himself aside to think alone - emerging later after apparently having had a great struggle. This could perhaps be suggestive of the Agony in the Garden.
Then of course, as Father has said, the Dead themselves seem to represent the souls in purgatory - the oathbreakers. The taking of 'The Paths of the Dead' seems to fit well with the Harrowing of Hell...
That was an excellent point, and indeed this blog could be used mainly on one paragraph of text followed by an essay of symbolism. I might do that in some of my posts. Thanks for the suggestion, and the comments!
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