Book Review: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The Return of the King is another great book in the Lord of the Rings series and the final volume in the epic quest to destroy the One Great Ring of Sauron. I read this book years ago and watched the movie version, but I remembered that there were a number of parts I did not fully understand, such as the Paths of the Dead. This time around, I made sure to pay close attention to the details, re-reading as necessary to fully grasp what was happening and the significance of certain aspects of the story.

The Seeing Stones

First, let’s talk about the seeing stones. We encounter these in the story, and the main thing we learn is that they are dangerous to use, particularly because the Dark Lord Sauron can see and communicate through them, showing the viewer only what he wants them to perceive. We see this particularly with Saruman and Lord Denethor. Saruman had the Stone of Orthanc and allied himself with Sauron because he perceived Sauron as more powerful. Lord Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, used the Stone of Anor and perceived massive, unstoppable forces approaching, which led him to despair. He gave up hope and, ready to let the city burn, ended his life on a pyre during the battle at Minas Tirith. These stones are ways that Sauron waged war from within.

In one instance, however, Aragorn had both the need and the right to use the Stone of Orthanc. He barely had the strength to wield it. In his encounter with Sauron, he revealed himself as the returning king with the restored sword of Isildur, offering challenge, and learned of the unchecked southern forces threatening Minas Tirith. This led him to pursue the Paths of the Dead.

The Paths of the Dead

So, what are the Paths of the Dead? In the time of King Isildur, the Men of the Mountain in the South swore an oath to come to his aid. However, they secretly worshiped Sauron and refused to fulfill their oath when called. King Isildur then cursed them until they fulfilled their oath. Only the heir of Isildur—Aragorn—could release them from this curse.

How did they fulfill their oath? Aragorn fulfilled it when he perceived Sauron’s forces moving from Pelargir to attack Minas Tirith. He called upon the dead to fight for him in Pelargir. Once the servants of Sauron were destroyed and captives freed, the dead were released from their oath. From there, they took ships up the river to join the fight at Minas Tirith. This is a key difference from the movie, where the dead fight at Minas Tirith; in the book, they only fight in Pelargir. All these details are easy to overlook unless one pays close attention.

Gandalf Representing Hope

A theme I picked up in The Two Towers and that continues here is that Gandalf represents hope and is a Christ-like figure. Wherever he goes, he brings light to darkness and hope where hearts may despair. He inspires people to fight against evil, not as a ruler, but as a guide leading them to overcome the darkness.

Therefore, by his mere presence in Minas Tirith, Gandalf brings hope. As Pippin states, Gandalf fell but has returned and is with them. Though the prospects of victory in Minas Tirith seem grim due to the overwhelming forces of Sauron, Gandalf sees possibilities others do not.

Mercy and the Important Role of Gollum

From the very beginning, Gandalf shows mercy and pity toward Gollum. Even Frodo initially believes Gollum deserves death. Since encountering Gollum in The Two Towers, he has served as a guide. Gollum is not to be trusted, but without him, Frodo and Sam could not have made it into Mordor to continue their perilous quest to destroy the Ring.

At the very end, trying not to give too much away, Sam has the opportunity to strike down Gollum, but Gollum asks for mercy—and Sam gives it. In a twist of irony, it is this mercy, combined with Gollum’s obsession with the Ring, that brought about its final destruction. For the Ring corrupts, and in the final moment, Frodo is overtaken by it. Gollum fights for it, and by accident destroys both the Ring and himself, thus ending Sauron’s rule.

Duty and Divine Providence

It is amazing how interwoven the aspects of this great story are! Everyone has a part and duty to play, without knowing the full picture. They have to act on faith, hope, and love for each other. In this way, we see the workings of divine providence. The last stand of the men of Gondor and Rohan at the Black Gate, for example, serves as a distraction to allow Frodo to complete the quest, even though they do not know his fate. They make themselves a diversion, willing to sacrifice themselves to utter doom. Only hope and faith move them forward in this brave act.

Typing Up Loose Ends

We reach the end of the quest, but it is not the end of the story. Tolkien spends considerable time tying up loose ends, which I greatly appreciate as it brings closure. It is unfortunate to learn about the Scouring of the Shire and the hardships endured in the Shire while the hobbits were away. Yet, when they return, the four hobbits are new people, capable of facing life’s challenges. Gandalf remarks that he no longer fears for them—they can handle it. And so, they rise to the occasion.

Conclusion

Reading carefully and paying attention to the fine details greatly increased my understanding and love of the story. It is hard to believe Tolkien created such a world as Middle-earth! In this story, we encounter love, hope, faith, duty, divine providence, redemption, loss, sacrifice, honor, fellowship, friendship, and truth. I am very glad to have re-read these books. I recommend The Return of the King for those who enjoy an epic fantasy story rich in these themes. Take time with the details, but even a casual read is still immensely enjoyable.