the balance of a hair
Dec. 5th, 2018 04:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
starspray[transplanted from tumblr]
So I never really paid it attention before, but after the confrontation with Saruman there’s this exchange between Gandalf and Merry:
It makes me wonder what might have happened if the hair-balance had tipped the other way, what kind of service Saruman could have given them, exactly. What would the Battle of Pelennor Fields have looked like, if both Saruman and Gandalf were there—if Gandalf had not necessarily had to choose between facing the Witchking and saving Faramir? Would Denethor have reached that point of despair at all—because Saruman has been using a palentir, so would he have recognized where Denethor was getting his information, and known what to do about it? Would Saruman have then gone with them to the Black Gates? And what about the Shire?
So I never really paid it attention before, but after the confrontation with Saruman there’s this exchange between Gandalf and Merry:
‘Well, that is done,’ said Gandalf. 'Now I must find Treebeard and tell him how things have gone.’It’s actually…really sad, here. Gandalf has said before that once Saruman was “as great as his fame made him,” that he was once good and wise and perhaps deserving of his place at the head of the White Council. And we’re reminded of that here, when he comes so close to accepting Gandalf’s offer—so close, and then he chooses pride and bitterness and hate, and slams the door in his own face, and we as readers are invited to pity him instead of just scorning him, even though he’s gotten exactly what he deserves, as Gandalf explicitly acknowledges.
'He will have guessed, surely?’ said Merry. 'Were they likely to end any other way?’
'Not likely,’ answered Gandalf, ’though they came to the balance of a hair. But I had reasons for trying; some merciful and some less so. First Saruman was shown that the power of his voice was waning. He cannot be both tyrant and counsellor. When the plot is ripe it remains no longer secret. Yet he fell into the trap, and tried to deal with his victims piece-meal, while others listened. Then I gave him a last chance and a fair one: to renounce both Mordor and his private schemes, and make amends by helping us in our need. He knows our need, none better. Great service he could have rendered. But he has chosen to withhold it, and keep the power of Orthanc. He will not serve, only command. He lives now in terror of the shadow of Mordor, and yet he still dreams of riding the storm. Unhappy fool!’
It makes me wonder what might have happened if the hair-balance had tipped the other way, what kind of service Saruman could have given them, exactly. What would the Battle of Pelennor Fields have looked like, if both Saruman and Gandalf were there—if Gandalf had not necessarily had to choose between facing the Witchking and saving Faramir? Would Denethor have reached that point of despair at all—because Saruman has been using a palentir, so would he have recognized where Denethor was getting his information, and known what to do about it? Would Saruman have then gone with them to the Black Gates? And what about the Shire?
