‘The Return of the King‘ concludes author J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic saga of the ‘The Lord of the Rings.’ The Ringbearer finally gets to Mount Doom but loses his battle with the One Ring and claims it for his own, but the creature Gollum saves the day. Aragorn is finally crowned High King of Gondor and leads the united forces of Gondor and Rohan against Sauron.
The One Ring and Sauron in ‘The Return of the King’
As a physical artifact created by the Dark Lord Sauron, the One Ring exerts a mysterious claim over its wearer and acts as the physical representation of the ambiguity of evil that author J.R.R. Tolkien explores in ‘The Return of the King.’ Sauron’s One Ring has a tangible presence, and it maintains easily observable powers. Though its effects on the wearer depend on their mental strength and spiritual stature, the One Ring draws its wearer into the spiritual realm, causing them to physically disappear. It also weakens the owner’s sense of identity with each use. It also corrupts their minds, turning their thoughts towards evil, even if they initially intended to use the Ring for good.
In the story of ‘The Return of the King,’ the Ring appears to be an undeniable symbol of the physical force of evil. It grows progressively heavier with Frodo’s every step toward Orodruin, weighing heavily on his mind. At the same time, the Ring’s weight is perceivable only to the wearer, for Sam carries Frodo and his Ring with surprising ease. It causes the violent eruption of Mount Orodruin and the dissolution of Mordor’s strongholds when it was thrown into the Cracks of Doom. The Ring, in its ambiguity, symbolizes both the terrible power of its maker, Sauron, the physical destruction that Sauron’s pride delivers upon himself and others, and the horror of his domination over the free peoples of Middle Earth.
Minas Tirith and the Forces of Good in ‘The Return of the King’
The great city and fortress of Minas Tirith were built by the Numenorians as a defense against incursions by Men who served Sauron. Built close to the border between Gondor and Mordor, Minas Tirith stood directly against Minas Morgul, a former stronghold of the Numenorians which was captured by Sauron’s army and turned into an abode of magic and dark sorcery. ‘The Return of the King‘ also symbolizes the precarious condition of the Numenorians and their descendants in the conflict against Mordor. As a city, Minas Tirith evokes a sense of human history and the hope of future progress. Its survival determines the survival of humankind.
The white walls of Minas Tirith, organized into the beauty and order of seven concentric circles, symbolize the ability for moral choice among the denizens of the Gondor. The white exterior can be marred or preserved. Recalling the Arthurian myth of the Fisher King, in which the physical condition of the ailing king is mirrored in the barrenness of the land, Sauron’s corrupting influence over Denethor has caused the walls of Minas Tirith to deteriorate. The White Tree, the city’s symbol, remains broken. Aragorn’s rise to the throne in ‘The Return of the King’ leaves physical marks of his spiritual and political renewal of Gondor in the city of Minas Tirith.
Aragorn restored city walls and replanted a new sapling of the White Tree in the Court of the Fountain, which also signifies the restoration of the line of the Kings of Gondor and the elevation of the Numenorian line to its former majesty.
The Palantiri and ‘The Return of the King’
In ‘The Return of the King’, the Palantiri symbolizes the danger of assumption and miscommunication. The Palantiri, also called Seeing Stones, are devices that allow people within Middle-earth to communicate instantly with other people who also possess a sister Stone. Though they cannot present artificial or objectively untrue images, the meaning of each dispatch depends on how its recipient interprets a given image. For instance, Aragorn is able to use the Stone of Orthanc to present himself to Sauron, the keeper of the Stone of Barad-dur, through imagery that suggests the heir to Gondor’s throne has returned.
While this is true, Aragorn is, at the time of his message, far from Gondor and without the support of many troops; yet, upon seeing these images, Sauron hastens his attack on Minas Tirith in fear of the new heir’s power. Like Sauron, Denethor believes himself to be a master of the Stones. Through his use of the Stone in Minas Tirith, Sauron had shown him deceptive images and made him believe that there was no possibility of victory against the Dark Lord.
When his son, Faramir, returns from the battle at Osgiliath badly wounded, this breaks the last of Denethor’s resolve, and he retreats to ponder the Stone’s message. When the Stone shows him images of Mordor’s far-reaching and overwhelming power, Denethor descends into despair, believing what he has seen to be Gondor’s death knell. Taking images received through the Stones at face value overwhelmingly proves to be foolish at best and fatal at worst, highlighting the dangers of drawing conclusions from incomplete messages.
The Return of the King: A Conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien's Epic Fantasy
Book Title: The Return of the King
Book Description: 'The Return of the King' concludes Tolkien's epic fantasy, marking the end of Middle-earth's magical era with the destruction of Sauron's Ring.
Book Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Book Edition: First Edition
Book Format: Hardcover
Publisher - Organization: George Allen & Unwin
Date published: October 20, 1955
Illustrator: Alan Lee
ISBN: 978-0-345-34967-1
Number Of Pages: 416
- Story
- Characters
- Setting
- Writing Style
- Dialogue
- Lasting Effects on Reader
Summary
‘The Return of the King’ brings to a conclusion author J.R.R. Tolkien’s famed work of fiction. Seen as the inspiration for contemporary fantasy fiction, especially high fantasy. Sauron’s One Ring is finally unmade in the fires of Mount Doom, and with it ends the Ages of magic and wonder in Middle-earth.
Pros
- Delves deeper into the lore of world created by J.R.R. Tolkien.
- Deeper character development of the characters in the trilogy.
- Satisfying ending to the fantasy trilogy.
Cons
- Lack of closure for some characters including Sam.
- Complex themes, which may intimidate some readers.
- Has a slower pace than the first two books.
