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Originally Posted by William Cloud Hickli
Now, Arwen vs. Eowyn! In the mud-pit! Clothes-ripping allowed! Now, that I'd pay money to see  |
Hey, now. Don't go spoiling this intellectual discussion with tacky lowbrow comments. Let's stick to arguing about the outcome of an imaginary duel between demons and magicians.
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Originally Posted by CSteefel
Well, take the breaking of the Gates of the City on its own value then, it is an impressive display of force, and as I believe you said, indicates clearly the augmentation of the WK's power.
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Originally Posted by Raynor
Neither we, the more knowledgeable fans, nor the first time reader, have witnessed the WK display such force, although he had ample reasons.
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No, the Witch-King always had more power than the first two books suggest, but his mission was to hunt in secrecy. That's the whole point. That's why Tolkien says "
he must not yet be raised to the stature of III". He is admonishing Zimmerman not to reveal the Witch-King's power this way, because it ruins the effect of his presence on the Pelennor, which is intended to provide him with
added demonic force since the reader has not yet seen the Witch-King in this way. He is discussing a
narrative design, not the history of LotR.
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Originally Posted by Raynor
In this specific context of debate, the alternative interpretation is rather unlikely, for reasons given in this thread.
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No, there are
no reasons given in this thread that render the alternative interpretation "unlikely." What is unlikely is that Tolkien told this guy who he
didn't like some valuable, secret, unprecedented information about Sauron juicing up the Witch-King instead of writing it in one of his canonical texts or in response to a reader who actually cared.
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Originally Posted by CSteefel
how would he have known that Gandalf had been sent back
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Or that Gandalf was peers with the Witch-King's master Sauron to begin with, yeah?
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Originally Posted by Mansun
The Witch King is indeed powerful, & his increased power ensures a battle with a Balrog would be no walkover,
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What increased power?