LotR -- Book 3 - Chapter 06 - The King of the Golden Hall

[davem]

A few thoughts...

Its interesting that Gandalf is so easily recognised by the folk of Edoras, who know him less well than his three companions. How come Theoden & Grima know him on sight when Aragorn, Legolas & Gimli didn't? Are we seeing Gandalf becoming more 'earthed', more his old self, as time passes? Certainly when Pippin sees him for the first time after his reappearance he recognises him straight away.

Wormtongue's role is also interesting. We seem to have strayed into the world of Beowulf as Aiwendil has pointed out. Wormtongue seems to echo Unferth, in his role of challenger of strangers, mocker, Judge, jury & executioner. I'm also reminded of the role Sir Kay plays in the later Arthurian stories.

But obciously there's a darker aspect to Grima's character. I think his 'nickname' tells us what that is. Wormtongue. He is a liar, a twister of the truth. His language is the language of 'Wyrms', of Smaug to some extent, but perhaps closest to Glaurung. He speaks poison.

But he has an even darker aspect:

Nay, Eomer, you do not fully understand the mind of Master Wormtongue," said Gandalf, turning his piercing glance upon him. "He is bold and cunning. Even now he plays a game with peril and wins a throw. Hours of my precious time he has wasted already. Down, snake!" he said suddenly in a terrible voice. 'Down on your belly!

I don't think the similarity between this incident & the one in Genesis is entirely coincidental:

'The Lord God said to the serpent,
'Because you have done this,
cursed are you among all animals
and among all wild creatures;
upon your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life..'

Gandalf will later reinforce this identification of Grima with a serpent:

''See, Theoden, here is a snake!"

Grima has become like Satan in the 'garden' of Rohan, & Gandalf appears in the role of Eru to cast him onto his belly & drive him forth. I don't know how far this analogy can be taken - if Grima is 'Satan' then is Theoden 'Adam'? Is Eowyn 'Eve'? Best not push it too far, but I think its clear that Tolkien sees Grima as a corrupter of humanity, who must be driven out before the people of Rohan have a chance.

Grima seems to be the focus of Gandalf's attention. Its as if he realises that this is no mere 'serving man'. Grima is a figure of great power in the court, & Gandalf must show him for what he is before Theoden can be freed of his hold on him.

Of course, Grima is an odd cove. We know little about him. We're told he was once a man of Rohan, but he doesn't seem like that at all. He seems like some kind of 'monster' in human form. He is like Theoden's 'depression' & hopelessness given physical form. Its as if he is the King's dark cloud, his 'Black Dog' come to life. He is a shadow made flesh. Anyone who has ever suffered from depression will know exactly what this Theoden/Wormtongue relationship is like.

But another thing occurs to me. Grima is like Smeagol in that both are mostly known & referred to by their nicknames. Is there an 'echo' of the Theoden-Grima relationship in Frodo-Smeagol? Grima is an man in his own right, of course, but he is also Theoden's 'shadow' made flesh. In the same way Smeagol is at once an autonomous being & at the same time he is Frodo's 'shadow'.

From this perspective Gandalf can only liberate Theoden by casting out his 'demon', Wormtongue, & Frodo can only be liberated when 'demon', Gollum, has been cast into the fire.