“And I too will go up,” said the king. “I am old, and fear no peril
any more. I wish to speak with the enemy who has done me so much
wrong. Eomer shall come with me, and see that my aged feet do not
falter.”
Gandalf stood before the door of Orthanc and beat on it with his staff.
It rang with a hollow sound. “Saruman, Saruman!” he cried in a loud
commanding voice. “Saruman come forth!”
1) What is the dynamic here: Does Saruman really wish to
engage Gandalf and Theoden? Would he have come out of his own will, or
was he forced out by the command of Gandalf?
2) A few of you have briefly addressed this issue in your previous
answers, but I’ll ask it so others can elaborate: Why does Gandalf ask Theoden
to join him? What does Theoden hope to achieve by confronting
Saruman?
3) Realistically, what does Saruman think he can achieve by speaking with
the King of Rohan? Is he just trying to saving face in a bad
situation?
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Ahhh, the power of cheese.
