The fortress of Amon Sul was
certainly a formidable place for the hobbits. It stood tall and imposing, even
as a ruins, above the rest of the Weather Hills. From the distance the hobbits
wondered if a barrow resided at its summit. Still, I doubt the events of their
stay at the crumbling fortress of Amon Sul ever occurred to them prior to
arriving.
The attack of the Black Riders on
Amon Sul is a very big plot device to pay attention to. The threat of peril has
been steadily growing ever since the hobbits left the Shire. However, they have
managed to escape it at the last moment several times. On Weathertop their luck
runs out. A nighttime attack ends in Frodo taking a Morgul blade to the
shoulder.
The nighttime attack by the Black
Riders reveals the forces that stand against the hobbits. For in a moment of
weakness and temptation, Frodo dons the ring and is thrust into the world of
the ring-wraiths. Here Frodo is confronted with the cold images of the kings of
old whom the power of the rings consumed and corrupted. And leading these wraiths is non-other than the
Witch King of Angmar. This king is one of the nine kings of men given rings of
power long ago. But the power corrupted and the kings became mighty wraiths
under Sauron. To them the one ring always calls, always beckons them to come
after it. And when Frodo is confronted with such strength and corruption, he
falls to it and succumbs to the desires of the ring. It is not in an attempt to
escape, but rather an overwhelming suggestion that cannot be ignored.
However, the story doesn’t end
there. Frodo manages in an act of bravery and defiance to call on the name of
Elbereth and attack the Witch King of Angmar. Though his sword does little
damage, the name sends the wraiths into hysterics and presents a glimmer of
hope to Frodo. But Frodo is injured in the process. In one final act, Frodo
manages to overcome the compulsion and removes the One Ring.
Here is presented several things
that need to be paid close attention. One of the first is the growing power of
the ring. Though Frodo has managed to overcome its temptations previously, he
finally gives in to the ring’s power on Weathertop. And in submitting to the
ring Frodo discovers that he was not obeying his own will, but rather the will
of the ring. The continuing development of Frodo’s character is showcased very
adeptly on Weathertop. Even though Frodo gives in to the ring, he quickly realizes
that he isn’t following his own desires and that the ring will betray him. He
puts up a fight, instinctively calling on one of the few names that cause fear for
the ring-wraiths, and in doing so manages to stop the Morgul blade from
piercing his heart. The resilience of his character will continue to be
revealed and explored in the coming days and throughout the story.
Also revealed in this encounter are
the mysterious Black Riders. The reader now realizes that these are kings and
that they are not of the natural world. These kings seem to do the bidding of
the ring and though their purposes are not made clear as of yet, it is made clear
that they operate under a higher power. The morgul blade with which they
stabbed Frodo will be both an immediate concern for the hobbits, but will also
prove to show some of the workings of Sauron and to further the theme of Sauron
perverting the natural order of Middle Earth (as always, more on that later).
One other important literary device
to take note of on Weathertop is the introduction of Athelas (or Kingsfoil as
it is otherwise known). This plant will not only prove to be extremely useful
throughout the story but can also be viewed as a personification of Aragorn.
Athelas has immense healing properties, but is generally considered a weed by
many cultures in Middle Earth. Just like Aragorn, the appearance and
pre-conceived notions concerning it, are misleading. This ties back into the
poem the reader encountered in Bree very well. Not all that is gold glitters,
not all those who wander are lost. In addition to the introduction of Athelas,
Aragorn also begins to prove himself a very trustworthy companion. Despite some
of the misgivings of party members, it is becoming quite apparent that the
hobbits will not survive without their ranger.
From Weathertop with love!~ Daisy Buttons
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