Week 4 Storytelling: Trouble in Middle Earth

On the eve of Rama's banishment, Sita was crushed. Through her sobs she begged and pleaded for Rama not to leave. "Why do you not just imprison that mad woman?" she cried. "My love," Rama replied, "I know that she is mad. This whole situation is mad, but I am a man of honor and will not disrespect the orders of my King". 

Trying to calm the nerves of his beloved Sita, Rama told her the tale of the noble Eomer and his dedication to the well-being of his people.  



Rohan, the Kingdom of Men, was once a majestic and noble land. Under the protection of King Théoden, the people lived in peace and harmony. However, the age of men was threatened by evil forces who had awakened from an extended period of dormancy. 

You see, in Middle Earth there lives not only men, but elves, dwarfs, wizards, and the dreaded orcs. The orcs were evil and slimy creatures. Bred solely for war, the orcs were a brutal race that sought to disrupt the peace that had swept across the vast lands of Middle Earth. Their master, the Dark Lord Sauron, was considered dead for many years. However, while everyone had forgotten his name, the Dark Lord had secretly been raising the most immense army the world had ever seen. With an army the likes of had never before been seen, the future of Middle Earth seemed dismal.

Another tool by which the Dark Lord carried out his mischief were his magical powers- unknown in the world of men. With almost a god-like presence, Sauron was able to corrupt the minds of others through fear.  The most notable of those to fall victim to the influence of the Dark Lord was Saruman. Once known as The White Wizard, Saruman was transcended from one of the mightiest and wisest wizard in all of Middle Earth. However, once he glimpsed the forces of Sauron, he saw no future for those who opposed his will and so forfeited his nobility for malevolence.

Now, back to Théoden. The mighty King of Men had a vassal, Grima. Grima was once a loyal companion to Théoden, but his mortal mind would soon be tainted by the Dark Lord. Working under the orders of Saruman, Grima, gradually poisoned the mind and health of Théoden so that he would be blind to the operations of the Dark Lord within his lands. With Théoden under this spell, the orcs ran free in his lands. Killing anyone in their path and destroying every village they came across, the orcs wreaked havoc on the lands of Rohan. Only one man was brave enough to question the orders of the Théoden: Èomer, his nephew. Grima, who had quickly earned the name Wormtongue amongst the people of Rohan, saw Èomer as a threat to his master’s plans. To rid the Kingdom of this clarity and justice, Wormtongue convinced Théoden to banish Èomer from the Kingdom, never to return.

Heartbroken and angered beyond belief, Èomer honored the wishes of his King, poisoned as he was. However, Èomer was not alone. A group of soldiers still loyal to the true interests of their people, known as the Riders of Rohan, accompanied him in his exile. Traveling as nomadic warriors, the Riders of Rohan sought out and destroyed regiments of orcs that plagued their lands, never losing sight of what they knew their king truly stood for.

Rama Taking Leave of Dasharatha : Wiki Commons

Author's Note. I used the story of Rama losing his position and as heir apparent and being exiled at the hands of Manthara. Manthara, not directly related to the King, obstructs his judgment through using a “middleman,” Kaikeyi. In this story, Saruman represents the hunchback, Manthara. Kaikeyi, who persuades the mind of King Dasharatha, is represented by Grima or “Wormtongue”. King Dasharatha is represented by King Théoden. Lastly, the noble man who is wrongly banished, Rama, is represented by Èomer. I found many parallels in these two stories. In both circumstances there are people of great prominence who are liked by all. However, if these stories went unimpeded, the story would be a short “happily ever after” tale. Therefore the authors must place obstacles in front of the protagonist that they must overcome. Rama is put to the ultimate test when he is banished from his father’s kingdom. The rest of the story will show how he responds to misfortunes like this. It is a way for the author to test Rama’s true character, which is simply strengthened. In this way, Manthara serves as the disruption that will complicate Rama’s life. Again, these represent the perpetual battle of good v. evil.

Bibliography:

The Scheming of Kaikeyi, from Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists, by Sister Nivedita (1914)