| "How shall a man judge what to do in such a time?" This question, voiced by Éomer in The Riders of Rohan could be uttered by men of any age or land. It is a question which often leads to much heated debate in trying to find the answer. It is also a question some would rather avoid completely, preferring to reply, "It is not for me to judge.", thus abstaining from the moral quandary. Today there is a good deal of moral relativism rampant in the media and politics, everywhere really. A terrible amount of acts are often reasoned and justified away with all kinds of complicated interlocutions. It can sometimes cause one to question one's own moral compass as Éomer begins to in the above scene. Perhaps what once struck one as a despicable crime is possibly a semi reasonable action after all if only one takes into account the background of the criminal or his state of mind at the time? Perhaps there really is no true purely evil or good action? For Tolkien, speaking through Aragorn's response, it seems the answer was really quite clear cut: "As he has ever judged,' said Aragorn. 'Good and ill have not changed since yesteryear; nor are they one thing among Elves and Dwarves and another among Men. It is man's part to discern them..." In other words, you still call a spade a spade, and what appeared a heinous act once still is no matter what the age or context. Furthermore it is every man's obligation to make the effort to attempt to identify what is true evil. This may sound harsh to some, inflexible to others. Yet there is a great deal of wisdom in these words mankind would do well to keep in mind for all time. We should not be so afraid to name evil when we see it. In our deepest hearts we do know true evil-or good-when it arises, and we are obligated to take up the hard task of revealing that truth to ourselves, to wrestle with the moral question until we reach a point of certainty. In Tolkien's work this is a responsibility the heroes never shy from. Éomer does indeed come to a firm decision soon after this exchange and so committed is he to his verdict regarding Aragorn's goodness that he breaks his land's law in allowing them to go free. In doing so he risks his own life as he himself admits but Éomer has faith in the moral judgment he has made and therefore is willing to risk his life for this. He could have followed the safer course of action, to blindly follow the law of the land and bring them in as prisoners. Then he could have avoided the difficult task of judging for himself about their nature. However, in Tolkien's world, true men of valor never shirk this responsibility. One might expect someone who drew such clear lines between evil and good to hold to a severe code of justice as well, to be a proponent of the harshest punishments such as execution. Yet here we find a remarkable balance to Tolkien's brand of strict judgment: a most venerated quality of mercy. Time and again Tolkien seems to be telling us that while yes, some acts are wicked and irrevocably damaging to the world, the individuals who are responsible for them are still deserving of mercy. The first time we see this demonstrated is by no less a character than Gandalf in Chapter 2, The Shadow of the Past. The wise wizard is discussing with Frodo how Gollum came to be the wretched creature he is now. Gandalf makes it quite clear that Gollum has committed evil acts, he calls the murder of Déagol "murder" plain and simple, and does not try to soften the crime by claiming mitigating circumstances due to the Ring. He even agrees with Frodo that Gollum meant all along to cheat Bilbo at the riddle game and ultimately murder him as well. Furthermore, a little later on he makes it clear that he entertains little hope for Gollum's rehabilitation. Yet when Frodo impulsively laments the fact that Bilbo didn't kill Gollum at the time Gandalf immediately delivers a very telling statement: "Pity? It was pity that stayed his hand. Pity and Mercy: not to strike without need. And he has been well rewarded, Frodo. Be sure that he took so little hurt from the evil, and escaped in the end, because he began his ownership of the Ring so. With Pity." Tolkien's heart seems to be very bound up in these powerful words for indeed, the salvation of the whole Middle Earth does come to owe itself to the mercy shown by Bilbo and later Frodo as well, to a corrupt creature who would as soon kill them as help them. Lest we think that Tolkien is making an exception only in Gollum's case it is illuminating to look again at the words of Gandalf, one of the strong moral centers of this tale, about a totally different individual. In The King of the Golden Hall, Gandalf reveals Théoden's sly advisor Wormtongue for what he truly is, a corrupt traitor. He is very clear on this, calling him a "snake" and even admitting "to slay it would be just." Despite all this Gandalf advises against this strongly, saying, "Once it was a man, and did you service in its fashion." So once more Gandalf advocates a show of mercy for an evildoer. Regardless of all the evils Wormtongue is now culpable for, Gandalf recalls to Théoden's mind that once this man did do some good for him and this should count for something. There is an incredible amount of rational thought here where many men might allow passions to rule and simply strike down the traitor, never giving it a moment's worry. It is to Théoden's and Éomer's credit that they accede to Gandalf's injunction without any argument. Vengeance surely must have been a thought in one of their minds at least, yet their hearts must have sensed the deep morality inherent in Gandalf's words. If one searches through all the many chapters of Tolkien's tale one finds many horrifying, evil acts and terrible people and numerous instances where many of the heroes have a chance to take revenge at last upon those who caused much of their sorrow. However, never do we see one instance, outside of the heat of battle, where a life is taken by them. Aragorn never orders a prisoner hung, there's never any hint that Éomer allows his men to set upon those who surrendered in a vengeful mob. Prisoners are treated kindly and fairly. Recall the words of Erkenbrand to the captured hillmen begging for mercy after Helm's Deep: "Help now to repair the evil in which you have joined and then you shall go free back to your land." It is highly unlikely the Rohirrim would have been treated even half as graciously had positions been reversed and no doubt they were all too aware of this. Nevertheless, they are good folk and mercy rules in their hearts, always tempering strict justice. Tolkien's works evoke the battle of good vs. evil powerfully and give the reader hope that no matter what the odds good will triumph. But what is perhaps even more heartening is that Tolkien assures us that good can triumph without ever stooping to evil's level, that justice can and should be meted out always balanced with the mercy that evil would never show. True good can look evil in the face, unflinchingly call it evil, and then grant that evil mercy in spite of it all. |