The Return of the King (Middle Earth, #4)

Title: The Return of the King (Middle Earth, #4)

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien

Published in: 1955

Date read: 4th December 2023

Score: 5/5

Genre: Fantasy, Classic

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Return of the King," published in 1955, is the third and final volume of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic "The Lord of the Rings." It brings the monumental saga to its cataclysmic climax, detailing the final battles against Sauron and the harrowing completion of the quest to destroy the One Ring, leading to the restoration of the rightful monarchy.

The novel is divided into two main books. Book V focuses on the escalating War of the Ring and the defence of the free peoples of Middle-earth. It primarily follows Gandalf and Aragorn as they lead the forces of men against the might of Mordor. The armies converge for the epic Siege of Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor, where the desperate defence against Sauron's overwhelming forces is led by Gandalf and the valiant Lord Denethor's son, Faramir.

Aragorn, recognising his destiny, takes the Paths of the Dead to summon the Army of the Dead, fulfilling an ancient prophecy and gaining an unstoppable force to liberate the southern kingdoms. He then leads the united armies of Gondor and Rohan in a seemingly suicidal diversionary attack on the Black Gate of Mordor, hoping to draw Sauron's Eye away from Frodo and Sam, thereby giving them a chance to complete their quest. This final battle, the Battle of the Morannon, is a testament to the courage and self-sacrifice of those who fight for good against overwhelming evil.

Book VI details the agonising final stages of Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee's perilous journey deep into the heart of Mordor to Mount Doom. Their quest is one of unimaginable hardship, starvation, and constant vigilance against Sauron's forces, including the relentless pursuit by Gollum, who is also drawn to the Ring. The Ring's corrupting power weighs heavily on Frodo, testing his will and nearly breaking him.

The climax of the entire saga occurs at Mount Doom. Frodo, at the very edge of the fiery chasm, succumbs to the Ring's power. However, Gollum, in a final act driven by his obsession, attacks Frodo, bites off the Ring-bearer's finger, and falls into the fires of Mount Doom with the Ring, destroying it and fulfilling its ultimate destiny.

With the destruction of the Ring, Sauron's power collapses instantly, his forces crumble, and his realm is defeated. The narrative then shifts to the joyous aftermath: the crowning of Aragorn as King Elessar of the Reunited Kingdom, the healing of the lands, and the complex process of returning to peace. The book concludes with the poignant departure of Frodo, Gandalf, Bilbo, and Elrond from the Grey Havens, leaving Middle-earth for the Undying Lands, marking the end of the Third Age and the beginning of the Age of Men. "The Return of the King" is a powerful and bittersweet conclusion to a timeless masterpiece.

Comments:
Wonderful end to the ultimate fantasy story. It is always worth thinking back to the first encounter with a Hobbit and how far the journeys have been.

Books that we've read by J.R.R. Tolkien (4):
The Hobbit (The Lord of the Rings, #0) (1937), The Fellowship of the Ring (Middle Earth, #1) (1954), The Two Towers (Middle Earth, #3) (1954), The Return of the King (Middle Earth, #4) (1955)