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[The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant 10] • The Last Dark
Chapter 1: What Has Gone Before
by R., Donaldson, StephenThe chapter “What Has Gone Before” provides a recap of Thomas Covenant’s journey in *The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever*. Covenant, a leper ostracized by society after his wife abandons him, experiences episodes where he is transported to a magical realm called the Land. There, his leprosy and impotence vanish, but he dismisses the Land as a hallucination to protect his fragile reality. Despite his disbelief, he is revered as the reincarnation of the hero Berek Halfhand and wields a white gold ring, a powerful talisman. His initial cruelty, including raping a girl named Lena, is met with forbearance by the Land’s inhabitants, who believe he holds the key to their salvation or doom.
The Land is governed by Earthpower, a tangible force of vitality, and is threatened by Lord Foul, who seeks to destroy the Arch of Time. The Council of Lords, lacking the full power of their predecessors, relies on Covenant’s wild magic to oppose Foul. Covenant, torn between his growing attachment to the Land and his need to deny its reality, struggles with his role. His passive support in *Lord Foul’s Bane* helps the Lords recover the Staff of Law, but his return to the real world leaves him more isolated. In *The Illearth War*, his active support leads to catastrophic consequences, including the death of the Giants and the resurrection of a corrupted High Lord, which further serves Foul’s goals.
Covenant’s dilemmas deepen in *The Power That Preserves*, where he confronts the fallout of his actions. His daughter Elena, now a servant of Foul, wields the Staff of Law to wreak havoc, while Lena descends into madness. The Lords face annihilation, and Covenant, still refusing to fully embrace his power, resolves to confront Foul directly. His internal conflict—between accepting the Land’s reality and maintaining his survivalist disbelief—remains unresolved, yet his growing emotional connection to the Land compels him to act despite the risks.
The chapter underscores Covenant’s tragic struggle: his inability to reconcile his two worlds perpetuates suffering in both. His bargains and half-measures have only aided Foul, and his refusal to wield his ring’s power leaves the Land vulnerable. Yet, his compassion for its people and guilt over his crimes drive him toward a final confrontation. The summary sets the stage for *The Last Dark*, where Covenant must finally choose between his survival and the fate of the Land, with the stakes higher than ever.
FAQs
1. How does Thomas Covenant’s leprosy shape his initial reactions to the Land and its inhabitants?
Answer:
Thomas Covenant’s leprosy fundamentally shapes his worldview and interactions in the Land. Having been taught that obsessive self-protection is his only means of survival, he views the Land’s miraculous healing of his leprosy and impotence as impossible—a threat to his psychological discipline. This leads him to adopt “Unbelief,” dismissing the Land as a hallucination. His refusal to accept its reality manifests in cruel or dismissive behavior, such as raping Lena, as he clings to the idea that his actions have no consequences. His leprosy-induced despair and isolation make him resistant to the Land’s beauty and the kindness of its people, creating an internal conflict between his emotional responses and his need for self-preservation.2. What is the significance of Covenant’s white gold ring, and why do both the Lords and Lord Foul seek his allegiance?
Answer:
Covenant’s white gold ring symbolizes “wild magic,” a power capable of either preserving or destroying the Arch of Time—and thus the Land itself. The Lords, who uphold Earthpower and the Land’s well-being, believe Covenant could be their savior, as prophesied. Conversely, Lord Foul, the Despiser, seeks to exploit Covenant’s Unbelief and despair to manipulate him into aiding the Land’s destruction. The ring’s wild magic is pivotal because it transcends the limitations of the Staff of Law, making Covenant the linchpin in the struggle between preservation and annihilation. Both factions recognize that his choices could determine the Land’s fate.3. Analyze the consequences of Covenant’s “bargains” in the Land. How do his attempts to avoid responsibility backfire?
Answer:
Covenant’s bargains—passive support in Lord Foul’s Bane and active but limited aid in The Illearth War—are attempts to reconcile his Unbelief with his growing emotional ties to the Land. However, these half-measures lead to catastrophic outcomes. His passive stance allows Lord Foul to gain strength, while his involvement in Elena’s quest results in her misuse of EarthBlood, the resurrection of the doomed High Lord Kevin, and the loss of the Staff of Law. By refusing to fully embrace his role, Covenant inadvertently empowers the Despiser, demonstrating that his unwillingness to accept responsibility exacerbates the Land’s crises rather than resolving them.4. How does the presence of Hile Troy challenge Covenant’s Unbelief, and what broader thematic role does this play?
Answer:
Hile Troy, a figure from Covenant’s world who becomes a leader in the Land, destabilizes Covenant’s Unbelief by proving that the Land is not merely a hallucination. Troy’s existence suggests a tangible connection between the two worlds, forcing Covenant to question his dismissive stance. Thematically, this underscores the fragility of Covenant’s self-protective rationalizations and highlights the novel’s exploration of reality, denial, and responsibility. Troy’s presence pushes Covenant toward acknowledging the Land’s reality, amplifying his internal conflict and the stakes of his choices.5. Evaluate Covenant’s moral dilemma regarding the Land. Is his Unbelief justified, or does it represent a failure of courage?
Answer:
Covenant’s Unbelief is a complex mix of self-preservation and moral cowardice. On one hand, his leprosy requires absolute vigilance, making the Land’s seeming miracles a psychological threat. On the other, his refusal to accept the Land’s reality allows him to evade guilt (e.g., for raping Lena) and shirk the burden of saving a world he fears is illusory. However, his gradual emotional engagement—his love for the Land’s beauty and people—suggests that Unbelief becomes a shield against responsibility. Ultimately, his dilemma reflects a failure to reconcile his trauma with the courage to act, even in uncertainty, leaving him complicit in the Land’s suffering.
Quotes
1. “As a young man—a novelist, happily married, with an infant son, Roger—Thomas Covenant is stricken with leprosy. In a leprosarium, where the last two fingers of his right hand are amputated, he learns that leprosy is incurable.”
This opening quote establishes the tragic foundation of Covenant’s character, introducing his physical and emotional struggles that shape his journey. It sets the stage for his internal conflict and the harsh realities he must confront.
2. “Because vitality and beauty are concrete qualities, as plain to the senses as size and color, the well-being of the physical world has become the guiding precept of the Land’s people.”
This quote encapsulates the central contrast between Covenant’s bleak reality and the Land’s magical essence. It highlights the Land’s core philosophy, which stands in stark opposition to Covenant’s despair and skepticism.
3. “He responds to his new health with Unbelief: the dogged assertion that the Land is not real.”
This pivotal quote defines Covenant’s psychological defense mechanism, “Unbelief,” which becomes the central tension of the narrative. It represents his struggle to reconcile the Land’s apparent reality with his need to maintain his survival mindset.
4. “With the one word of truth or treachery, / he will save or damn the Earth.”
This prophetic quote underscores the immense responsibility placed on Covenant as the white gold wielder. It represents the overarching stakes of the story and Covenant’s pivotal role in the Land’s fate.
5. “Hence both the Lords and the Despiser seek Thomas Covenant’s allegiance. The Lords attempt to win his aid with courage and compassion: the Despiser, through manipulation.”
This quote perfectly captures the central conflict of allegiances that drives the narrative. It shows how Covenant’s internal struggle mirrors the external battle for the Land’s future.