Against All Things Ending
Chapter 4: Part One — 4. After Unwisdom
by R., Donaldson, StephenLinden Avery grapples with overwhelming shame after her deliberate choices, including aiding the Harrow and extracting Thomas Covenant from the Arch of Time. Despite her remorse, she recognizes she cannot evade responsibility. Seeking help, she acknowledges her companions’ unwavering loyalty, though she has largely ignored their counsel, particularly Liand’s. Physically and emotionally drained, she moves toward Covenant, finding his presence less agonizing than the Harrow’s. The safety of Andelain offers little solace, as she feels vulnerable without Covenant’s ring, her tattered state mirroring her fractured spirit. Only her son Jeremiah’s racecar in her pocket provides a fragile sense of purpose.
Covenant, meanwhile, paces around Loric’s krill, engrossed in a monologue that seems aimless yet may reflect his struggle to retain fragmented memories. His companions, including the Humbled, Giants, and Cords, watch with varying degrees of patience, hoping for his return to clarity. Linden realizes the Humbled no longer pose a direct threat, as their focus shifts to the Harrow, who is beyond their control. The Ardent’s potential intervention adds uncertainty, as his motives and powers remain enigmatic. Linden yearns for Covenant’s support but fears her credibility is irreparably damaged by her recent actions.
Covenant’s physical and mental deterioration worsens, his leprosy exacerbated by Kevin’s Dirt, though its effects are muted in Andelain. His numbness and disjointed speech highlight his instability, yet he clings to cryptic phrases, like a quote about courage transcending doom. When Liand suggests seeking hurtloam to heal him, Covenant vehemently refuses, insisting his numbness defines his identity and potential. His sudden focus on Linden signals a pivotal moment, as he steps between her and the krill, his expression obscured by shadows, leaving her uncertain of his intentions.
The chapter culminates in a tense standoff, with Linden and Covenant separated by unspoken burdens. She hesitates to speak, overwhelmed by her needs and guilt, while Covenant’s cryptic behavior leaves his stance unclear. The krill’s light casts him in ambiguity, symbolizing the unresolved tension between them. Their interaction hangs in the balance, with Linden’s fate and the safety of her companions dependent on Covenant’s next words—words that remain unfinished, echoing the chapter’s themes of fractured trust and desperate hope.
FAQs
1. What internal conflict does Linden Avery grapple with in this chapter, and how does it manifest in her actions?
Answer:
Linden Avery struggles with profound shame over her deliberate choices, particularly giving the Harrow what he wanted and wrenching Thomas Covenant from the Arch of Time. She acknowledges she cannot excuse herself with blame, yet feels paralyzed by her decisions. This manifests in her hesitation to seek help, her physical exhaustion (“Too diminished to continue standing”), and her tattered appearance, which mirrors her spiritual state. Her only anchor is Jeremiah’s racecar, symbolizing her desperate focus on saving her son despite her self-doubt.2. How does Thomas Covenant’s leprosy and mental state reflect the broader themes of sacrifice and identity in the chapter?
Answer:
Covenant’s worsening leprosy (numbness in hands/feet, impending blindness) symbolizes his physical and mental fragmentation, exacerbated by Kevin’s Dirt. Yet he insists, “I need to be numb. It makes me who I can be,” tying his condition to his identity and purpose. His disjointed monologues—like quoting Berek or Mhoram on courage—show his struggle to reconcile past and present. This mirrors the chapter’s theme of sacrifice: Covenant embraces his suffering as necessary, just as Linden bears shame for her choices to protect others.3. Analyze the role of Andelain and the krill as symbols of safety and instability in the chapter.
Answer:
Andelain represents temporary safety: the Wraiths shield Covenant’s group from malice (e.g., Kastenessen, Roger), and the krill’s wild magic offers a focal point for Covenant’s wandering mind. However, these are fragile protections. The krill’s light “anchors” Covenant metaphorically, yet he circles it aimlessly, highlighting instability. Andelain’s safety also contrasts with Linden’s impending departure with the Harrow, underscoring that no refuge is permanent in the Land’s deepening crisis.4. How do the Humbled and Linden’s companions differ in their responses to Covenant’s condition, and what does this reveal about their roles?
Answer:
The Humbled wait stoically for Covenant to “become the man he had once been,” reflecting their rigid adherence to his legacy. In contrast, Liand and Mahrtiir seek practical solutions (e.g., hurtloam), showing compassion. Linden’s allies (Stave, Giants) follow her with “floundering dismay,” torn between loyalty and concern. These differences reveal tensions between duty (Humbled), empathy (Liand), and loyalty (Giants), framing the chapter’s conflict: how to support broken leaders without enabling their flaws.5. Evaluate Linden’s bargaining with the Harrow: was it a strategic necessity or a moral failure? Justify your answer with text evidence.
Answer:
Linden’s bargain is both strategic and morally fraught. She admits she “knew what she was doing” to save Jeremiah, accepting shame as the cost. The Harrow’s power makes resistance futile (the Humbled “would have to battle [him]”), forcing pragmatism. Yet her isolation—ignoring Liand’s advice, lacking Covenant’s support—underscores the moral weight. The chapter frames it as a tragic necessity: she sacrifices credibility (“her friends might not heed her”) for her son’s sake, blurring lines between heroism and desperation.
Quotes
1. “She was full of shame, and had no right to it. In giving the Harrow what he wanted, if not in wrenching Thomas Covenant out of the Arch of Time, she had known what she was doing. She had made her choice deliberately. She could not excuse herself with blame.”
This quote captures Linden Avery’s internal conflict and moral reckoning. It highlights her agency in difficult decisions and her refusal to absolve herself, setting the tone for her emotional state throughout the chapter.
2. “‘There is no doom so black or deep that courage and clear sight may not find another truth beyond it.’”
A pivotal philosophical statement delivered by Covenant (attributed to Mhoram or Berek). This quote represents the chapter’s theme of perseverance and hope amid despair, serving as a counterpoint to Linden’s shame and Covenant’s deteriorating condition.
3. “‘No hurtloam… I need to be numb. It doesn’t just make me who I am. It makes me who I can be.’”
Covenant’s defiant declaration about his leprosy reveals his complex relationship with his condition. This moment shows his acceptance of suffering as integral to his identity and purpose, contrasting with others’ desire to heal him.
4. “The emptiness of her hands left her vulnerable in more ways than she could count.”
This concise metaphor encapsulates Linden’s psychological state after surrendering Covenant’s ring. It represents her broader sense of powerlessness and foreshadows the challenges ahead as she prepares to face the Harrow without her usual resources.