Lord Foul’s Bane
Chapter 9: Nine: Jehannum
by Donaldson, Stephen R.The chapter “Jehannum” follows Covenant’s grueling journey through physical and emotional torment as he trails Atiaran, who moves with relentless determination. Overwhelmed by pain, exhaustion, and the weight of his pack, Covenant becomes almost numb, driven forward solely by Atiaran’s unwavering will. When they stop for the night, he collapses, barely conscious, and is revived with broth and springwine, which temporarily soothes his agony. As he drifts into sleep, he glimpses Atiaran’s resolute gaze fixed northward, a silent testament to her unyielding purpose.
The next day, Covenant awakens to a world that feels unnervingly vivid—his hands and feet are acutely sensitive, a stark contrast to his leprosy-stricken reality. This sensory overload fills him with dread, as he grapples with the impossibility of his newfound vitality. Atiaran’s quiet care, such as covering him with a blanket, only deepens his unease, making her both a source of comfort and fear. Despite his physical suffering, he continues to follow her, compelled by an unspoken demand in her rigid posture, which brooks no refusal.
As they press onward, the landscape shifts to vibrant hillsides and lush plains, teeming with life and color. Yet Covenant, consumed by pain and existential turmoil, remains blind to the beauty around him. His exhaustion reaches a breaking point, but he pushes through, driven by Atiaran’s unrelenting pace. By nightfall, he collapses again, his body twitching with residual strain, while the stars above offer no solace. His dreams are fraught with frustration, mirroring his waking struggles, and he wakes to a dawn that feels like an affront to his fraying sanity.
Covenant’s internal conflict intensifies as he wrestles with the paradox of his sensations—his leprosy-defying vitality threatens his grasp on reality. He clings to the belief that this world must be a dream, as the alternative—accepting the Land as real—would unravel his sanity entirely. This conviction hardens into defiance, fueling his anger and suspicion toward Atiaran. Yet his turmoil also serves as a shield, distancing him from deeper fears, as he trudges onward, trapped between agony and the terrifying possibility of a reality he cannot accept.
FAQs
1. How does Covenant’s physical condition evolve throughout the chapter, and what does this reveal about his psychological state?
Answer:
Covenant begins the chapter in extreme physical distress, suffering from blistered feet, a throbbing hand injury, and overwhelming fatigue. His pain is so intense that he moves in a “dull, hypnotized throb,” barely conscious of his surroundings. However, by the chapter’s end, his physical wounds begin healing—his feet toughen and his hand nearly recovers—while his nerve sensitivity persists. This paradox infuriates him, as it challenges his belief in his leprosy. His psychological state deteriorates from exhausted submission to angry defiance, revealing his internal struggle to reconcile the Land’s reality with his leprosy. The chapter underscores his existential crisis: whether to accept this world’s vitality or cling to his identity as a leper.2. Analyze Atiaran’s role in this chapter. How does her behavior influence Covenant’s journey?
Answer:
Atiaran serves as both a caretaker and a relentless force driving Covenant forward. She tends to his needs (covering him with a blanket, providing food and springwine) but refuses to coddle him, maintaining a “stiff back” and “grim set of her mouth.” Her unwavering determination compels Covenant to push through his pain, even when he feels broken. However, her severity also exacerbates his fear and resentment, as he perceives her as an unyielding authority. Her actions highlight the tension between compassion and duty, as she prioritizes their mission over Covenant’s suffering, forcing him to confront his physical and psychological limits.3. What symbolic significance does the landscape hold in contrast to Covenant’s internal turmoil?
Answer:
The vibrant, rejuvenating landscape—lush heather, bluegrass, and blooming flowers—symbolizes the Land’s vitality and renewal, starkly contrasting Covenant’s pain and denial. While the world around him bursts with spring’s exuberance, he remains blind to its beauty, consumed by exhaustion and anger. The “infinite azure sky” and “exuberant rebirth” mock his leprosy-induced numbness, emphasizing his alienation from this world’s health. The juxtaposition heightens his existential conflict: the Land’s sensory richness threatens his belief in his disease, making the environment a passive antagonist in his struggle for self-identity.4. How does Covenant’s dream reflect his psychological state and foreshadow future challenges?
Answer:
Covenant dreams of trudging through a desert while a voice taunts him to “enjoy the freshness of the grass,” mirroring his waking paradox: surrounded by vitality, he feels only barren exhaustion. The dream underscores his inability to reconcile the Land’s abundance with his leper’s worldview. The sardonic voice suggests impending mockery or manipulation, foreshadowing future psychological trials. His sweating “anger” in the dream hints at his growing rage, which later fuels his defiance. This nightmare encapsulates his central conflict—being forced to engage with a reality that undermines his core beliefs.5. Why does Covenant insist on believing he is a leper, despite evidence to the contrary? What does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
Covenant clings to his leprosy as an anchor for his sanity, fearing that accepting the Land’s reality would mean admitting his own madness. He reasons, “Either I’m a leper or I’m not,” rejecting ambiguity because it threatens his fragile self-concept. This absolutism reveals his trauma and stubbornness; he prefers the “mystery” of his disease over the terror of an inexplicable cure. His refusal to adapt highlights his deep-seated fear of hope—if he acknowledges health, he must confront the possibility that his past suffering was illusory, a psychological burden he cannot bear.
Quotes
1. “His eyes became sightless with fatigue; he lost all sense of time, of movement, of everything except pain. He hardly knew that he had fallen asleep, and he felt a detached, impersonal sense of surprise when he was finally shaken awake.”
This quote captures Covenant’s extreme physical and mental exhaustion as he pushes through the journey. It illustrates the chapter’s recurring theme of suffering and dissociation, showing how pain dominates his experience.
2. “They were alive, alive. […] His guts twisted sickly. With a groan, he asked himself, How long—how long is this going to go on? He did not feel that he could endure much more.”
This moment highlights Covenant’s conflicted reaction to his newfound physical sensitivity—both marveling at and recoiling from the sensations. It represents the central tension between his leprosy-stricken identity and the Land’s reality.
3. “Her back compelled him like an ultimatum: keep moving or go mad; I permit no other alternatives. And he could not deny her.”
This powerful description of Atiaran’s relentless leadership encapsulates the chapter’s exploration of willpower and survival. It shows how Covenant is driven forward despite his suffering, bound to her purpose.
4. “Any belief was better than that. Better to struggle for a sanity he could at least recognize than to submit to a ‘health’ which surpassed all explanation.”
This quote crystallizes Covenant’s existential dilemma—his desperate choice to cling to his leprosy as an anchor of reality rather than accept the Land’s miraculous healing. It’s a pivotal moment of psychological conflict.
5. “It made him stalk along at Atiaran’s back as if he were ready to attack her at any provocation.”
This concluding insight reveals how Covenant’s inner turmoil manifests as simmering aggression. It foreshadows the tension between his psychological struggle and his dependence on Atiaran’s guidance.