The Illearth War
Chapter 4: FOUR: May Be Lost
by R, Donaldson, StephenThe chapter opens with Thomas Covenant, disoriented and inwardly focused, as the healing power of hurtloam spreads through his body. Bannor and Lord Mhoram guide him to a bedroom in Lord’s Keep, where he collapses into a deep, restorative sleep. Covenant, gripped by dread, asks Mhoram why the creature dukkha attacked him. Mhoram explains that dukkha, a tormented Waynhim, lashed out due to Covenant’s refusal to aid the Land, a betrayal of its former nature. Covenant clings to Mhoram’s presence, confessing his guilt over abandoning his wife, Joan, before succumbing to exhaustion.
Upon waking, Covenant discovers his leprosy-ravaged nerves have inexplicably regenerated, filling him with fear and denial. Mhoram, who has kept vigil, expresses confusion over Covenant’s resistance to healing. Sunlight now fills the room, contrasting with the prior night’s torches. Covenant avoids discussing High Lord Elena, whose summoning forced him into the Land, reigniting his anger and grief over Joan. He retreats to wash, using the cold water to numb his emotional pain, while grappling with the impossibility of returning to his former life.
Covenant’s internal struggle intensifies as he confronts the paradox of his healing. The restoration of his nerves defies medical reality, threatening his grasp on the fact that leprosy is incurable. He forces himself to accept that Joan is lost to him, just as his health is—a truth he cannot afford to ignore. The Land, though vivid, remains a dangerous delusion that could undermine his survival instincts. His leprosy becomes a metaphor for his isolation, reinforcing his determination to reject false hopes, even as the Land’s magic challenges his understanding of reality.
The chapter underscores Covenant’s psychological turmoil as he vacillates between the Land’s allure and his rigid self-preservation. Mhoram’s steadfast compassion contrasts with Covenant’s despair, highlighting the tension between faith and skepticism. Covenant’s physical healing becomes a spiritual crisis, forcing him to confront whether the Land’s power is a gift or a trap. The chapter closes with his unresolved conflict, poised between the dream’s peril and the potential loss of something irreplaceable—mirroring his fractured sense of identity and purpose.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the hurtloam’s effect on Covenant, and why does he react with dread to its healing properties?
Answer:
The hurtloam is a powerful healing substance in the Land that spreads through Covenant’s body, restoring sensation to his previously numb limbs and damaged nerves. This terrifies Covenant because as a leper in his “real” world, nerve damage is permanent and irreversible. The restoration of feeling contradicts his understanding of his disease, making him question the reality of the Land and fear that this delusion might undermine his ability to survive in the real world. His dread stems from both the psychological disruption of his leprosy’s immutable nature and the potential danger of losing touch with reality (as seen when he thinks, “nerves do not regenerate—cannot”).2. How does Lord Mhoram explain dukkha’s attack on Covenant, and what does this reveal about Lord Foul’s methods?
Answer:
Mhoram explains that dukkha, despite being a tormented and enslaved creature, retains some memory of its former identity as a Waynhim—a being that once sought to atone for the ur-viles’ dark deeds. It attacks Covenant because it senses his refusal to help the Land, triggering a momentary resurgence of its original nature. This illustrates Lord Foul’s cruel strategy: he corrupts his enemies into becoming what they most despise, forcing them to destroy what they love. The attack reflects both the Land’s desperate need for aid and the psychological torment Foul inflicts on his victims.3. Analyze Covenant’s internal conflict regarding Joan and the Land. How does this connect to his leper’s survival mentality?
Answer:
Covenant is haunted by guilt over abandoning his ex-wife Joan during her call for help, which he perceives as another failure in their fractured relationship. His anguish over this (“She’ll never forgive me”) clashes with his leper’s discipline, which demands absolute focus on harsh realities to survive. The Land’s healing magic threatens this discipline by offering false hope, making him resent the summoning (blamed on Elena) as a betrayal of his real-world responsibilities. His refusal to grieve (“Joan was lost to him; that was a fact”) underscores his desperate attempt to cling to his survival framework, even as the Land challenges it.4. What symbolic role does Mhoram’s unwavering grip on Covenant’s hand play in this chapter?
Answer:
Mhoram’s steadfast grip serves as both a physical and metaphorical anchor for Covenant. During Covenant’s healing sleep, it prevents him from being lost in nightmares (“a succession of dark shapes seemed to hover and strike”). Later, when Covenant awakens, the clasp symbolizes Mhoram’s empathy and the Lords’ commitment to supporting him, even as Covenant resists their aid. This contrasts with Covenant’s isolation in his real world, highlighting the Land’s capacity for compassion—a quality Covenant fears might weaken his leper’s vigilance.5. How does the chapter explore the theme of “things lost” through Covenant’s experiences?
Answer:
The theme is woven through multiple layers: Covenant’s loss of Joan (and his chance to reconcile), the Waynhim’s loss of its original purpose, and Covenant’s potential loss of his identity as a leper if he accepts the Land’s reality. Mhoram’s warning (“something may be lost which can never be regained”) echoes this, suggesting that Covenant’s refusal to engage with the Land could cost him—or the Land—irrecoverable opportunities. The chapter juxtaposes physical healing (the hurtloam) with emotional and existential losses, emphasizing the high stakes of Covenant’s choices.
Quotes
1. “That is Lord Foul’s way in all things—to force his foes to become that which they most hate, and to destroy that which they most love.”
This quote encapsulates the central antagonistic philosophy of the Despiser, revealing the cruel irony at the heart of the Land’s suffering. It comes as Mhoram explains why the corrupted Waynhim attacked Covenant, showing how evil operates in this world.
2. “But madness is not the only danger in dreams. There is also the danger that something may be lost which can never be regained.”
Mhoram delivers this profound warning as he challenges Covenant’s refusal to engage with the Land. It represents the chapter’s thematic core about the costs of denial and inaction, suggesting that opportunities (like Covenant’s chance to heal) might be permanently forfeited.
3. “He was a leper; all his hopes were false. They were his enemies. They could kill him by blinding him to the lethal power of facts.”
This internal monologue reveals Covenant’s fundamental survival philosophy. It’s significant as it shows his constant struggle between the Land’s healing potential and his rigid adherence to his leprosy’s harsh realities, which makes him reject the miraculous healing of his nerves.
4. “When he put his hands into the water, its sharp chill thrilled the new vitality of his nerves. Angrily, he thrust his head down into the water, and did not raise it until the cold began to make the bones of his skull hurt.”
This physical description powerfully conveys Covenant’s conflicted response to his healing. The sensory details show his regained sensitivity while his angry reaction demonstrates his refusal to accept this impossible recovery in what he believes is a dream.