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[The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant 10] • The Last Dark
Chapter 4: Part One — 3. Not Dead to Life and Use
by R., Donaldson, StephenThomas Covenant, grievously wounded and barely standing, finds himself on the desolate headland where Foul’s Creche once stood, surrounded by the chaotic aftermath of a tsunami. The world is darkening as stars vanish, signaling the impending doom brought by the Worm’s awakening. Covenant is haunted by Joan’s death, which feels like a personal wound, and he desperately longs for Linden, though she is impossibly far away. His physical injuries are severe—broken ribs, gashes, and burns—yet his leprosy numbs some of the pain. The Humbled, though also injured, remain resilient, watching for signs of hope or the return of the Ranyhyn.
Covenant’s despair deepens as he realizes the futility of their situation. The Worm’s approach is unstoppable, and without the Ranyhyn or wild magic, he feels powerless to save the Land. His need for Linden torments him, but the distance between them is insurmountable. The dim, star-lit gloom mirrors his hopelessness, and he struggles to remain standing, his strength waning. The Humbled, pragmatic as ever, recognize the urgency of their plight and urge Covenant to abandon his vow not to ride the Ranyhyn, arguing that survival is paramount.
Branl and Clyme press Covenant to reconsider his stubborn refusal to ride, emphasizing that his wounds will soon render him unconscious, leaving them no choice but to summon the Ranyhyn and carry him to safety. Covenant, however, clings to his principles, believing promises must be upheld, even at the cost of his life. He reflects on Foamfollower’s role in his past, blaming the Giant’s idealism for their current dire straits, though the Humbled dismiss this as irrational. Covenant’s exhaustion and pain cloud his thoughts, making it difficult to articulate his stance.
The chapter culminates in a tense standoff between Covenant’s unwavering resolve and the Humbled’s pragmatic devotion to his survival. Covenant’s physical and emotional frailty leaves him unable to resist their plans, yet he remains adamant about his vow. His fragmented thoughts reveal a deep need for redemption and connection with Linden before the world’s end. The Humbled, bound by their own oaths, prepare to override his wishes, setting the stage for a conflict between honor and necessity as the Land’s final hours tick away.
FAQs
1. What physical and emotional state is Thomas Covenant in at the beginning of this chapter, and how do these conditions affect his ability to act?
Answer:
Thomas Covenant is in severe physical distress, with multiple injuries including a reopened forehead wound, gashed ribs, broken bones, and extensive lacerations from coral and rocks. His leprosy masks some pain but leaves him barely able to stand. Emotionally, he is tormented by Joan’s death, which feels like a self-inflicted wound, and by his desperate need for Linden’s presence, which he views as unattainable. These conditions render him nearly helpless: his physical injuries sap his strength, while his emotional turmoil clouds his judgment. The chapter emphasizes his exhaustion and despair, leaving him unable to formulate a plan against the Worm’s approach or even maintain basic survival efforts without the Humbled’s intervention.2. Analyze the symbolic significance of the dying stars in this chapter. How do they reflect the broader themes of the narrative?
Answer:
The incremental extinction of the stars symbolizes the impending doom of the Land and the collapse of natural order under the Worm’s awakening. Described as “distinct as murders,” their disappearance mirrors Covenant’s inner guilt over Joan’s death and his broader failures. The stars’ light, now the only illumination in a dawnless world, becomes a “lament” — a poetic representation of irreversible loss. This imagery ties to the novel’s central themes of entropy and sacrifice: just as Covenant’s resurrection accelerated the world’s decay, the stars’ demise underscores the inevitability of the Land’s destruction despite individual struggles. The celestial darkness also reflects Covenant’s psychological state, where hope is as fleeting as the remaining starlight.3. How does Covenant’s conflict with the Humbled over riding the Ranyhyn reveal deeper philosophical differences between them?
Answer:
The dispute centers on Covenant’s vow never to ride the Ranyhyn (a promise tied to his respect for their autonomy) versus the Humbled’s oath to preserve his life. While the Haruchai prioritize pragmatic survival — arguing his oath is void due to extremity — Covenant clings to principles, seeing compromise as moral failure. Their inability to reconcile this highlights cultural divides: the Humbled view vows as conditional (e.g., permitting Ranyhyn aid during the tsunami), whereas Covenant treats them as absolute. The tension also exposes Covenant’s flawed idealism; his refusal to adapt, even facing death, contrasts with Foamfollower’s legacy of “making impossible things possible,” a irony Branl notes when dismissing Covenant’s blame of the Giant.4. Evaluate Branl and Clyme’s role in this chapter. How do they simultaneously support and challenge Covenant?
Answer:
The Humbled act as both caretakers and foils. They physically support Covenant, carrying the krill and planning to summon new Ranyhyn despite his protests, demonstrating their unwavering service. Yet they challenge his passivity, insisting his wounds demand action (“We cannot hope for your healing except by the Staff”). Their logical arguments — like comparing Ranyhyn aid during the tsunami to riding — force Covenant to confront his contradictions. However, their literal-mindedness (misinterpreting his joke about Foamfollower) underscores their emotional limitation. Their presence embodies the tension between duty and compassion: they save Covenant’s life but fail to grasp his need for redemption or connection with Linden.5. What does Covenant’s reference to time as a “Möbius strip” suggest about his understanding of causality and responsibility in the story’s events?
Answer:
The Möbius strip metaphor reflects Covenant’s cyclical view of consequences, where every action (e.g., Foamfollower saving him) loops back to redefine its origins (enabling the Worm’s rise). This nonlinear perspective shows his awareness of paradoxes — his resurrection doomed the world, yet without it, Linden would never have existed. However, his admission that his “human mind” cannot fully grasp this complexity reveals his struggle to reconcile agency with fate. The imagery underscores themes of inevitability and interconnectedness: Covenant’s choices, like Joan’s death, are both causes and effects in an inescapable cycle, leaving him paralyzed by guilt yet yearning for absolution before the “end” the Worm brings.
Quotes
1. “This was a consequence of the Worm’s rousing, as it was of his resurrection. It heralded the world’s ruin. Now every death pierced him. Joan’s end felt like a knife in his own chest. Killing her, he had wounded himself—”
This quote captures Covenant’s profound emotional and physical suffering, tying his personal anguish to the larger cosmic catastrophe. It reflects the chapter’s central theme of interconnected consequences—how Covenant’s actions reverberate through both his own being and the fate of the Land.
2. “He needed Linden. He did not know how to bear what he had become without her.”
A pivotal admission of Covenant’s dependence on Linden, this quote underscores his emotional vulnerability and the chapter’s exploration of love as both a wound and a lifeline. It reveals his existential crisis amid the world’s collapse.
3. “Time was a Möbius strip. Every implication looped back on itself. Every if led to a then which in turn redefined the if.”
This metaphorical reflection on causality and fate encapsulates the chapter’s philosophical depth. It highlights Covenant’s struggle to reconcile linear human understanding with the cyclical, paradoxical nature of his choices and their consequences.
4. “Promises are important. You know that at least as well as I do.”
A defiant assertion of Covenant’s moral code, this quote represents his conflict with the Humbled over his vow not to ride the Ranyhyn. It crystallizes the tension between survival and integrity—a key thematic struggle in the chapter.
5. “Oh, he needed Linden. He needed to make things right with her before the end.”
Reiterating Covenant’s desperation, this quote frames his journey as a race against time—not just to save the Land, but to achieve personal redemption. It underscores the chapter’s emotional stakes and the urgency of connection amid annihilation.