Thomas Covenant 8 — The Fatal Revenant
Chapter 13: Part One — 12. Transformations
by Donaldson, Stephen R.In this chapter, Linden Avery, empowered by Earthblood, uncovers the horrifying truth about Roger Covenant and her son Jeremiah. Using her Command, she strips away the illusions disguising Roger, revealing him as Thomas Covenant’s son, not the man she believed him to be. Roger’s right hand, replaced by a monstrous construct of magma and magic, mirrors the destructive power of the skurj, creatures of lava and hunger. The revelation shocks Linden, as she realizes Roger has been transformed into a weapon of chaos, aided by the deranged Elohim Kastenessen, whose own pain and insanity fuel his malice.
Jeremiah’s condition proves even more devastating. Once hidden by glamour, he now stands vacant and unresponsive, his body marked by brutal wounds and bruises. A sinister creature, a croyel, clings to his back, draining his life while exuding a malevolent force reminiscent of the Viles’ dark magic. Linden recognizes the croyel as a parasitic demon that enslaves its hosts, though she insists Jeremiah is an innocent victim, not a willing participant in this corruption. The sight of her son, possessed and bleeding, pushes her to the brink of despair, amplifying her fury and desperation.
Empowered by the Earthblood, Linden unleashes a torrent of fire against Roger, only to be met with a devastating counterattack. Roger’s magma hand hurls scorching brimstone, extinguishing her flames and nearly killing her. The force of the assault leaves her vulnerable, teetering on the edge of the Earthblood trough. As her power fades, she collapses to her knees, her vision blurring, leaving her exposed to Roger’s taunts and threats. His smug cruelty underscores his intent to destroy her, relishing the opportunity to finally crush her resistance.
The chapter culminates in Linden’s overwhelming grief and helplessness. Stripped of her power, she faces Roger’s looming attack, too stunned by the revelations to defend herself. The dual horrors of Roger’s transformation and Jeremiah’s possession leave her emotionally shattered, emphasizing the chapter’s themes of betrayal, loss, and the brutal consequences of unchecked power. The tension escalates as Linden’s fate hangs in the balance, setting the stage for a dire confrontation.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of Roger Covenant’s transformation and his “given hand”?
Answer:
Roger Covenant’s transformation reveals his true identity as Thomas Covenant’s son, concealed by a glamour until Linden’s Earthpower exposes him. His “given hand” is a grotesque fusion of magma and theurgy, replacing his severed right hand—a gift from Kastenessen, an insane Elohim. This hand symbolizes Roger’s alliance with destructive forces (the skurj) and his role as a weapon of havoc. The lava-like nature of the hand mirrors the skurj’s devouring hunger, emphasizing Roger’s corruption and the unnatural merging of Kastenessen’s pain-driven power with Roger’s malice. This transformation shocks Linden, as it underscores the depth of his betrayal and the threat he poses.2. How does Jeremiah’s condition reflect the themes of possession and helplessness in this chapter?
Answer:
Jeremiah’s state is one of utter passivity and violation: he is physically wounded (with bullet wounds and bruises) and mentally absent, his dissociation deepened by the croyel clinging to him. The demon feeds on his life force, its claws and teeth symbolizing relentless predation. Unlike voluntary bargains (e.g., Kasreyn), Jeremiah’s possession is involuntary, mirroring themes of innocence corrupted by external evil. His clenched fists—one holding a crushed toy, the other a deadly splinter—highlight his dual role as victim and unwitting tool. Linden’s horror at his plight underscores the chapter’s exploration of powerlessness against overwhelming malevolence.3. Analyze the role of Earthpower and Command in Linden’s confrontation with Roger and the croyel.
Answer:
Earthpower and Command initially grant Linden transcendent clarity, forcing Roger’s disguise to unravel and revealing Jeremiah’s possession. However, her reliance on these forces becomes a double-edged sword. While they expose truth, they also provoke Roger’s counterattack—a volcanic blast that nearly kills her. The abrupt loss of her power (snuffed out by Roger’s hand) mirrors the fragility of her authority in the face of ancient, chaotic evils like the skurj and croyel. This confrontation illustrates the limits of Earthpower against forces that defy Law, forcing Linden to confront her mortality and tactical vulnerability.4. What symbolic parallels exist between Roger’s “given hand” and the croyel attached to Jeremiah?
Answer:
Both represent unnatural grafts of power that corrupt their hosts. Roger’s hand, a fusion of Kastenessen’s agony and skurj-like destruction, embodies active malice, enabling violence. The croyel, a parasitic demon, represents passive consumption, draining Jeremiah’s life while granting nothing in return. Both are “gifts” from higher powers (Kastenessen and Lord Foul), symbolizing how evil operates through coercion and exploitation. The hand’s lava contrasts with the croyel’s shadowy magic, reflecting two forms of corruption: one fiery and overt, the other insidious and soul-crushing. Together, they showcase the novel’s broader conflict between creation and annihilation.5. Why does Linden’s realization about Roger and Jeremiah provoke such profound despair, and how does this moment advance the narrative?
Answer:
Linden’s despair stems from the shattering of her hopes: Roger, whom she trusted as Covenant, is a murderous impostor; Jeremiah, her son, is not just trapped but actively being consumed. This revelation strips her of agency, as her Command fails to save them. The moment advances the narrative by forcing her into a crisis of faith—questioning her judgment, her power, and her role in the Land’s fate. It also escalates the stakes, revealing the scale of Lord Foul’s machinations (via Kastenessen and the croyel) and setting up future confrontations where Linden must reckon with her limitations and resilience.
Quotes
1. “While her Command compelled obedience to her will, Linden remained clad in fire. Briefly she had become Earthpower, and could not be refused.”
This quote captures the moment of Linden’s transformation into a being of pure Earthpower, highlighting her temporary transcendence and absolute authority. It sets the stage for the revelations that follow about Roger and Jeremiah’s true natures.
2. “It was not Thomas Covenant who stood before her, exposed by fire and Command. It was Covenant’s son, Roger, seeking such havoc that the bones of mountains tremble to contemplate it.”
This pivotal moment reveals Roger’s deception and his true, destructive nature. The imagery of mountains trembling emphasizes the scale of the threat he represents, marking a major turning point in the chapter.
3. “Kastenessen had severed his own right hand and given it to Roger Covenant. He had granted Roger the magic to conceal himself from her percipience; had turned Roger into an entirely new kind of halfhand—”
This quote explains the horrifying origin of Roger’s power and his connection to Kastenessen. It underscores the theme of bodily transformation and sacrifice for power, while introducing the concept of the “halfhand” as a symbol of corrupted strength.
4. “The creature was one of the croyel: a parasite or demon which throve by giving power and time to more natural men or women or beasts as it mastered them.”
This introduces the croyel, a key antagonist in the chapter, and defines its nature as a parasitic entity. The description highlights the novel threat it poses and sets up Jeremiah’s tragic situation of being possessed without consent.
5. “Empowered by the Blood of the Earth, Linden screamed raw fire down the stone throat of the tunnel.”
This climactic moment shows Linden’s desperate counterattack against Roger’s forces. The visceral imagery captures both her power and fury, while the “stone throat” metaphor creates a sense of the environment itself being alive and responsive to the conflict.