Thomas Covenant 8 — The Fatal Revenant
Chapter 3: Part One — 2. Difficult Answers
by Donaldson, Stephen R.Linden Avery, accompanied by Mahrtiir, emerges from Revelstone onto a sunlit plateau, freed from the oppressive presence of the Humbled Masters thanks to Stave’s intervention. She grapples with the emotional turmoil of reuniting with Thomas Covenant and her son, Jeremiah, only to find them altered and distant, refusing her touch. Compounding her distress, Covenant warns that using the Staff of Law—her source of power—would erase their presence. Despite her doubts, she believes them, torn between her love for them and the impossibility of acting on her deepest desires.
The landscape around her contrasts starkly with her memories of the Sunbane-ravaged land she once traversed with Covenant. Now, the plateau thrives with lush grass, trees, and fertile fields, a testament to the work of Sunder and Hollian centuries earlier. This restoration offers a bittersweet reminder of the Land’s resilience, yet Linden remains preoccupied with her grief and the enigmatic behavior of Covenant and Jeremiah. She seeks solace in Glimmermere, a mystical lake tied to cherished memories of Covenant’s forgiveness and love.
Linden reflects on her failures: her inability to heal Jeremiah, her reckless actions that brought the Demondim to Revelstone, and her powerlessness against the Masters. Shame and Kevin’s Dirt sap her strength, but she clings to the hope that Glimmermere’s waters might renew her resolve. The lake symbolizes redemption, a place where she once forgave herself for past transgressions. Now, she hopes it will help her navigate the contradictions of Covenant’s return and Jeremiah’s transformation.
The chapter delves into Linden’s internal struggle as she balances her love for Covenant and Jeremiah with the constraints placed upon her. Covenant’s cryptic warnings about the Staff of Law and white gold’s inherent imperfection hint at deeper mysteries. Linden’s journey to Glimmermere becomes a quest for clarity, both about her own identity and the true nature of the forces at play. Her determination to find answers underscores her resilience, even as she battles despair.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of Glimmermere to Linden, and why does she seek it out in this chapter?
Answer:
Glimmermere holds profound emotional and symbolic importance for Linden. It was here that she and Thomas Covenant shared a moment of reconciliation and love after the defeat of the Banefire, where the lake’s waters helped her forgive herself for past mistakes. In this chapter, Linden seeks Glimmermere to reconnect with those memories and regain a sense of identity amid her current turmoil. Additionally, she hopes the lake’s “strange potency” might grant her the power to be heard, as she grapples with Covenant and Jeremiah’s paradoxical return and the restrictions placed on her use of the Staff of Law. The lake represents both emotional solace and potential practical aid in her struggles.
2. Analyze the contradictions Linden faces regarding Covenant and Jeremiah’s return. Why do these paradoxes torment her?
Answer:
Linden is tormented by contradictions because Covenant and Jeremiah’s return undermines her agency and beliefs. She risked everything to retrieve the Staff of Law to save Jeremiah, yet he and Covenant reappear independently, seemingly changed and unwilling to be touched. They claim using the Staff would erase them, conflicting with Covenant’s earlier dream-messages urging her to wield it. This forces Linden into an impossible position: she must trust them (as she cannot refuse her son or Covenant) while doubting their motives. The paradoxes highlight her powerlessness and the erosion of her health-sense by Kevin’s Dirt, leaving her emotionally and mentally fractured.
3. How does the landscape around Revelstone reflect the Land’s history, and what emotions does it evoke in Linden?
Answer:
The restored plateau behind Revelstone symbolizes the Land’s resilience and the legacy of Sunder and Hollian, who reversed the Sunbane’s devastation 3,500 years earlier. Where Linden once saw barren stone under a desert sun, she now encounters lush grass, trees, and fertile slopes—a testament to Earthpower’s healing. While this beauty contrasts with her inner anguish, it also reminds her of loss and change. The landscape evokes bittersweet nostalgia for her past with Covenant and underscores her isolation, as the thriving land mirrors the “burgeoning” life she cannot fully share in due to her current trials.
4. Evaluate Stave’s role in this chapter. Why is his ability to sway the Masters significant?
Answer:
Stave’s persuasion of the Masters to leave Linden alone is significant because it demonstrates his unwavering loyalty despite being ostracized from their communion. As a former Master, his successful argument (though unexplained) hints at residual respect or logical leverage among his peers, emphasizing his unique position as a bridge between Linden and the distrustful Haruchai. His actions grant Linden temporary freedom from scrutiny, enabling her to seek answers at Glimmermere. This moment reinforces Stave’s character growth—from rigid guardian to independent ally—and highlights the tension between tradition and change among the Masters.
5. How does Linden’s reflection on Anele’s parents (Sunder and Hollian) deepen the chapter’s themes of legacy and burden?
Answer:
Linden’s thoughts about Sunder and Hollian underscore the weight of legacy. Their mastery of Earthpower restored the Land, but their greatness also daunted their son, Anele, who felt inadequate by comparison. This mirrors Linden’s own struggles: she feels overshadowed by Covenant’s heroism and burdened by her failures (e.g., bringing the Demondim, failing to “save” Jeremiah alone). The contrast between the parents’ achievements and Anele’s brokenness parallels Linden’s fear that her efforts may cause more harm than good. The theme emphasizes how past actions—and their memories—shape present suffering and responsibility.
Quotes
1. “Here she could be free of their distrust; of denials that appalled her. Here she might be able to think.”
This quote captures Linden’s relief at escaping the oppressive scrutiny of the Masters, highlighting her need for mental clarity amid overwhelming circumstances. It marks a turning point where she transitions from reacting to events to seeking active solutions.
2. “She believed them, both of them. She did not know whether or not they had told the truth: she believed them nonetheless. They were Thomas Covenant and Jeremiah, her son. She could not do otherwise.”
This poignant passage reveals Linden’s unconditional love and loyalty, even in the face of potential deception. It underscores the central conflict of her being torn between trust and the impossibility of physical connection with her resurrected loved ones.
3. “In a flawed world, Kasreyn had informed Covenant, purity cannot endure. Thus within each of my works I must perforce place one small flaw, else there would be no work at all.”
This philosophical gem, recalled from Covenant’s past, introduces the thematic concept of necessary imperfection that resonates throughout the chapter. It metaphorically reflects Linden’s own flawed attempts to help the Land while hinting at deeper truths about white gold’s power.
4. “Like Kevin’s Dirt, shame threatened to drain her until she was too weak to bear the cost of her life.”
This powerful simile connects Linden’s emotional state with the physical corruption affecting the Land, illustrating how her self-doubt parallels the environmental decay. It captures the chapter’s exploration of internal and external erosion of strength.
5. “The beauty which greeted Linden’s sore heart above and behind Lord’s Keep was one result of their labors.”
This description of the restored landscape serves as a counterpoint to Linden’s inner turmoil, showcasing the enduring legacy of past heroes. It represents the chapter’s recurring tension between hope and despair, and the visible evidence that positive change is possible.