Thomas Covenant 8 — The Fatal Revenant
Chapter 4: Part One — 3. Love and Strangers
by Donaldson, Stephen R.Linden Avery watches as the ur-viles and Waynhim disperse after Esmer’s departure, leaving her alone with her unresolved dilemmas. A storm gathers in the west, but it lacks the malevolence she previously encountered, suggesting it is a natural phenomenon. Despite the beauty of the Land around her, Linden feels no solace, consumed by the rejection of Thomas Covenant and her son, Jeremiah. Their refusal to let her touch them and their unexplained changes haunt her, leaving her with a profound sense of loss and unanswered questions about their transformation and motives.
Linden grapples with the paradoxes surrounding Covenant and Jeremiah. Covenant claims to manipulate time, yet his abilities defy comprehension, leaving her uncertain of his true nature. Jeremiah, once lost to his own mind, now exhibits knowledge beyond his years, but he too rejects her. Their insistence on keeping their distance—despite her desperate love—fuels her anguish. Esmer’s cryptic behavior has left her without answers, forcing her to confront Covenant and Jeremiah directly. She resolves not to wait for Covenant’s readiness, determined to uncover the truth behind their actions and her own role in their plans.
Seeking solace, Linden decides to speak with the Mandoubt, hoping for clearer guidance than Esmer provided. As she ascends the hill toward Revelstone, she notices the beauty of the Land but remains too distraught to appreciate it. She spots Manethrall Mahrtiir and Stave waiting for her, their demeanor suggesting they sense a change in her. Mahrtiir, unaware of her encounter with Esmer, bows in reverence, mistaking Glimmermere’s healing effects for her own exaltation. Linden reassures him, explaining the lake’s restorative powers and urging him to experience it himself, despite the challenges posed by Kevin’s Dirt.
Stave, too, acknowledges Linden’s transformation, his single eye seeming to perceive deeper truths. Linden briefly considers whether Glimmermere has granted her a sacramental insight, but she dismisses the thought, focused on her immediate goals. She informs Mahrtiir and Stave of her encounter with Esmer, hinting at the larger mysteries at play. Determined to act, Linden prepares to confront Covenant and Jeremiah, unwilling to remain passive in the face of their secrecy. Her resolve underscores her enduring love and her refusal to be sidelined, even as the stakes for the Land grow ever higher.
FAQs
1. How does Linden’s encounter with Glimmermere contrast with her emotional state, and what does this reveal about her character?
Answer:
Despite Glimmermere’s healing properties, which restore clarity and cleanse Kevin’s Dirt, Linden remains emotionally tormented. The lake’s waters offer physical and spiritual renewal, yet she cannot find solace because of her unresolved pain regarding Covenant and Jeremiah’s rejection. This contrast highlights her deep emotional wounds and her prioritization of relational bonds over personal comfort. Her inability to embrace Glimmermere’s gifts underscores her single-minded devotion to her loved ones, even at the cost of her own peace. The chapter emphasizes her resilience but also her vulnerability when faced with emotional abandonment.2. Analyze the significance of Esmer’s departure and the dispersal of the ur-viles and Waynhim. What thematic role do these events play?
Answer:
Esmer’s abrupt exit and the Demondim-spawn’s dispersal symbolize Linden’s growing isolation and the fragmentation of potential alliances. Esmer, a conflicted figure, leaves her with unanswered questions, exacerbating her sense of betrayal and confusion. The ur-viles and Waynhim, once purposeful, now scatter “at random,” reflecting the chaos in Linden’s quest. Their withdrawal mirrors her loss of guidance, forcing her to rely on her own judgment. These events reinforce themes of abandonment and the burden of solitary leadership, as Linden must now confront Covenant and Jeremiah without external support.3. Why does Linden resolve to confront Covenant and Jeremiah despite their warnings, and what does this decision reveal about her motivations?
Answer:
Linden refuses to wait passively because her love for Covenant and Jeremiah is intertwined with a need for agency. Their rejection—”Don’t touch either of us!“—fuels her determination to demand answers, as she cannot accept being treated as a “hindrance.” This decision reveals her fierce protectiveness and her refusal to be sidelined, even by those she cherishes. Her resolve underscores a key conflict: the tension between trust and autonomy. By choosing confrontation, she asserts her right to understand their transformations, prioritizing truth over comfort.4. How does the storm in the west serve as a metaphor for Linden’s internal struggles?
Answer:
The storm, described as natural and devoid of malice, contrasts with Linden’s inner turmoil. While the storm will “leave lucent and enriched” the land, Linden feels no such renewal. Its inevitability mirrors her unavoidable confrontation with Covenant and Jeremiah, yet its benign nature highlights the absence of external villainy in her suffering. The storm’s “necessary vehemence” parallels her own unresolved emotions—a tempest she must endure to reach clarity. This metaphor reinforces the chapter’s focus on enduring pain to achieve growth.5. Evaluate Mahrtiir and Stave’s reactions to Linden’s return from Glimmermere. How do their responses deepen the chapter’s exploration of perception and reverence?
Answer:
Mahrtiir and Stave misinterpret Linden’s altered state as personal exaltation, bowing with “new homage.” Their awe reflects their limited perception—they attribute her clarity to her own power, not Glimmermere’s influence. This misreading highlights the chapter’s theme of obscured truth: even allies struggle to discern reality. Stave’s remark about her being “restored” underscores his faith in her, while Mahrtiir’s “chagrin” reveals his pride in misjudging her. Their reactions amplify the tension between appearance and truth, as Linden alone grasps her unresolved fragility.
Quotes
1. “You must be the first to drink of the EarthBlood.”
This cryptic imperative represents a pivotal moment where Linden is burdened with an unclear but crucial responsibility, setting the stage for her internal conflict and the chapter’s central mystery about her role in the unfolding events.
2. “Don’t touch him! Don’t touch either of us!”
This jarring rejection from Covenant and Jeremiah encapsulates Linden’s profound emotional turmoil and the central paradox of her quest - having found her loved ones only to be violently pushed away without explanation.
3. “She had loved him and her son too long and too arduously to be treated as nothing more than a hindrance.”
This powerful statement reveals Linden’s resolve amidst her pain, marking a turning point where she decides to actively seek answers rather than passively accept her exclusion from Covenant and Jeremiah’s plans.
4. “As Linden reached the crest of the hills which cupped and concealed Glimmermere, the southeastward stretch of the upland plateau opened before her.”
This vivid description represents a moment of potential respite and perspective for Linden, contrasting the natural beauty of the Land with her inner turmoil, and symbolizing the choices that lie before her.
5. “He had cleaned the blood from his face, but he still wore his spattered tunic and his untended bruises as if they were a reproach to the Masters.”
This observation about Stave’s appearance serves as a potent metaphor for the ongoing tensions in the Land, where surface healing doesn’t erase deeper wounds or conflicts, mirroring Linden’s own situation.