Memorably, The Two Towers culminates in Peter Jackson’s iconic Battle of Helm’s Deep, which sees a resurrected Gandalf, the other Fellowship members, and Rohan’s soldiers coming to blows with the armies of the treacherous wizard Saruman, who desires the Dark Lord Sauron’s power — and control of Middle-earth — for himself. While The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring provides some insight into the multi-sided war unfolding in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers delves more deeply into the many antagonistic, power-hungry forces at play in Middle-earth.
“The Two Towers” Refers To Sauron’s Barad-Dûr & Saruman’s Tower Of Orthanc
Both Towers In The Lord Of The Rings Are Key Strongholds During Middle-Earth’s Third Age
The Lord of the Rings‘ trilogy’s titular “two towers” include Sauron’s Barad-Dûr and Saruman’s Tower of Orthanc. The former, Barad-Dûr, is the Dark Lord Sauron’s central stronghold in Mordor. During the Second and Third Ages, the so-called “Dark Fortress” is not only his seat of power, but an imposing manifestation of Sauron’s might. During his initial efforts to seize control of Middle-earth, Sauron adopted the symbol of The Eye. In Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies, the apex of Barad-Dûr contains LOTR‘s flaming Eye of Sauron — visible and piercing, though perhaps not tangible.
The imposing tower stands in the middle of the so-called Ring of Isengard — a defensive wall constructed by the Men of Gondor…
Throughout the timeline of The Lord of the Rings, the Tower of Orthanc has served many different purposes, but, during the film trilogy’s War of the Ring, it serves as the seat of power for Saruman. The imposing tower stands in the middle of the so-called Ring of Isengard — a defensive wall constructed by the Men of Gondor long before the dark wizard’s reign. Supposedly, no weapon — or even magical ability — in all of Arda could penetrate the fortress, making the Tower of Orthanc an incredibly secure outpost for Saruman and his armies.
The Origins Of Barad-Dûr & The Tower Of Orthanc Explained
Both Structures Predate The Lord Of The Rings Books
Both Barad-Dûr and the Tower of Orthanc were constructed long before the events showcased within The Lord of the Rings movies. Originally built during the Second Age, Sauron’s Barad-Dûr was leveled when the Dark Lord was defeated in the War of the Last Alliance. Sustained by dark magic, the tower was rebuilt during the Third Age as Sauron gained power again. Notably, Sauron’s orcs torture Gollum in Barad-Dûr, hoping to glean information about the One Ring’s location before The Fellowship. Isengard’s Orthanc, on the other hand, was likely built around the time Arnor and Gondor were established.
What The Two Towers Symbolize In The Lord Of The Rings
Barad-Dûr & Orthanc Reflect Their Owners’ Brand Of Evil
In Lord of the Rings, the two towers symbolize different manifestations of evil. In his trilogy of novels, Tolkien explores the nature of good versus evil, but he doesn’t overly simplify the latter. First, Sauron, who forges the Rings of Power and becomes Middle-earth’s second dark lord, is written as a kind of darkness that exists — and persists — in the world no matter what. On the other hand, Saruman has been corrupted — twisted by wickedness. Each antagonist’s tower reflects their own villainy: Orthanc predated Saruman and wasn’t always associated with evil, while darkness birthed Barad-Dûr.
News
Adele Announces Indefinite Break From Music: “I Will Not See You For An Incredibly Long Time”
Adele has revealed she is ready to step out of the spotlight and take a well-deserved break. After an impressive run of live performances, the beloved British songstress is preparing to hit pause on her music career for a while. During…
Johnny Depp’s New Pearly Whites Shine In Video After His “Rotting” Teeth Went Viral
Johnny Depp seemed like he was living his best life while vacationing in the Bahamas, smiling and laughing away with customers and staffers at a beachside bar in Exuma. But it wasn’t just his laid-back island vibes that caught people’s attention: it was…
Queen Camilla Shares Rare Update On King Charles’ Health Amid Abdication Speculations
Amid rampant speculation about King Charles III’s health and possible abdication, Queen Camilla offered a rare comment on her husband’s well-being. The 77-year-old queen shared the update during her visit to the new state-of-the-art Dyson Cancer Center at the Royal United Hospital in…
Katy Perry Reveals Orlando Bloom Split Up With Her Because He Didn’t Want To Play Her “Games”
“I would be dead without it,” Katy Perry said about a monumental shift in her life after she broke up with her current fiancé, Orlando Bloom. The separation, which took place in 2017, happened due to an incompatibility between the lifestyles of both…
Dave Bautista’s Weight-Loss Transformation Has Fans Concerned: “He Most Definitely Looks Sick”
Dave Bautista recently addressed his striking body transformation, which left some fans raising eyebrows over his leaner appearance. The 55-year-old former WWE superstar has come a long way since his days in the wrestling ring, where his massive frame made him a force to…
“Fine Taylor … You Win”: Elon Musk Offers To Impregnate Taylor Swift
Elon Musk, who always seems eager to expand his ever-growing family, proposed the idea of fatherhood to none other than Taylor Swift. The billionaire Tesla CEO offered to impregnate the pop star after she shared her thoughts on the U.S. presidential debate, which…
End of content
No more pages to load