This week we discuss book 3, chapter 10, "The Voice of Saruman", from The Two Towers.

Conversation Topics:

Understanding the power and magic of Saruman's voice

Gandalf's diplomatic showdown with Saruman at Isengard

The role of manipulation and perception in Tolkien's world

The complexity of Gandalf’s character and his strategic restraint

Pippin's unexpected growth and relevance in the chaos

The literary symbolism of Saruman's downfall and loss of power

Deep dives into Tolkien’s language choices, including "hewed" and "gibbet"

Tolkien's narrative style and use of language in fantasy storytelling

The significance of the Ents and Treebeard's plan for Isengard

Foretelling themes of pride, power, and their consequences

Timestamps:

00:00 - Saruman’s chapter opening, humor with Wormtongue and Old Greg

01:05 - Celebrating the perfect chapter name, "The Voice of Saruman"

01:26 - Saruman’s voice as the epic focus, a new and surprising turn

02:22 - Recap of the previous episode and the fellowship’s journey

03:05 - Explanation of "penultimate" and childhood stories about words

06:11 - Saruman’s deceitful parlay, Gandalf’s warnings, and comparisons to modern politics08:05 - The subtlety of Saruman’s power and his magical influence

10:23 - Gaslighting and psychological manipulation as Saruman’s weapon

15:20 - Saruman’s kindergarten teacher tone with Gimli and the mockery of authority

17:00 - Theoden’s resilience and refusal to buy into Saruman’s lies

28:26 - Saruman’s furious rejection, Gandalf’s final blow, and the staff explosion

30:47 - Gandalf’s ultimatum and Saruman’s rage, the tower’s chain reaction

34:00 - The destruction of Saruman’s staff and the fall into chaos

40:04 - The endless patience of the trees, Saruman’s fate sealed

44:26 - Pippin’s growth, humor, and chaos-making in the chaos

56:32 - Gandalf and Saruman’s contrasting powers of influence

1:04:44 - The significance of Gandalf’s staff and its mythic origins

1:12:40 - Food for Thought: The Sweet and Sour Voice of Saruman

1:17:12 - Teasing the next chapter: "The Palantír"

Today's "Food For Thought": The Sweet and Sour Voice of Saruman

We finally heard Saruman's powers of persuasion, and he always started out sweet but couldn't stifle his true feelings. This week's treat asks the question: Is Saruman sweet & sour, or sweet & salty?

No recipe- just set up a plate with an assortment of sweet & salty and sweet & sour treats. I used:

-chocolate

-covered pretzels

-sour patch kids

-glazed salted nuts