I don't think Frodo was expressing pity at that point. What he did was offer mercy, in hope of redemption. By doing so he claims a position of great moral power. He claims the right of judgement, which he chooses not to exercise.
Wise, and cruel, to show that one once accounted great is is now so far beneath him that nothing Saruman could do, even attempt his murder, could bring him back down to Saruman's moral level. He forgave Saruman his attempt. Forgiveness is for oneself, as much as the other; it is to cease to allow that person to have a hold over you. Cruel, to show Saruman how utterly powerless he was.
As an aside, I still can't wrap my mind around that thread commentator you quoted, about Bin Laden. They are not speaking of pity, even in the negative, shadenfreude way that Tolkien was writing about. Do they mean attempting to gain understanding? Or empathy?
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Date: 2004-04-04 10:17 pm (UTC)Wise, and cruel, to show that one once accounted great is is now so far beneath him that nothing Saruman could do, even attempt his murder, could bring him back down to Saruman's moral level. He forgave Saruman his attempt. Forgiveness is for oneself, as much as the other; it is to cease to allow that person to have a hold over you. Cruel, to show Saruman how utterly powerless he was.
As an aside, I still can't wrap my mind around that thread commentator you quoted, about Bin Laden. They are not speaking of pity, even in the negative, shadenfreude way that Tolkien was writing about. Do they mean attempting to gain understanding? Or empathy?
Leshii