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The Room at the Top of the Tower
Personally, I loved the ending of the Dark Tower. I was amazed to see the focus of the entire series shift from Roland and the Ka-tet trying to save the tower, the rose, the writer (and of course, everything else), to the manner in which Roland does these things. And since he has taken on the quest for the tower at least a few times before (and probably has one or two more trips to go), I'm just wondering if Stephen King has said anything about these previous or upcoming journeys to the dark tower. I wonder if King has imagined -however vaguely- Roland's ealier attempts, or maybe even the end Roland meets when he finally approaches the tower with the Horn of Eld and is found worthy to enter the room at the top (if that is actually possible). Some people might disagree, but what I got from the books was that Roland is questing for God (although what sort of God is in need of the help of his creations to save Him from being destroyed I don't know).. So if you're of the same mind on that, is it really possible to gain access to God by our actions? Most religions say yes. Christians say no, that you need an act of redemption from outside of oneself. Again King leaves it open to interpretation, because the magical appearance of the Horn could've been just that. Either way, I think with the Hindu diety Gan's presence in the series, it's very interesting that Roland's curse for failing his quest is kind of a reincarnation of sorts (Hindu Hell). But the clearing at the end of the path seems a bit more like a Christian notion of heaven than Hinduism's faceless union of souls with the prim (to put it in Tower-talk). Regardless, the whole thing is pretty amazing. I had a smoke alone after finishing the Dark Tower at 6 am (I finished after reading all night) and all I could say was, "wow."
Comments
I'm not sure I see Roland's getting caught in this big time-loop as punishment, though. The only thing I can imagine his being punished for is his thinking then end---"the Good, the bloody Good"---justifying the means---things like blowing away the people in Tull. If we're being pusished as a nation by repeating Korea and Vietnam again because our leaders believe the end justifies the means, then Roland might conceivably be punished for making the same philosophical mistake. Maybe it really IS about "noting the sparrow's fall" rather then the Big Picture, and acting accordingly.
...Or maybe it's just his ka.
Ka is a wheel....
Does he even know that it started over again? Where does his memorys start and stop? Does he remember Eddie, Jake and Suze or is all that whiped from his memory?
I will be honest I was not a big fan of the ending but that still dont change my love for the story. The ending just made all that build up seem a little cheap.
I know I am probally in the minority here but I am being honest. I still love the story and still read the books over and over. I listen to the audio CD's constantly on my I-POD over and over again.
I guess I was just looking for more substance in the ending not so much guessing. It just almost seemed like nothing really happened. Nothing really changes. Roland does his trip again Eddie, Suze and Jake all chill together is some weird way where they dont know each other but then they sort of do.
Nothing was really acomplished. I know this is a bad way to look at it but I cant help it.
Oh well. I still love it.
I guess the substance would be in the reader's interpretation - for me the ending/beginning and the wheel that joins them is substantial because from a perspective of a spiritual journey, alot was accomplished in Roland's incarnation, as written by King...it's nice to wonder what might happen on the next turn round...
Roland also finds his purpose as outlined in the conversation with the Dark Tower (GOD?) - he is just meant to be. A force for good around which alot of other things rotates.
It was sad the ending, and but there is also a sense of hope...and how can we say we too begin or end...
To paraphrase Different Seasons: "Hope Springs Eternal"
First off, I used to be on this board all the time as Darth Pookie. For some reason I can't get my password sent to my old e-mail address.
Okay, now onto this issue: I don't think that there would be anything wrong with Roland just wanting to have a conversation with Gan, but, as you have said, Bev, for Roland to presume that he can comprehend creation itself is just the wrong thing for him to do.