To me the underlying theme of the first chronicles is the alienation and/or separation of the individual from society, and how the individual reacts to that (along with issues and themes about guilt, personal redemption, and personal responsibility). How this applies to Thomas Covenant himself is obvious. But consider how many other important characters become alienated or torn away from their support groups/peoples. Trell has become quite apart from his people in TPTP. Mhoram has enforced a painful self isolation from his fellow lords, and faces his ultimate test more or less alone. Bannor and Saltheart Foamfollower have also been separated from their respective peoples. The way these isolated characters rise or fall when they face their tests in TPTP is the heart of the three books.
In the second chrons, the spotlight turns to couples. Thomas Covenant and Linden Avery - the Land cannot be saved by just one person anymore - it takes the special gifts of two. Sunder and Hollian - when you pay close attention they each aid the other when they use their power, and achieve much more as a result than they each could alone (including the breaking of the Law of Life). The Search would fail if not for the leadership of the First and the heart of Pitchwife. And there would be no new Staff of law without the contributions of both Vain and Findail (that most unlikely and astonishing couple of all!)
Rereading Runes this week was a revelation for me. The whole thing and all of the characters are defined by their family relationships. the Covenants. Linden and Jeremiah, who is defined both by Linden and by his highly dysfunctional birth family. The Ramen Cords who accompany Linden are family to each other. The family legacy of Anele. Elena is described by her family and her upbringing in the horserite chapter. Esmer and his family background. Stave appealing to the haruchai in the Revelstone chaper as KINSMEN! The way the very gutrock of the Close at Revelstone speaking of fathers and their children...relationships between parents and children - and families in general comes up again and again and again. it is my belief that this is no accident...
I thought I would save this one, too. I will , obviously, never post it at Kevin's watch, the Donaldson discussion board, as my thoughts are not welcome there. But I did post a version of it at Amazon.
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