The Hidden Secrets Behind LOTR's Two Towers

The Lord of the Rings is often referred to as a trilogy due to its three books and corresponding films, but in reality, it was intended to be published as a single novel. The books are divided into six parts for practical printing purposes. This decision proved beneficial to readers as it made the series more manageable. The titles of the three parts hold significant meaning to the story, with The Fellowship of the Ring highlighting the bond among the characters, The Return of the King signifying Aragorn's rightful return to power, and The Two Towers alluding to a crucial element of the story yet to be revealed.

What Are The Two Towers Called?

Tolkien's decision on which two towers the title of the book referred to was not an easy one. Despite being the creator of the title, he wavered on the answer for quite some time. This was due in part to the fact that he never intended for the work to be divided into three volumes, and also because he had difficulty deciding on a title for the middle book. At first, he considered three different combinations of towers, including Orthanc and Barad-dûr, Minas Tirith and Barad-dûr, and Orthanc and the tower of Cirith Ungol. However, in the end, he settled on the idea that the "two towers" actually referred to the Orthanc and Minas Morgul.

What Is The Significance of the Two Towers?

While the Orthanc plays a major role in The Two Towers as Saruman's stronghold and a key player in the story, Minas Morgul's significance may not be as immediately obvious. Once a city of Gondor, it was taken over by the Witch-king of Angmar and became his fortress. While it only appears in one scene in The Two Towers, it is where Frodo and Sam witness the Witch-king leading his armies to the Battle of Pelennor Fields. In the movie adaptations, its appearance was delayed until the third film due to the timeline of events. It may not be as prominent as other locations, but its history and role in the story are still significant.

The reason behind Tolkien's selection of Minas Morgul as the second titular tower remains a mystery, much like many of his unexplained decisions. Fans have suggested other towers such as Cirith Ungol or Barad-dûr that may have made more sense. However, Tolkien never fully explained why he settled on Minas Morgul, and it remains a topic of speculation among fans without a definitive answer.