The Sinister Manipulations of Gríma: Unveiling the True Extent of His Power over Théoden in LOTR

Highlights

Théoden's decline and senility in The Lord of the Rings were caused by the spells of Saruman, but Gríma also played a role in weakening the king.

As a spy for Saruman, Gríma cunningly exploited his role as Théoden's advisor to undermine the king's authority and weaken his abilities as a ruler, resulting in dire consequences for Rohan.

In The Lord of the Rings, the initial appearance of Théoden, the King of Rohan, portrayed him as frail and feeble. Although his speech was still somewhat coherent in the book, the film depicted him as almost senile. The specific cause of his condition is not fully explained, with J.R.R. Tolkien merely mentioning in Appendix A that Théoden "succumbed under the influence of Saruman's sorcery, but was later healed by Gandalf". Nevertheless, it is evident that Gríma, Théoden's trusted advisor, also had a significant impact on the king's state.

Gríma, also known as Wormtongue, serves as a secondary antagonist in The Lord of the Rings. Described as a withered man with a pale and cunning face, he exploited his position to aid Saruman in his plans to conquer Rohan. However, if Saruman was the one responsible for casting the spell, what role did Gríma play in the downfall of the ailing king?

What Did Gríma Do to Théoden?

Little is known about the early life of Gríma, son of Gálmód, before his involvement with Théoden's court. Despite being a member of the Rohan people, Gríma aligned himself with Saruman and secretly worked as a spy in Edoras. The exact circumstances of how he rose to become the king's chief advisor remain unclear, but his position allowed him to undermine the strength of the Rohirrim, ultimately aiding Saruman's plan to seize control. In exchange for his betrayal, Saruman promised Gríma power, wealth, and the opportunity to marry Théoden's niece, Éowyn, whom Gríma greatly desired.

As the years passed, Théoden's health deteriorated, leaving him powerless by the year TA 3014, just a few years before the War of the Ring. Both his physical and mental state seemed to prematurely wither away. While it was Saruman who cast spells to weaken the ailing king, Gríma also played a significant role in Théoden's decline. Saruman's main objective was to make Rohan susceptible to future attacks while he prepared his army, and for this, he needed a spy who could report on developments and diminish Théoden's capabilities as a ruler. Additionally, during this time, Saruman was secretly aligned with Sauron. Therefore, if Théoden suddenly showed signs of a magically-induced illness, it would have raised suspicions about the wizard, especially since he resided nearby. As a result, Saruman likely deemed it necessary to find someone else who could shoulder the blame.

Gríma's undeniable influence over Théoden raised suspicions among the people. According to Tolkien's Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, Théoden's weakness and dependency on Gríma may have been due to natural causes, but it is likely that subtle poisons administered by Gríma played a role. Gríma preyed on Théoden's fears, sowing doubt among his own men through lies and persuasion. When Théodred and Éomer challenged Saruman's plans, Gríma manipulated Théoden to prevent them from taking action against the Orcs and Dunlendings. He even attempted to create discord between them. Failing in this, he convinced Théoden that Théodred was unfit to rule and that Éomer had selfish motives. Although Théodred was fatally wounded in battle, the film suggests that Gríma may have had a hand in his death. Furthermore, when Éomer informed Théoden of his encounter with Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas in Rohan, Gríma manipulated Théoden into ordering his arrest.

Did Théoden Spare Gríma?

According to Gandalf, Théoden fell victim to the insidious whisperings of Wormtongue, which tainted his thoughts, cooled his heart, and sapped his strength, leaving others powerless to intervene due to the hold he had over Théoden's will.

Despite Gríma’s efforts to block Gandalf the White's entrance, the wizard and his companions arrived at Edoras in TA 3019. By wielding his staff, Gandalf successfully restored Théoden to his former self, causing a flash akin to lightning tearing through the roof. Later, numerous treasured belongings, including Théoden's sword, Herugrim, were discovered in Gríma's trunk, revealing that he had pilfered several valuable items from the House of Eorl and even sent some to Saruman.

After discovering Gríma's deceit, Théoden presented him with an ultimatum: either he could demonstrate his loyalty by fighting against Saruman's forces in battle, or he could depart. Gríma chose the latter path, while Théoden and his people journeyed to the fortified Hornburg. In the film, Théoden is on the verge of killing Gríma ("Your sorcery would have reduced me to crawling like a beast on all fours!") but Aragorn intercedes, urging Théoden to release him, stating that "enough blood has been spilled because of him."

Gríma fled to Isengard, where he eventually found himself captured and held in captivity by the Ents, alongside Saruman at Orthanc. Following the destruction of the One Ring, Gríma followed Saruman to the Shire, where Saruman sought vengeance against the Hobbits. Ultimately, the Scouring of the Shire culminated in Gríma murdering his abusive master before being felled by arrows fired by the Hobbits.