The Conclusion And Continuation Of Roland's Quest For The Dark Tower **SPOILERS**

[Robert Gray]

Certainly true, but why does he start over right back in the Mohane desert? Why, after opening the door at the top of the tower, does he not find himself at the Battle of Jericho, or riding into Mejis as a boy with his memory wiped and just a feeling of "yawing" that he just shakes off. Ka, being a wheel, seems to be a perfect wheel in this series. The starting/ending point are the same in Roland's quest. Roland's memories of his journey up to the Mohane desert are intact, everything after that is up for grabs as far as who he draws or what path he takes to the tower, but he will always get there. His single minded dogged determination will see to it because the tower knows that if Roland ever fails in his quest, all the worlds fail with him.

I already gave my opinion on that. He starts there because THAT is where he fails, i.e. does not "stand and be true." He appears in the place shortly before the coach station wherein he met Jake. It is his sacrifice of Jake that damns him (in my opinion), assuring that his quest will continue even when he reaches the Tower. The top of the Tower is thus denied.

I cannot comment, because I do not think there is enough evidence one way or the other, on whether or not Roland's failure means the failure of the Tower. I tend to think Gan has many defenders and tools throughout the countless worlds. The Gunslinger is certainly one of the more important ones, but his failure (death prior to reaching the Tower) would not end all reality. If that idea were true we would have to assume the following:

1. The Gunslinger is Gan himself, an unknowing avatar set on the course of Ka and beyond it at the same time.
2. The Gunslinger is the Tower, i.e. a direct tool of Gan.

Neither of the above sound right to me. Roland is a man of destiny. He is a flawed protagonist of great importance, but some day the world will move on from him as well. If he were truly immortal, and unable to fail his suffering and/or victories and failures are meaningless. That would make Gan cruel and I simply don't see that.

Roland can fail in his quest or it isn't truly a quest. The problem is that Roland (and most people reading the book) see it as a quest for the Dark Tower. That is missing the forest for the trees. The horn is granted to Roland as a promise from Gan (or the Prim if you like) that things can be different. One does not make a liar out of Gan/God. This means I do not see the horn as some sort of important talisman or requirement to solve his quest so much as a token to ease a burdened soul being sent to the back of the line with the understanding, "you aren't ready yet but you are not damned and you might be ready one day."

[91rewoT]

GREAT thread!!! I've enjoyed reading everyone's opinions, agree with some, disagree with others, and wish I had something really enlightening to say...but all I've got is this:
Thank you, Sai King for hearing the call and sharing this story that we all love so much.

[ghost19]

1. The Gunslinger is Gan himself, an unknowing avatar set on the course of Ka and beyond it at the same time.
2. The Gunslinger is the Tower, i.e. a direct tool of Gan.


I don't think Roland is Gan, but an unknowing avatar of Gan? You bet he is. Roland is the balance to the forces arrayed against the tower, however far they are willing to go to topple the tower, he will go to oppose them. Does he know he is working for the tower? Who knows, he is too obsessed in his quest to know the difference. Would he go to the links he has gone to if he knew he was being used as its protector? I don't know. Perhaps that is one of the things he saw when he opened the final door.

[SleepingWarrior]

I'm a bit fuzzy on the details since I've been remiss on rereading the books as of late but to back up what Ghost said it was mentioned more than once that Gunslingers, Roland in particular, and their will were part of what held the beams, and thus the Tower itself, together as they were forces of the White.

If that is so Roland is doomed to repeat his task until there are other Gunslingers (forces of the White) either with him or there to take his place as guardians once he reaches the Tower. But through death (Jake, Eddie and Oy) and compassion (letting Susanna leave) he is left alone and thus the only guardian left to protect and reinforce the beams.

It has long been my belief that in addition to not letting Jake fall he must have Jake with him to pass the baton to so to speak. I believe this is reinforced by Jake dieing yet being 'redrawn' into Roland's world to fix the paradox (right word?) that was tearing both of their minds apart prior to Jake being 'redrawn'. What else would explain their duel breakdowns other than Roland and Jake being linked as 'father' and 'son' through Ka?

In the end Roland's redemption is linked to rebuilding the Line of the Eld and the order of Gunslingers to protect the Tower in his stead so he can finally reach his clearing at the end of the path without the risk of leaving the Tower unprotected.

Then again it could all just be a Sisyphean task where his quest for the Tower is his boulder to be rolled up the hill only to fall back to the bottom before it reaches the top. But somehow that idea just seems so damn empty that it simply cannot be in a just universe.

[ghost19]

The Universe be not just, as we find out in a lot of Mr. King's books. Ka is a wheel, and as we've all read, it can roll right over people no matter how well met they are or how strongly they stand.

[Bordillo]

The ending was a glaring contradiction, what was the point of reaching the dark tower in the first place? Why is he even on this quest?

[JohnDalglish]

The ending was a glaring contradiction, what was the point of reaching the dark tower in the first place? Why is he even on this quest?

Hi,

To teach you to appreciate the journey, and not just aim at the destination IMO.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Danpd66]

Wow, there are a lot of deep thoughts here! I am going to have to take some time to let all of these "conclusions" sink in!