The Tower

Well, here I am, out of school and finding the urge to blog. I had doubts that this day would come, but, alas, I feel like writing again. I figured I would continue to write in a similar fashion. Any future blogs will mainly be about my current readings, symbolism in those readings, and poems that strike my interest. (What can I say, I do love poetry.) So, the question is, what have I been reading? Since out of school, I have had the luxury of reading whatever I want. It's quite nice. I recently have been involved in a long series of novels by Steven King called The Dark Tower. Yes, for all you high-brow people out there, I am thoroughly enjoying a Steven King novel. This series includes 7 books total and is based off of a few epic tales. King reveals that, for this book, he has been influenced by the poem Child Roland to the Dark Tower Came and Tolken's Lord of the Rings.



I've decided, enough with the summary. Let's move on to the things that interest me. First and fore-most, the tower.



A tower is a very historical and complicated symbol in literature. You have the Christian outlook, where a tower is a fortress. It was a belief that a tower could be built to heaven. There is a belief that. if built high enough, it would put you closer to God.



There is a tower Tarot card. Its meaning is destruction and disruption, an ill omen, or a sudden change.





A tower is also used as a metaphor for an epiphany. It can be seen as a revelation or an eternal answer for its characters.





I have no doubt that King was well aware of the major symbols a tower holds, him and a long list of authors before him. I mentioned earlier his 2 major influences, they both hold the tower as a core symbol in their stories.


Facts:


-King uses the tower as an unattainable landmark, thus the Tower of Babylon.


-The tower has the ultimate power of destruction, it is the center piece that holds all worlds together and it's in danger of crumbling. Here is the Tarot Card.


-And, there is one instance where 3 of the characters receive a small glimpse of the tower and during this time they have a enormous revelation that they must continue their quest or all worlds will fall. This is one of the many instances the tower acts as an epiphany.





Well, I think this is enough for one day.