Merry's story

Chapter 6 continues Pippin&s;s story, which then dovetails into Merry&s;s story. Pippin&s;s relationship with the bad, narcissistic ‘father&s;, Denethor, contrasts with Merry&s;s relationship with the good, related ‘father&s;, King Théoden. Merry is interpreted to symbolise Frodo&s;s split-off dependency and corresponding sense of exclusion, particularly in relation to the father, Théoden, which ultimately allows for the resolution of the Oedipus situation. The narrative building to the siege of Gondor is tracked, with Aragorn revitalising the dead objects of the Army of the Dead, and Éowyn presenting as the ‘penis-in-the-breast&s;; that is, the masculine aspect of the mother, observable in the early phases of the Oedipus situation in the depressive position.