It's a matter of perspective. Saying that Roland regained (some of) his humanity does not equal saying that he became more virtuous or more noble or that he did the objectively right thing. It only means that he acquired or got back a quality that is important to us. Who's to judge what's more selfish: betray someone who loves you and who you love, or betray a greater purpose?
If you are going through hell - keep going
*Skirting around the discussions of virtue and perspective and going back to the Original Question*:
I don't see Roland's letting the guards go as motivated by mercy even if its a merciful act. I agree with the previous posters that argued that Roland is simply too exhausted and heartsore to care about them and knows that Thunderclap will kill them all anyway. I find it hard to believe Roland's feelings on Low Men would have changed so much in two days. Remember Roland's actions a few days before when the ka-tet reuinites behind the Fedic Door? Then Roland deliberately *goes out of his way* to gun down the low men who chased Jake from the Dixie Pig. The guards are really beneath Roland's notice at this point in Algul Siento.
Good idea. That's very diplomatically stated. There's certainly much in favor of what you guys are saying.
Maybe we should consider even more comparable instances to get perspective on this decision. Like, why did Roland let the breakers go? Again, I don't think that he's generally so very unforgiving.
There are two other instances (in the series, not counting the Little Sisters of Eluria) with Roland displaying a similar mercy: In Lud, he doesn't shoot Tilly (one of the Grays) when she begs him not too and in the Calla he doesn't kill Slightman, mainly because Jake implores him not to.Maybe we should consider even more comparable instances to get perspective on this decision. Like, why did Roland let the breakers go? Again, I don't think that he's generally so very unforgiving.