From yesterday's post, we can summarize Frodo and his pals in one statement from Merry partially through the chapter, "We know most of what Gandalf told you, we know a good deal about the Ring. We are terribly afraid - but we are coming with you; or following you like hounds."
A Hobbit, or anyone, could do much worse in life than having friends such as these.
However, there is a member of this group that gets very little love and attention, mostly due to the lesser role he plays later in the story, and also his absence from the Peter Jackson films.
Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger is a close friend of Frodo, Merry, and Pippen and is sent ahead to prep the Crickhollow home with Merry. During the unmasking of the conspiracy, Fatty is just as supportive and as aware of what is going on, but hesitates a bit when it comes to the next steps. He balks at going through the Old Forest and instead decides to stay behind and cover their trail.
Alright, first, let's understand that this comes AFTER the large discussion about the immense danger of the Ring, the Enemy, and the fact that the Riders are hot on their trail. Secondly, this says quite a bit about the mystery and fright of the Old Forest which we will be seeing in more detail next chapter.
Fatty is exceptionally brave, although more unrecognized, because of his role in staying behind and telling everyone that Frodo is still there knowing that it will bring attention, probably of the unwanted variety. He also is a great foil to the other Hobbits. Fatty grew up with them, hearing the same stories and desiring the same "adventure", yet Tolkien writes that he is not quite ready to leave the Shire.
Despite lacking the desire to leave the Shire, his actions are unquestionably brave, but how is he rewarded? We'll see in the "Scouring of the Shire" at the end of Return of the King but here's a spoiler (Merry and Pippen receive praise and glory and Fatty is trapped in prison for the duration of the war).
Not all heroes are rewarded commensurate to their actions.
Showing posts with label Fellowship of the Rings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fellowship of the Rings. Show all posts
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Chapter 5: A Conspiracy Unmasked Pt 1
In Chapter 5, the party finally makes it to Buckland, the strangest place in all the Shire (even more strange than Bag End!)
Tolkien opens this chapter discussing Hobbit lineage and the founding of Buckland. Seperated from the rest of the Shire by the Brandywine River, Buckland was founded by Gorhendad Oldbuck, who crossed the river to found his own independent colony of sorts. Over the years, this colony grew and spread, becoming several villages, with the Oldbuck family (now called the Brandybucks) ruling as Masters of Buckland from Brandy Hall.
The Bucklanders are not like Hobbits we've encountered before. These Hobbits are frontiersmen. At the far eastern edge of the Shire, they are separated from kin by a wide river with few crossings and pressed closely by the Old Forest on the other side, an ominous place even for the families who've spent centuries there. They swim in the river, are skilled in the use of boats and even *gasp* lock their doors at night (which is very unusual in the Shire).
They are the symbolic crossroads between the Shire and the outside world and it's important to remember that Frodo grew up here. His identity as half-Brandbuck and half-Baggins gives him a lineage of adventure and is a combination that only further illustrates how odd proper Hobbits must have thought him. He was cast from a different mold than other Hobbits explicitly to play a role in this story.
But Frodo isn't the only member of the Brandybuck family we are meeting. Chapter 5 is the first time we really get to meet Meriadoc Brandybuck and see who he is, and, boy, is it sure different than the movie.
In the films, Merry and Pippen are comedic relief with spurts of courage (Merry probably moreso than Pippen). The books aren't real keen on the "comedic relief" aspect of this, but I understand that it makes the film more, well, like a film should be. Regardless, it requires us to take a thorough examination of Merry and toss away any notion we have about his character.
Merry is, in my mind, the smartest of Frodo's friends, and likely his closest one as well. Whenever there is internal conflict throughout the series, it's Merry who knows Frodo's thoughts and Merry who is the one trying to bring things together. And he should be! He is the heir to Buckland and the closest thing to nobility that Hobbits have (except for, you know, his friend Pippen who is heir to the most prominent military title, and Frodo who is the wealthiest of Hobbits)
Not only is Merry intelligent and a natural leader, he is much bolder than portrayed cinematically. When Frodo, Pippen, and Sam arrive at Crickhollow, Merry says "I guess that you have been having adventures which was not quite fair without me".
A Hobbit jealous of adventure? DOES ANYONE EVEN REMEMBER ANYTHING WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT HOBBITS SO FAR? This is really an important line and worth remembering about Merry.
Sure, Merry is a smart, charismatic leader, but why is he going to these great lengths? Why is he jealous of adventure? Surely, this is akin to those scenes early in a war movie where the 18 year old boy from Iowa is talking tough about going out and doing great things which contrasts severely with the actual experience. Surely, this is to show Hobbit naivete and frame the rest of the work.
That's probably true, to a small extent. However, once at Crickhollow, we are let in on a little secret, one which further defines these Hobbits as something exceptional.
Merry, Pippen, and Sam (and Fredegar and Folco!) have known about the Ring and the plans to leave the whole time!
The night before Frodo and Sam are supposed to leave, while eating at his new home in Crickhollow, Frodo is waxing on about not knowing how to say something and seems very distracted by his imminent departure from the world he knows. Merry drops some truth bombs on Frodo. He bluntly announces that they know he meant to leave and just doesn't know how to do it. Additionally, he explains that they have made preparations of their own to join him. This is not a spur of the moment decision, having been very carefully planned by all group members prior to this.
They are very close friends and although Frodo seemed to do a good job keeping it secret, they knew. It's what friends do.
Pt 1 of 2
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| Map Credit: Encyclopedia of Arda (which you can download on iPhone or iPad to access Tolkien encyclopedia offline!) Hobbits path painted in by myself. |
Tolkien opens this chapter discussing Hobbit lineage and the founding of Buckland. Seperated from the rest of the Shire by the Brandywine River, Buckland was founded by Gorhendad Oldbuck, who crossed the river to found his own independent colony of sorts. Over the years, this colony grew and spread, becoming several villages, with the Oldbuck family (now called the Brandybucks) ruling as Masters of Buckland from Brandy Hall.
The Bucklanders are not like Hobbits we've encountered before. These Hobbits are frontiersmen. At the far eastern edge of the Shire, they are separated from kin by a wide river with few crossings and pressed closely by the Old Forest on the other side, an ominous place even for the families who've spent centuries there. They swim in the river, are skilled in the use of boats and even *gasp* lock their doors at night (which is very unusual in the Shire).
They are the symbolic crossroads between the Shire and the outside world and it's important to remember that Frodo grew up here. His identity as half-Brandbuck and half-Baggins gives him a lineage of adventure and is a combination that only further illustrates how odd proper Hobbits must have thought him. He was cast from a different mold than other Hobbits explicitly to play a role in this story.
But Frodo isn't the only member of the Brandybuck family we are meeting. Chapter 5 is the first time we really get to meet Meriadoc Brandybuck and see who he is, and, boy, is it sure different than the movie.
Merry Brandybuck
In the films, Merry and Pippen are comedic relief with spurts of courage (Merry probably moreso than Pippen). The books aren't real keen on the "comedic relief" aspect of this, but I understand that it makes the film more, well, like a film should be. Regardless, it requires us to take a thorough examination of Merry and toss away any notion we have about his character.
Merry is, in my mind, the smartest of Frodo's friends, and likely his closest one as well. Whenever there is internal conflict throughout the series, it's Merry who knows Frodo's thoughts and Merry who is the one trying to bring things together. And he should be! He is the heir to Buckland and the closest thing to nobility that Hobbits have (except for, you know, his friend Pippen who is heir to the most prominent military title, and Frodo who is the wealthiest of Hobbits)
Not only is Merry intelligent and a natural leader, he is much bolder than portrayed cinematically. When Frodo, Pippen, and Sam arrive at Crickhollow, Merry says "I guess that you have been having adventures which was not quite fair without me".
A Hobbit jealous of adventure? DOES ANYONE EVEN REMEMBER ANYTHING WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT HOBBITS SO FAR? This is really an important line and worth remembering about Merry.
But Why?
That's probably true, to a small extent. However, once at Crickhollow, we are let in on a little secret, one which further defines these Hobbits as something exceptional.
Merry, Pippen, and Sam (and Fredegar and Folco!) have known about the Ring and the plans to leave the whole time!
Truth-Bombs!
The night before Frodo and Sam are supposed to leave, while eating at his new home in Crickhollow, Frodo is waxing on about not knowing how to say something and seems very distracted by his imminent departure from the world he knows. Merry drops some truth bombs on Frodo. He bluntly announces that they know he meant to leave and just doesn't know how to do it. Additionally, he explains that they have made preparations of their own to join him. This is not a spur of the moment decision, having been very carefully planned by all group members prior to this.
They are very close friends and although Frodo seemed to do a good job keeping it secret, they knew. It's what friends do.
But How?
Before Frodo can protest about how dangerous it could be, Merry explains that they know all about the Ring, and that they will be facing the Enemy. Merry had KNOWN something was up very early on, and with Pippen, enlisted Sam as their chief spy on the plans of Frodo. The Hobbits know how grim and terrible the trip will be (as much as they can know, I suppose) because they know everything that Gandalf has shared with Frodo. This, of course, begs the question of did Gandalf know that they were spying on Frodo's plans? My bet is on of course he did and it was probably part of his plan but that's conjecture and we should discuss that in the comments!
Frodo is a bit peeved at Sam (understandably) but Merry jumps in to defend him, "Sam is an excellent fellow and would jump down a dragon's throat to save you". Or, you know, run into a tower of orcs or a gigantic spiders cave, or into an erupting volcano, etc. This is pretty high praise to someone who was no more than Frodo's gardener a few months back.
Frodo protests a bit more, lamenting that he cannot trust anyone, and once again, Merry has a response and its one of my favorite passages in the entire series so I'm block quoting it.
"You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin - to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours - closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face your troubles alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends Frodo. "
Boom. Truth bombs on Frodo.
The group saddles up the next morning on a group of ponies well stocked with provisions by, you guessed it, Merry and Fredegar, and set out into the Old Forest to avoid the main road and the Riders. Everyone really has an ominous sense of the Old Forest, even the brave Tooks and the wild frontiersman Brandybucks. Guess who already has a plan formulated and mapped out and leads the way into the dark?
Merry Brandybuck.
Pt 1 of 2
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Chapter 4: Shortcut to Mushrooms
Chapter 4 is a quick read of a chapter, nestled in between the refreshing evening with the Elves and before Frodo and company makes it to Buckleberry Ferry and their "freedom". This is a bit shorter of a post and I wanted to introduce an important theme of the entire series that makes an early appearance here: the power of voice.
The next morning after the party with the Elves, Pippen is in an extraordinarily good mood considering the circumstances. He had a rather strange day what with Dark Riders and a full day of walking and hasn't slept in a proper bed in several nights. Why, he doesn't even have beer, a fact he bemoans in Chapter 4. Granted, Pippen knows much less about whats going on and the true danger than Frodo and Sam, but his cheer is a strong contrast to Frodo who wakes up troubled and concerned.
This marks the first time that Frodo tries to get his friends to leave him.
Sam seems to understand what Frodo is trying to get at and rejects him firmly. He relays an interesting exchange with the Elves from the night before.
The power of voice is a strong theme in old Norse mythology and Tolkien uses his research in that area to tie in these traditional elements. It's pretty similar to Skyrim where the Nord characters revere those who can use the Dragon Shouts, essentially, those who can command the world with their voice. This is an old Nordic trope and Tolkien hits it throughout the series.
Oaths, and promises, are of a similar vein and it's important to take note when they are made, by whom, and how they are kept.
Another important piece of this conversation is how Sam comments that he doesn't really have an interest in seeing Elves, Dragons, or Mountains anymore. He wants to continue because he feels like he must. He claims that he feels a sense of duty and there is something that he needs to do before the end. A pretty solid turnaround from the starry eyed boy from a chapter ago. Remember, Sam is a young-guy still. Late teens in terms of human development while Frodo is probably closer to early 30's in this regard. Important to keep in mind.
Tolkien's choice of language and writing style varies throughout the book. In these early chapters, its more casual. He drops parenthetical asides referencing whats really going on such as "Sam claimed his pack was too light (it wasn't)." which is a feature not really seen in later chapters. In Chapter 3, he even writes a paragraph of the inner monologue of a fox who happened to be walking by. In generally, it feels like a children's book that is growing darker and darker with each chapter, which I think is by design.
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| Leaving the Shire by Ted Nasmith |
The next morning after the party with the Elves, Pippen is in an extraordinarily good mood considering the circumstances. He had a rather strange day what with Dark Riders and a full day of walking and hasn't slept in a proper bed in several nights. Why, he doesn't even have beer, a fact he bemoans in Chapter 4. Granted, Pippen knows much less about whats going on and the true danger than Frodo and Sam, but his cheer is a strong contrast to Frodo who wakes up troubled and concerned.
This marks the first time that Frodo tries to get his friends to leave him.
Sam seems to understand what Frodo is trying to get at and rejects him firmly. He relays an interesting exchange with the Elves from the night before.
" 'Don't you leave him!' they said to me, 'Leave him!' I said, 'I never mean to. I am going with him, if he climbs to the Moon and if any of those black riders try to stop him, they'll have Sam Gamgee to reckon with!' "First, this is important because it is one of the earlier instances of "oaths" or promises making their appearance. Words are very powerful in Tolkien's world (which makes sense, being a linguist and language scholar and all) and spoken words can carry weight of their own. Think Gandalf speaking to bring down the Chamber of Mazarbul in Moria, or Grima Wormtongue using his voice to manipulate the King. It's not simple political persuasion, it's actual control.
The power of voice is a strong theme in old Norse mythology and Tolkien uses his research in that area to tie in these traditional elements. It's pretty similar to Skyrim where the Nord characters revere those who can use the Dragon Shouts, essentially, those who can command the world with their voice. This is an old Nordic trope and Tolkien hits it throughout the series.
Oaths, and promises, are of a similar vein and it's important to take note when they are made, by whom, and how they are kept.
Another important piece of this conversation is how Sam comments that he doesn't really have an interest in seeing Elves, Dragons, or Mountains anymore. He wants to continue because he feels like he must. He claims that he feels a sense of duty and there is something that he needs to do before the end. A pretty solid turnaround from the starry eyed boy from a chapter ago. Remember, Sam is a young-guy still. Late teens in terms of human development while Frodo is probably closer to early 30's in this regard. Important to keep in mind.
Tolkien's choice of language and writing style varies throughout the book. In these early chapters, its more casual. He drops parenthetical asides referencing whats really going on such as "Sam claimed his pack was too light (it wasn't)." which is a feature not really seen in later chapters. In Chapter 3, he even writes a paragraph of the inner monologue of a fox who happened to be walking by. In generally, it feels like a children's book that is growing darker and darker with each chapter, which I think is by design.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Chapter 3: Three is Company
In this chapter, Frodo, Sam, and Pippen set off to Buckland to move Frodo into his new home on the far eastern edge of the Shire.
This is the first real leg of the trip, even if it is mostly across rolling hills and gentle thickets, and we get our first taste of how the Hobbits will react to the road.
The chapter is broken into three distinct segments and I'll format this post in much the same way.
This is the first real leg of the trip, even if it is mostly across rolling hills and gentle thickets, and we get our first taste of how the Hobbits will react to the road.
The chapter is broken into three distinct segments and I'll format this post in much the same way.
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| Last Sight of Hobbiton by Ted Naismith |
Preparing to Leave
Unlike the Peter Jackson films, Frodo takes his sweet time leaving the Shire after Gandalf comes by talking about how the Ring is, well, the Ring. Spring rolls into summer, and summer becomes fall, and Frodo drags his feet commenting that his home felt more comfortable and desirable than ever. This is a nice contrast with his initial energy in rushing off after Bilbo and starting his own adventure. Eventually, Frodo is convinced to leave after his birthday in the autumn.
In an additional wild bit of Hobbit gossip, Frodo sells Bag End to the Sackville-Baggins, causing quite a stir among the respectable Hobbits of the Shire. This seems to be a specialty with the Baggins of Bag End.
Frodo, Pippen, Merry, Folco, and Fredegar spend several days packing and shipping off his belongings to a new house in Buckland where he decided to "move away to". Only Sam knows the real reason for the trip (and Sam still isn't invited to spend time with the group of friends...) Folco and Fredegar head out a few days early and Merry escorts the last of the wagons to Buckland to help set up Frodo's house before he arrives.
On the eve of the departure, Frodo has an encounter with The Enemy. Not the Ring, but one of the most powerful servants of Sauron, a Nazgul. As Frodo stretches on his front stoop, he hears old Gaffer speaking in an oddly shrill voice about how Mr. Frodo went away to Buckleberry. Thinking nothing of it, Frodo, Sam, and Pippen take off into the early evening, crossing through the fields and hedges.
On the Road
I think this is an incredibly interesting section and really sets the tone for how the rest of the journey will pan out.
The first lines of dialogue on the trek come from Frodo bemoaning how heavy his pack is.
The second line? Sam offering to take some of Frodo's weight because his own is much too light (Tolkien explains that Sam is not being truthful).
Bam! Right there from the start we see EXACTLY how their relationship will look. The more I re-read, the more impressed I become with Sam. The youngest son of a poor gardener, servant of nobility of the Shire, who listened wide-eyed at tales of wonder and elves, becomes the strongest hero of the books (yes, over even Aragorn and Frodo). He knows that his own pack is heavier than Frodo's (because he packed it that way) but still is willing to give more.
The second major bit of action comes the second day of the adventure when Frodo, Sam, and Pippen are overcome with a sudden urge to get off the road and hide. A few moments later, Frodo, peeking through the weeds, sees the Dark Rider himself, sniffing the air for a scent.
The Hobbits don't know yet what this is or what it represents but Frodo already has a strong feeling of dread. He knows that he is safe and hidden, yet the Ring feels so tempting in his pocket. He doesn't know that the Rider would be able to see him then. All he knows is that the Ring makes him invisible, yet he resists?
Well, he doesn't really resist. He is going for the Ring and the Rider leaves. How disastrous would that have been? Frodo, 1.5 days out of Bag End and not yet to Buckland, loses the Ring to a Nazgul who spirits it away to Mordor. Pretty short trip.
Fortunately, the Rider got impatient first. But the pull of the Ring casts Frodo's reluctance to leave Bag End in a different light. Could it be the Ring that was making him think of how great the Shire was and how cozy it felt? Or was it his inner Hobbit finally coming out? I'll wager its a bit of both.
The Elves
After this encounter, Frodo, Sam and Pippen run into the Rider again. This time, they are saved by the timely sound of singing Elves which drives the the Nazgul away. That's 2 for 2 with lucky escapes from the Riders.
The Elves recognize Frodo as a friend of Bilbo's and hail the Hobbits. (This has been a particularly unusual day for Pippen especially. Black Riders, Elves?)
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| Elves in the Woody End by Ted Naismith |
History Lesson!
These are not just any Elves though! These are Noldor, high elves, the most powerful of the Elvish races! Their leader is Gildor Inglorion of the House of Finrod. Now, this likely means that he is of the House of Finrod who was a brother to Feanor, the greatest of the Elves. However, being "of the House" can mean no more than being a knight or minor noble, so it is unlikely our friend Gildor is very significant in the grand scheme of Elvish power.
Still though, he claims to lead this band of "Exiles" which is an interesting point in Elvish history. Back in the 1st Age, Finrod (whose name is really Finarfin but that didn't clear up until the Silmarillion was edited in the 70s.) and his brothers Feanor and Fingolfin left Valinor for Middle Earth. Halfway there, Manwe (think Zeus) issued the Doom of the Noldor, which is an indictment of Feanor's pride and vengeance. Essentially, an "original sin" for Elves. Finrod heeded Manwe's warning and returned to Valinor where he presumably still rules as King of the Noldor. Feanor and Fingolfin lead long and glorious lives with many great stories. We'll touch on them later as we go.
Anyway, Gildor is probably part of the group that continued sailing to Middle Earth with Feanor and Fingolfin and did not return to Valinor with his own ruler. This makes this group particularly powerful, in contrast to the woodland elves of Legolas which are a different, less powerful variety.
***
The Elves takes the hobbits in to protect them from the Rider and have a wonderful little party above Woodhall. Frodo stays up with Gildor speaking of events across Middle Earth. Gildor leaves Frodo with parting wisdom and a strong foreshadow in regards to the Enemy.
"My heart forebodes that you, Frodo of the Shire, will know more of these fell things than Gildor Inglorion!" This is a substantial statement coming from a Noldor who has seen thousands of years rise and fall. He has fought the Enemy first hand at the side of the great Elf Lord Gil-Galad and to make this claim (which Elves don't do lightly) is pretty bold.
He also leaves Frodo with the wish that Elbereth protect him. Elbereth is their most beloved star, representative of the Valar named Varda. Frodo remembers this, I think, as he cries out Elbereth when stabbed on Weathertop, and its the password Sam and him use in Cirith Ungol. Each of these events had a life-threatening wound given to Frodo and yet he survives despite the odds.
Elbereth watched over him, indeed.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Chapter 2: The Shadow of the Past part 2 - The One Ring
This is the second part to my talk on Chapter 2 which focuses on the One Ring.
The Ring is the character who drives the story from start to finish. After several re-reads, it's clear that the Ring is its own character as much as Frodo, Aragorn, or Sauron are and should be discussed as such. We find other wondrous artifacts such as Anduril, Glamdring, or Sting, but none expand into the realm of near-sentience. As Frodo notes when Gandalf explains the Ring, "Did not always see the same size or weight; it shrank or expanded in an odd way, and might suddenly slip of a finger where it had been tight". It literally has a mind of its own.
Diving off on a tangent, the Ring's power is clearly from what Sauron emparted on it. It's a part of him so to speak. However, that is not to say it is an actual extension of Sauron nor is it wholly independent. Think of the Ring like Sauron's dog. It has great power on its own and can bite and make its own decisions. It can even refuse to be tamed by others and run away if needed. But the dog is trying to get back to its master. It can survive without Sauron, but it needs, and WANTS, Sauron in order to thrive and wag its little morgul-script tail.
Additionally, it is very important to understand the effects the Ring has on those around it and who wear it. The Rings of Power are a purposefully underexplained phenomena in Middle Earth and the One Ring perhaps moreso, however we can glean quite a bit of information from whats provided and infer much else. Gollum, Bilbo, and the Ring-wraiths are the best examples of what Sauron's Rings do to the races of Middle-Earth.
For Men, that's power. Not always in an evil sense as we see in Boromir, but the desire to gain personal power (for their own gains, or for communal gains) is very strong. The Ring-wraiths were consumed by this. Becoming more powerful and falling more under the grasp of their rings. For Dwarves, this is beauty and craftsmenship.
For a Dwarf, there is nothing that can compare with crafting the finest weapon, the finest armor, the most beautiful hall, the deepest mine. As such, all of the Dwarf rings except a handful were lost due to their wielders going one step too far (think Thror in The Hobbit who amassed too much wealth and attracted a powerful dragon, or Durin who delved too deep and found a balrog).
It's unknown what this is for Elves as Celebrimbor forged their rings before Sauron could influence their construction. The Three amplify the Elves natural "beauty" in a sense, which can account for why Lorien and Rivendell are the most majestic places visited in the saga (Elrond and Galadriel each bear a ring) but they do not have the same corrupting power as the Nine, the Seven, or the One.
For Hobbits, it seems like Sauron didn't calculate them into his plans (which is a HUGE theme of the entire saga). For a Hobbit, traditionally, there is nothing better than good dirt for tilling, good pipe weed for smoking, and good friends for passing the time with. Essentially, they're a simple folk and don't have illusions of power! They don't desire to amass wealth (their fondest tradition is giving OTHERS presents on their own birthdays) and those who do are selfless with it (see Bilbo).
Gollum is the first, a Stoor (one of the farther branches of Hobbitses) and is still posseses a semblance of will after nearly 500 years with the One Ring. The Nine have fully faded into the shadow realm and don't have physical bodies anymore. The Nine are substantially weaker than the One so its remarkable that Gollum is still corporeal nevermind comparatively sane.
Bilbo has the Ring for 50 years and its effects are mostly seen through the unnatural prolonging of his life as he slowly is pulled from the physical world and more goes into the shadow world. Eventually, he would become like the Ringwraiths, beings fully in the shadow world, capable of passing into the physical world with the power of the Ring. When Bilbo puts the Ring on, he jumps fully into this shadow world, amplifying the effects and allowing him to see the unseen, like the Ringwraiths. It is very significant that Bilbo is the only individual to willingly give up the Ring during his life-time. (We could argue Sam, but I won't. Sam is a bit atypical from all the other characters as we'll explore later).
Frodo has the most difficult task because the Ring is most rebellious to Frodo. It's remarkable that Frodo willingly sets out on the trek to destroy the Ring before Gandalf even suggests it. He knows what he has to do and understands the gravity, and is rightfully afraid. Frodo is very courageous and no one can help him in his times of darkness.
That was a lot of information and I'm interested in your thoughts here. I find the Hobbit's remarkable constitution one of the triumphs of the piece. Everyone consistently underestimates the Hobbits and they pull through in the end, better than all the other races of Middle Earth.
The Ring
The Ring is the character who drives the story from start to finish. After several re-reads, it's clear that the Ring is its own character as much as Frodo, Aragorn, or Sauron are and should be discussed as such. We find other wondrous artifacts such as Anduril, Glamdring, or Sting, but none expand into the realm of near-sentience. As Frodo notes when Gandalf explains the Ring, "Did not always see the same size or weight; it shrank or expanded in an odd way, and might suddenly slip of a finger where it had been tight". It literally has a mind of its own.
Diving off on a tangent, the Ring's power is clearly from what Sauron emparted on it. It's a part of him so to speak. However, that is not to say it is an actual extension of Sauron nor is it wholly independent. Think of the Ring like Sauron's dog. It has great power on its own and can bite and make its own decisions. It can even refuse to be tamed by others and run away if needed. But the dog is trying to get back to its master. It can survive without Sauron, but it needs, and WANTS, Sauron in order to thrive and wag its little morgul-script tail.
Additionally, it is very important to understand the effects the Ring has on those around it and who wear it. The Rings of Power are a purposefully underexplained phenomena in Middle Earth and the One Ring perhaps moreso, however we can glean quite a bit of information from whats provided and infer much else. Gollum, Bilbo, and the Ring-wraiths are the best examples of what Sauron's Rings do to the races of Middle-Earth.
Essentially, the Rings amplify what you want most - what your base desire is.
For Men, that's power. Not always in an evil sense as we see in Boromir, but the desire to gain personal power (for their own gains, or for communal gains) is very strong. The Ring-wraiths were consumed by this. Becoming more powerful and falling more under the grasp of their rings. For Dwarves, this is beauty and craftsmenship.
For a Dwarf, there is nothing that can compare with crafting the finest weapon, the finest armor, the most beautiful hall, the deepest mine. As such, all of the Dwarf rings except a handful were lost due to their wielders going one step too far (think Thror in The Hobbit who amassed too much wealth and attracted a powerful dragon, or Durin who delved too deep and found a balrog).
It's unknown what this is for Elves as Celebrimbor forged their rings before Sauron could influence their construction. The Three amplify the Elves natural "beauty" in a sense, which can account for why Lorien and Rivendell are the most majestic places visited in the saga (Elrond and Galadriel each bear a ring) but they do not have the same corrupting power as the Nine, the Seven, or the One.
For Hobbits, it seems like Sauron didn't calculate them into his plans (which is a HUGE theme of the entire saga). For a Hobbit, traditionally, there is nothing better than good dirt for tilling, good pipe weed for smoking, and good friends for passing the time with. Essentially, they're a simple folk and don't have illusions of power! They don't desire to amass wealth (their fondest tradition is giving OTHERS presents on their own birthdays) and those who do are selfless with it (see Bilbo).
It's notable that the three most famous Ring-bearers are Hobbits.
Gollum is the first, a Stoor (one of the farther branches of Hobbitses) and is still posseses a semblance of will after nearly 500 years with the One Ring. The Nine have fully faded into the shadow realm and don't have physical bodies anymore. The Nine are substantially weaker than the One so its remarkable that Gollum is still corporeal nevermind comparatively sane.
Bilbo has the Ring for 50 years and its effects are mostly seen through the unnatural prolonging of his life as he slowly is pulled from the physical world and more goes into the shadow world. Eventually, he would become like the Ringwraiths, beings fully in the shadow world, capable of passing into the physical world with the power of the Ring. When Bilbo puts the Ring on, he jumps fully into this shadow world, amplifying the effects and allowing him to see the unseen, like the Ringwraiths. It is very significant that Bilbo is the only individual to willingly give up the Ring during his life-time. (We could argue Sam, but I won't. Sam is a bit atypical from all the other characters as we'll explore later).
Frodo has the most difficult task because the Ring is most rebellious to Frodo. It's remarkable that Frodo willingly sets out on the trek to destroy the Ring before Gandalf even suggests it. He knows what he has to do and understands the gravity, and is rightfully afraid. Frodo is very courageous and no one can help him in his times of darkness.
That was a lot of information and I'm interested in your thoughts here. I find the Hobbit's remarkable constitution one of the triumphs of the piece. Everyone consistently underestimates the Hobbits and they pull through in the end, better than all the other races of Middle Earth.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Chapter Two: The Shadow of the Past part 1 - The Hobbits
Chapter Two is one of my favorite chapters in the entirety of the Lord of the Rings saga because it really is where the story kicks off. Chapter 1 has some nice exposition and a pleasant party, but Chapter Two is where we dig into the character of Frodo and start to see him, and his friends, as a contrast to the older, stodgier Hobbits of the first chapter.
I think I'm going to spend this chapter looking at the two biggest Hobbit characters in the book, Frodo and Sam, followed by a second post looking at one of the most mysterious, yet powerful characters, the One Ring, which will be posted tomorrow!
Frodo is the young nephew of Bilbo introduced in the first chapter. Frodo is an orphan and we've discussed the interested position he has as the eldest of Bilbo's cousins and the role of the "elder" in a group. Chapter Two really fleshes out what Frodo is before the journey and highlights just how different he was compared to his neighbors and even his friends. As an aside about Frodo's friends, he is introduced with his circle of friends who are Meriadoc and Peregrin (who are well known characters) and the less known Folco Boffin and Fredegar (Fatty) Bolger. Fredegar gets a good amount of attention in the next few chapters and is one of the least heralded heroes of the saga but one who played an absolutely crucial part. Samwise Gamgee is NOT mentioned as a friend of Frodo's despite being of a similar age as Pippin and living in the same hill as Frodo. Sam, after all, is Frodo's employee and NOT his friend. The clear language in this chapter establishes that they were on good terms with each other, but not oft drinking buddies or old comrades.
It's important to note that Frodo is aggressively pushed as an atypical Hobbit, much the opposite way Bilbo was presented in The Hobbit. Bilbo is a very reluctant adventurer and relishes casual days smoking pipe weed and walking through the gardens. Frodo, having grown up on Bilbo's tales, has a sense of wonder that is matched by his companions, atypical Hobbits themselves!
Tolkien writes that Frodo is oft seen wandering the Shire by night, alone, staring up at the stars and lost in thoughts. He surrounded himself with odd characters as well. The respectable Hobbits of the Ivy Bush Inn whispered about queer Mr. Frodo as he was "Often he was seen walking and talking with the strange wayfarers that began at this time to appear in the Shire". I would think they mean Men in this instance as Elves and Dwarves are mentioned individually elsewhere in the section (and Frodo speaks frequently with them as well!) and new men in the Shire likely mean early scouts of Saruman, although this is nothing more than a personal hunch.
As I mentioned before, its significant that Sam is not mentioned as a specific friend of Frodo. He is of a lower social class, his father being Bilbo's longtime gardener, and drinks with the fellow laborers of town like Ted Sandyman the miller while Frodo carouses with Merry Brandybuck, the heir to Buckland, and Pippin Took, the heir of Great Smials and the title of Thane of the Shire. Frodo is hanging out with Shire nobility (and as a Baggins with a Took for a mother and a Baggins/Brandybuck father, a noble himself)while their workers gossip about them in pubs.
When we are properly introduced to Sam, he is telling his drinking mates about tales he's heard from the northernmost reaches of the Shire - giants have been seen and there are Elves going through the woods again! He frequently references the tales of Mr. Bilbo and laments how Bilbo left so he can no longer hear the stories. Sam is a simple man, enchanted by the unknown and mystery that Bilbo presented. When Gandalf insists that Sam accompany Frodo at the end of the chapter, Sam is overjoyed. HE GETS TO SEE THE ELVES! He literally jumps for joy at the chance to live out one of Mr. Bilbo's stories and is anxious to leave the Shire behind.
I think the most significant of the Hobbit's characteristics is that these Hobbits represent a new generation very different than the previous ones. These Hobbits grew up on Bilbo's tales of adventure and have a deeply ingrained sense of curiosity, wondering what else there is besides gentle rolling hills and fine pipe-weed to the world. Sam is the most wide-eyed child-like over this (probably because he, and Pippen, are essentially kids when this starts) but all of the main Hobbits are different in that they are intrigued by adventure and do not shy away from the possibility of it. This is a REMARKABLE difference than 50 years prior when Bilbo ran out of town without his handkerchief.
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| Hobbiton by Ted Nasmith |
I think I'm going to spend this chapter looking at the two biggest Hobbit characters in the book, Frodo and Sam, followed by a second post looking at one of the most mysterious, yet powerful characters, the One Ring, which will be posted tomorrow!
Frodo
Frodo is the young nephew of Bilbo introduced in the first chapter. Frodo is an orphan and we've discussed the interested position he has as the eldest of Bilbo's cousins and the role of the "elder" in a group. Chapter Two really fleshes out what Frodo is before the journey and highlights just how different he was compared to his neighbors and even his friends. As an aside about Frodo's friends, he is introduced with his circle of friends who are Meriadoc and Peregrin (who are well known characters) and the less known Folco Boffin and Fredegar (Fatty) Bolger. Fredegar gets a good amount of attention in the next few chapters and is one of the least heralded heroes of the saga but one who played an absolutely crucial part. Samwise Gamgee is NOT mentioned as a friend of Frodo's despite being of a similar age as Pippin and living in the same hill as Frodo. Sam, after all, is Frodo's employee and NOT his friend. The clear language in this chapter establishes that they were on good terms with each other, but not oft drinking buddies or old comrades.
It's important to note that Frodo is aggressively pushed as an atypical Hobbit, much the opposite way Bilbo was presented in The Hobbit. Bilbo is a very reluctant adventurer and relishes casual days smoking pipe weed and walking through the gardens. Frodo, having grown up on Bilbo's tales, has a sense of wonder that is matched by his companions, atypical Hobbits themselves!
Tolkien writes that Frodo is oft seen wandering the Shire by night, alone, staring up at the stars and lost in thoughts. He surrounded himself with odd characters as well. The respectable Hobbits of the Ivy Bush Inn whispered about queer Mr. Frodo as he was "Often he was seen walking and talking with the strange wayfarers that began at this time to appear in the Shire". I would think they mean Men in this instance as Elves and Dwarves are mentioned individually elsewhere in the section (and Frodo speaks frequently with them as well!) and new men in the Shire likely mean early scouts of Saruman, although this is nothing more than a personal hunch.
Sam
As I mentioned before, its significant that Sam is not mentioned as a specific friend of Frodo. He is of a lower social class, his father being Bilbo's longtime gardener, and drinks with the fellow laborers of town like Ted Sandyman the miller while Frodo carouses with Merry Brandybuck, the heir to Buckland, and Pippin Took, the heir of Great Smials and the title of Thane of the Shire. Frodo is hanging out with Shire nobility (and as a Baggins with a Took for a mother and a Baggins/Brandybuck father, a noble himself)while their workers gossip about them in pubs.
When we are properly introduced to Sam, he is telling his drinking mates about tales he's heard from the northernmost reaches of the Shire - giants have been seen and there are Elves going through the woods again! He frequently references the tales of Mr. Bilbo and laments how Bilbo left so he can no longer hear the stories. Sam is a simple man, enchanted by the unknown and mystery that Bilbo presented. When Gandalf insists that Sam accompany Frodo at the end of the chapter, Sam is overjoyed. HE GETS TO SEE THE ELVES! He literally jumps for joy at the chance to live out one of Mr. Bilbo's stories and is anxious to leave the Shire behind.
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Friday, February 15, 2013
Chapter 1: A Long Expected Party pt 2
This post picks up where the last one left off, which is to say, after the first page or so. In this post, I wanted to look at just how strange Bilbo (and by extension Frodo) really seemed to others in the Shire and how, in some respects, they seemed destined for adventure.
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| Green Hill Morning by Ted Nasmith |
Strange Visitors
Dwarves
The chapter continues to describe Bilbo's preperations for the party, which is the buzz of the entire Shire. Not only does Bilbo send for the bulk of the Shire's cooks and food stores to serve everyone at his massive feast, but he has some odd visitors the movie left out as well. Early in the chapter, several dwarves come to Bilbo and stay with him throughout the week leading up to the party. At the Ivy Bush Inn, Sandyman, the miller, mentions that dwarves are relatively frequent visitors at Bilbo's door and since he returned from his adventure 50 years prior, he has often disappeared for short stretches at a time.I think this is very significant because it establishes that Bilbo is not a recluse (from the world, at least), and actively attends to his desire to get out and "see mountains", so to speak. At the end of the chapter when Bilbo finally leaves, he does so in the company of three dwarves and they set out at a jog across the fields, not taking the shorter road.
Also, take a moment to check out this song recorded by The Tolkien Ensemble, a Dutch orchestra which wrote music to all of Tolkien's lyrics and poems in the books. This is the first song in the book, the Walking Song which Bilbo sings while leaving.
Gandalf
Bilbo: "I suspect you know best"Gandalf: "I do - when I know anything"
Gandalf is perhaps the strangest of the visitors to Bilbo. The ancient man appears without any specific description of his powers, but even Tolkien himself seems to respect them, describing them with the subtle and inherent respect that true power commands. Seen rarely in the Shire, and even then only for short periods of time and always in the company of Bilbo, Gandalf is eyed suspiciously as men are not seen often in the Shire.
Gandalf is a favorite character of mine and one we'll be talking about much more in later chapters. For right now, I think the quote above is enough food for thought as we interpret Gandalf's actions throughout the book. Clearly, his interactions with Saruman come to mind, as does his decisions in Moria. What other situations can you think of right now that we can examine through this statement?
Frodo
Not a visitor per se, Frodo is the yound nephew of Bilbo and arguably the main character of the story. His father is Bilbo's second-cousin and his mother is Bilbo's first-cousin (on opposite family sides), and they perished when we was young in a boating accident. Bilbo adopted him and made him his heir after that. Frodo is referred to often as "half-Bucklander" meaning his father's family comes from Buckland which is on the far edge of the Shire, away from other more "respectable" Hobbits. Often called a "queer folk", Tolkien shows from the start that Frodo is not cut from the same cloth as most.
Merry, Pippen, and Sam clearly fit into this category (Sam is the one MOST enamored with Mr. Bilbo's stories) and their actions combining traditional values with a new approach shape not only the Shire but the entirety of Middle Earth by the end of the tale.
Theme 2: Lineage
We'll dive into this throughout the book but lineage plays a strong role in developing characters from the earliest pages. Frodo is the best early example. As explained above, he is seen as different already for his unusual lineage of Bucklander. Combining that lineage with his mother's Took side (a family often seen as the most adventurous of Hobbits - read about the Bullroarer Took, one of my favorite Tolkien characters) and place him under the watch of the Hobbit who had the greatest adventure in centuries and there is a recipe for peculiarity. Does Frodo uphold his bold and adventurous pedigree? I'd argue no, but we'll keep reading.
Aragorn is another interesting case study here, along with Boromir/Faramir.
Theme 3: Sibling "Rank"
In literature especially, there is often important placed on where one is born in a family. The eldest son is the heir, the "man of the house", and the one who must most closely resemble manly ideals and masculine virtues. This is often portrayed through martial prowess, with great physical size and strength. Usually, these characters are not the smartest of offspring, but make up for it with the idea that they represent the families "honor" and must show chivalry to ensure its kept. A Song of Ice and Fire has many examples of where this is true. See Ned Stark's older brother Brandon or Tywin Lannister's eldest son Jaime.The younger brother often needs to find their own niche in the world, for example as a cunning strategist instead of a physical fighter (see Faramir).
Through this lens, Frodo and Sam are particularly fascinating. Sam's father has been the head gardener at Bag End for 40 years and Sam and Frodo have been friends for a long time, practically brothers. Bilbo took Frodo in because Frodo is his eldest cousin, while Sam is the Gaffer's youngest son. In a way, this creates a similar, but subtle dynamic in the story.
I never noticed it before this read through, but I'm already fascinated about what I will find when looking at Sam and Frodo through this lens. Frodo is the "big brother" but who fulfills that role more traditionally? I know it's going to be Sam, but I'm interested in finding the examples!
Until next time,
Chapter 1: A Long Expected Party pt 1
This is the first post in what promises to be a riveting and exceptionally geeky exploration of Tolkien's legendarium. I'll be tinkering with the format as we go, but please leave comments below on parts you find interesting and would like me to expand on, or simply areas you enjoyed.
The Lord of the Rings begins as any story worth telling does: with an epic party. I won't go into terrible detail about the plot narrative as surely most of my readers are familiar with that (check out this wonderful resource if you want a refresher. It's great.) Instead, I will explore a few things I found interesting and worth further commentary. I will also discuss points where the movies left out details or portrayed events differently. I do this because most of my generation encountered the movies first and then read the books and they, probably justifiably, have a strong imprint of what they remember which isn't always what the books intended.
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The chapter starts with an introduction to Mr. Bilbo Baggins, a figure well-known throughout the Shire, and indeed, one of the more globally famous Tolkien characters. These pages of introduction tell us quite a bit about the Hobbits and what we can expect from our protagonists throughout the tale.
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| Green Hill Country by Ted Nasmith |
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The chapter starts with an introduction to Mr. Bilbo Baggins, a figure well-known throughout the Shire, and indeed, one of the more globally famous Tolkien characters. These pages of introduction tell us quite a bit about the Hobbits and what we can expect from our protagonists throughout the tale.
Theme 1: Appearance
The first paragraph is describing how Bilbo is seen by others throughout the Shire. Major background plot (revolving around the events of The Hobbit) is explained over pints of ale at the Gaffer's Ivy Bush Inn.Similarly, many Hobbits' derived their own self-worth on their appearance to others. Sam's father, the Gaffer, takes great pride in his belief that he is the best gardener in the Shire. Sure, others say it, but no one says it louder than the Gaffer which must make it mostly true in a Hobbit's eye.
Additionally, gossiping and whispering are favorite pastimes of Hobbits young and old. Not in a scheming, plotting sort of way that leads to any sort of action, but in a "huh, ever wonder about this?" sort of way. Notable, Bilbo's gratuitous wealth is the subject of many conversations and each Hobbit about the tavern has his own theory over what his treasure entails and how he acquired it. When Bilbo disappears at the end of the chapter, they take great delight in wondering over its fate, or, in some instances, whispering about how Bilbo's dear nephew Frodo and that strange visitor Gandalf have plotted to take the wealth for some time.
We clearly see the importance of social interactions and appearances in Tolkien's narratives through the introductory chapter. This will be a theme we explore greatly later on when we encounter the lost king Strider, when we experience more of the One Ring's presence, and when we run into Saruman the White.
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