Tony Meade
Active Member
SESSION 101
Gandalf’s beard goes stiff and straight:
Gandalf’s beard goes stiff and straight:
- Gandalf seems to remember his bedside manner and comes back to reassuring Frodo.
- His beard’s appearing to go stiff is probably the result of sticking out his chin in resolve. He seems invigorated by the idea of the War of the Ring and gives a glimpse of his inner world.
- Gandalf seems to be vocalizing an inner monologue when he uses the plural “we” in speaking of keeping up courage. He includes himself in that statement, as this is his true purpose.
- This emotional response is in contrast to his talk with Frodo in Bag End, where he stayed calm and passive even when Frodo had strong emotional reactions to the news Gandalf brought.
- Note: He also expresses a sense of ownership of this quest, much different than in The Hobbit, where he emphasized that the quest belonged to the Dwarves and Bilbo, not him. However, he may have been hedging, as his actions told that he did feel a personal investment in their quest and felt it important to see it through to its end at Erebor.
- This is the first clear hint that opposing Sauron is his true purpose in being in Middle-earth.
- Gandalf has a choice to make, and his courage is not automatic. He is capable of failing, or giving in to cowardice, or surrendering to the Dark Lord, so he has to choose to exercise his courage.
- He also including Frodo in “we”, indicating that he is a leader of the resistance to Sauron, and part of his leadership is encouraging his allies and those in his charge.
- Gandalf also wants to reassure Frodo that he is not alone in his danger, and that Gandalf is on his side and will help him, and since Frodo admires and respects Gandalf, this is a comfort.
- This interlude in Rivendell is a very important moment for all the protagonists in the story.
- Aragorn also used this inclusive language with the hobbits in order to strengthen their courage.
- Is Gandalf still rattled by his captivity? We don’t know how much he is struggling with his courage, as he doesn’t express any doubts, and he seems more resolved than ever.
- All of these events, including the finding of the Ring, the appearance of the Nazgûl, the treason of Isengard, and others have convinced Gandalf that the moment of final conflict is now.
- We are not told in what cardinal direction Gandalf faces with his chin, which would be telling.
- The switch the second person in reassuring Frodo of his wellness immediately follows the use of plural first person, which means that “we” is personal and not just a figure of speech.
- Note: Now that Saruman has not only abdicated his place of leadership of the White Council, and is actively working against them in many ways, Gandalf may feel that much of that responsibility has now shifted onto him, and he is feeling the weight of that.
- Gandalf’s turn to comfort Frodo also includes a self-deprecating comment, shifting back to a more hobbitish tone, and away from any sense of self-aggrandizement in light of his mission.
- He finally has a clear answer for Frodo’s question about Rivendell’s safety after his digression.
- There is a juxtaposition of his apocalyptic statements about the future and comforting of Frodo in the present of which Frodo seems aware, and so he brings the conversation back to the past.
- Frodo asks in a very hobbitish way for news of the Ford, as Gandalf has been talking a great deal, but not giving him the information he really wants. He is gently teasing Gandalf, as friends do.
- This is a reminder of the kind of relationship Gandalf and Frodo have. They are old friends, and this is how they interact with each other.
- Aragorn had started to grow in this direction along the trip to Rivendell, such as with the trolls.
- Gandalf’s primary advice seems to be to stay focused on the present, and to take it day by day.
- Frodo may feel that the global threat is too much to deal with at the moment, and just wants to stick with his immediate past.
- Frodo is also showing a bit of his hobbit resilience in his banter, having bounced back from the darkness and near loss at the Ford. This hobbit courage is very important to that healing.
- His assertion that he has no courage is more hobbit humility, though it is manifestly untrue. Frodo is emotionally exhausted and simply feels that he has nothing more to give right now.
- This humility is present in all the hobbit characters; they don’t feel courageous, while being so.
- Note: A contrast to this kind of hobbit courage is Boromir, who is brave, though also recognizes it and is willing to state it aloud. It would never occur to the hobbits that they were courageous, even as they do courageous things. This shows cultural difference between Hobbits and Men.
- Frodo’s humility is what makes him the best Ringbearer, and most able to resist the Ring.
- Note: Tolkien does not seem to disapprove of the explicit and even boastful bravery of Men, such as in Rohan or Gondor, on a cultural level, but he does seem to want to make the point that there are other, more humble versions of courage that have value in the fight against evil.
- When Gandalf pointed out the Barrow-downs, Frodo really felt that he had failed, though he clearly didn’t, and the narrator had highlighted his hobbit courage as the reason for that.
- Aragorn has a different approach than other Men, such as Boromir or Éomer, as he is less boastful, but much of this difference is due to the fact that Aragorn is much older than they are.
- The gap in experience is even greater than in age between Aragorn and Boromir, as while Boromir is a veteran warrior, Aragorn has done many more kinds of things and seen failure.
- There’s also a difference in personality, as Boromir needs to prove himself, and Aragorn doesn’t.