Tony Meade
Active Member
SESSION 102
Comment on the last adventure of the Dúnedain:
Comment on the last adventure of the Dúnedain:
- The use of the word “adventure” by Gandalf is important because he used that word to describe Bilbo and the Dwarves’ activities in The Hobbit. This is later picked up by the younger Hobbits.
- What Gandalf seems to mean by “adventure” is that it is something done with purpose, such as a quest, and for which the end is unknown and uncertain.
- Note: In Latin, “adventure” is related to “adventus”, or the arrival of something. This is preserved in the Catholic season of Advent preceding Christmas, which celebrates the coming of Christ. Tolkien would have recited the Latin Lord’s prayer, which also contains this usage.
- The idea of a “last adventure” may refer to a final coming of the Kings of Men, as well as a final quest. Therefore, the use of “adventure” may be used with a dual meaning.
- Note: In Le Morte d'Arthur, Malory uses the French version of the word “adventure” in reference to the Arthurian knights, of which Tolkien would have been well aware.
- Tolkien, as both a linguist and Catholic, would have been sensitive to this double-meaning.
- The undercurrent of Advent implies a positive ending, even though the ending is not known.
- The phrase “dead or worse” is an insight into Gandalf’s fears once Frodo is recovered. This points to the unnatural process of being brought into the wraith-world.
- The Ring’s power of invisibility is a side-effect of it’s allowing a mortal to be physically in the visible and wraith-world at the same time. It’s parallel to what was happening from the wound.
- This is not exactly the same, however, as the wound did not turn him invisible like the Ring.
- Therefore, the real danger of the wound was that he would be brought spiritually into the wraith-world, not necessarily physically. The permanent invisibility is an effect only of the Ring.
- It’s important that Gandalf believes that being dead and being a wraith look basically the same.
- It seems that Gandalf believes that the wound would not have turned Frodo into a wraith physically, only taking his spirit and dominating his will.
- Note: There is no evidence that Sauron can communicate telepathically with the Ringwraiths, so there would not be a way for him to know what Frodo knows automatically from the wound.
- Though Gandalf had said that Frodo would become like this Ringwraiths, he means spiritually.
- It’s possible that Frodo’s companions might not have understood what the worst-case scenario was for Frodo, and therefore saw this only as a physical matter.
- A third possibility of interpreting Frodo’s condition is that he was not a wraith, but past the point of no return, and another is that they may believe that his spirit has been taken away.
- The hobbits have had only a vague idea of what was happening to Frodo, though Aragorn and Glorfindel would understand it more, and they may think that he was beyond their aid.
- This possibility of taking Frodo’s spirit from his body is a dark parallel to the Elves, who die and go to Mandos, and do not leave Arda. Frodo, however, would be in torment in Mordor.
- This may be a parallel to the tormenting limbo that the Barrow-wight described in its poem.
- Gollum is an example of someone who has not become invisible but is enslaved by the Ring. This would make him like the Ringwraiths, though not invisible like they are.
- Would Elrond have told Glorfindel to prioritize keeping the Ring from Sauron over Frodo’s fate?
- This is unlikely, because Elrond would be wise enough to know that that the manner in which one acquires the Ring matters and taking it by force or stealing it would lead to destruction.
- Note: This is part of the reflections of Sam at Cirith Ungol when he chooses to leave Frodo’s body and take the Ring to finish the quest. Sam is hard on himself, and feels that he made the wrong choice, but this was not an easy choice to make, and he truly believed Frodo to be dead.
- Why are the horses of the Black Riders stricken with madness in this particular situation? It could be simple panic at the sight of the destruction of their brethren in the flood.
- However, the text seems to point to their fear being partly due to the appearance of Glorfindel.
- The Ringwraiths were the ones who are dismayed by Glorfindel’s display and the flood simultaneously. Glorfindel did not seek to affect the horses directly but did so indirectly.
- It seems unlikely that Glorfindel would attempt to destroy the horses, but it seems that forcing the horses into the Ford is the only way to ensure that the Ringwraiths were caught in the flood.
- The horses may also be reacting to the dismay of their Riders, and this combined with the flood and the fire may account for their madness.
- Elves have command over animals, so the possibility exists that this was done deliberately.
- Horses bred for war are often considered precious but expendable by humans, but Elves are usually held to a different standard. However, these two groups at the Ford are at open war.
- Note: Glorfindel personally understands the idea of sacrifice for victory or safety from Gondolin.
- Would Glorfindel consider the destruction of the horses as a kind of mercy killing, freeing them from slavery in Mordor? Euthanasia is often considered justifiable in cases of great suffering.
- Have the horses been corrupted to evil by their service, and are therefore enemies in their own right? This is the question that defines the moral question about their deliberate killing.
- Note: As we learn later, these horses are stolen from Rohan, and are raised and trained in Mordor for this purpose, so the question is if they are victims or they are collaborating.
- Note: This is example of another instance in which there is an idealization of Tolkien’s characters that goes beyond the text. Just like Hobbits are not flawless creatures living in harmony with Nature, but instead are farmers in competition with The Old Forest, Elves are hunters and warriors and have always been. They interact with the world in similar ways to all incarnated beings, killing and eating living things, and making use of their products. Elves are held to a higher standard than humans because of their wisdom and long vision, but also flesh and blood.
- Note: It’s important to remember that these are warhorses, not wild or tamed companions, and warhorses are both targets and casualties in combat situations. Tolkien would have seen much of this during his service in WWI. Also, the attitude towards horses in a pre-industrialized society was much different than it is now, before the advent of automobiles, for instance. Nowadays, we see horses as precious and faithful companions, but in those times, they were thought of also as forms of transportation and means of labor, and sometimes even as food animals.
- Note: In the text of The Silmarillion, Beren choosing to live in harmony with animals and becoming vegetarian was a departure from the norm, even among the Elves of Doriath.