Episode 113 Summary

[Tony Meade]

SESSION 113

Comment on Bilbo’s retirement age:

• There is no description of Bilbo’s appearance, which is notable given his and Frodo’s long separation. Frodo had made sure to note that Gandalf looked older when he saw him again.
• Whether Bilbo looked exactly the same or had visibly aged, it would seem to be notable.
• Gandalf speculated that Bilbo might continue on unchanged after leaving the Ring, which seems to be in part speaking about his physical appearance.
• Note: In the film, Bilbo is shown appearing much older when Frodo meets him again, but this is not supported by the text, where no mention of this is made. Bilbo will become very aged after the Ring is destroyed, but that hasn’t happened yet.
• The evidence seems to show that whatever the Ring had wrought, that will remain in effect until the Ring is destroyed. The evidence is Gollum, who is over 500 years old and has stopped aging.
• Gollum knows that he is sustained beyond his time by the Ring and will die when it is destroyed.
• However, Gollum did not give up the Ring, as Bilbo did, so their circumstances are different.
• In some ways, Gollum has improved since giving up the Ring, but the Ring still has an effect.
• How long would Gollum and/or Bilbo continue if the Ring were not destroyed? It’s hard to say, though functional immortality without any costs doesn’t seem within Sauron’s power.
• The fact that it has been 78 years since Gollum lost the Ring make him a key source of data.
• Bilbo is 128 at this point in the story, but when he left the Ring at 111, he still looked around 50. Even if he’s aged the 17 years since, he wouldn’t look that much different as a 67-year-old.
• However, by the time that Frodo returns from the quest, Bilbo will be far on his way to catching up to his chronological age of 128, and when he is 131, he looks 131.
• The normal aging process is linked between the vitality and one’s physical state, but in this case, that process has been tampered with by the Ring. Therefore, we shouldn’t expect natural aging.
• Gollum’s age is apparent in his shriveling and becoming more like a spider than a hobbit, and he often feels his age, but he doesn’t get progressively more like an old man.
• Note: The metaphor of one’s life force being finite and meted out like liquid from a barrel is written about in the prologue to “The Reeve’s Tale” in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.
• Note: While it’s natural to want to quantify the process of the aging of the Ringbearers in numerical terms, but it may be misleading given the supernatural origin and powers of the Ring.
• Rivendell itself may also have an effect on its inhabitants, though not necessarily on their aging.
• Gollum’s appearance has also been warped and twisted by the Ring which goes beyond time.
• Still, Bilbo’s actions are consistent with an older, retired hobbit, as with his salty attitude. He had told Gandalf that he had felt his age on the inside, in spite of not changing in appearance.

Comment of Bilbo under a watchful eye:

• Gandalf may have been concerned with Bilbo being so near Frodo with the Ring while he was asleep. Both Gandalf and Sam would probably not have left Bilbo alone in the room with Frodo.
• Like Sméagol and Déagol, there is precedent for the power of the Ring overcoming one of them.
• However, they would probably not want to mention this to either of them for morale’s sake.
• Those like Gandalf or Elrond or Strider might be in the room at all times, as Sam wouldn’t be likely to stand up to Bilbo, but his presence would also bolster Bilbo’s power to resist.
• When Frodo meets Bilbo again, it seems likely that they would also be watched by the others like Elrond and Sam, though Frodo might not take notice of this in his narrative.
• It also seems likely that Merry and Pippin are watching nearby, as well as Gandalf and possibly Glóin, though they might leave and allow them to visit after witnessing the reunion.

Bilbo’s tale of his last journey:

• Note: Bilbo’s mention of Balin is the last piece of foreshadowing of Balin’s fate before hearing news of him during the Council, but they still won’t be sure of it until they go to Moria.
• Bilbo doesn’t mention Erebor in his journeys, instead only using Dale as the final landmark.
• Note: Hearing Balin tell him of what Dale had been like made Bilbo very sad, so he would be overjoyed at seeing it rebuilt. He might also find memories of Thorin and Erebor too painful.
• It’s possible that the biggest change has been in Dale, which had been part of the Desolation.
• Note: Since arriving in Rivendell, it’s possible that what he’s been writing is the story of the Long-expected party, as this is in the same tone as The Hobbit.
• Bilbo may be honest in his self-deprecation of his poetry in Rivendell, and yet be proud of it, but it seems likely that the Elves would choose to sing his songs if they did not like them somewhat.
• Strider had been delighted to find out that Bilbo had translated the Gil-galad poem, and the Elves may be fascinated to see their tales translated through the eyes of a mortal hobbit.
• Note: The premise of The Book of Lost Tales was of a mortal man hearing the tales of the Elves and bringing them back to the mortal world, as translated into his Anglo-Saxon language. This concept is still operable here but moved to Bilbo and his hobbit culture.
• Elves value all creative expression, and they would appreciate Bilbo’s take on the life of Arda.
• We know that Bilbo loves poetry and desires to share his, but he shows humility about it, too.
• Bilbo also shows humility in his willingness to translate others’ works into his own language.
• Does the Elves singing of Bilbo’s work carry their power enchantment in their own songs? This will be seen later when the Errantry poem is recited.
• What does Bilbo mean by “aimlessly”? Bilbo may be bereft of purpose without the Ring, but also, he wants to enjoy the journey for its own sake, and not just the destination.
• Frodo would be aware of the similarities and differences again between his and Bilbo’s journey. Frodo thought that he would be aimless in his exile, while Bilbo would enjoy his aimlessness.
• Note: Gollum’s journey was also described as aimless, but his goal was to find the Ring, not a specific destination.
• The Dwarves with whom he was traveling had an end destination in mind to go home to Erebor, so Bilbo went with them, though they might indulge Bilbo’s desire to wander as well.

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[Tony Meade]

(continued)

The Ring has passed on, Bilbo:

• It is not a coincidence that Bilbo has not heard news from the Shire. Gandalf has been there, but only briefly and infrequently, and he has only been interested in the Ring’s effect on Frodo.
• Gandalf also wouldn’t speak of the Ring and Frodo to Bilbo and knew little else about the Shire.
• Does Bilbo know that his old ring was the One Ring? There’s no evidence that he does, and Bilbo is surprised that the Ringwraiths are after it. Glóin also doesn’t seem to have talked to Bilbo yet.
• Bilbo seems to suspect that information is being withheld from his by Gandalf, and that it is related to his struggle with giving up the Ring in Bag End.
• Gandalf would’ve reassured Bilbo that Frodo’s fine, and he’s decided not to be bothered with it.
• Bilbo still thinks of the Ring as his ring, though perhaps unconsciously, through old attachment.
• It has only been in the last few years that Gandalf has learned that Bilbo’s ring was the One Ring, and it has been during this time that Gandalf has become closer and more reticent to speak.
• Bilbo would not be aware of the larger events that prefigure the War of the Ring. He would only be referring to the pursuit of Frodo by the Ringwraiths as the “disturbance” his ring has caused.
• The idea that Bilbo thought several times to go back to Hobbiton for the Ring is disturbing, because it shows the kind of rationalization that are present in all Ring temptations.
• Bilbo rationalizes this by thinking that Rivendell would be the safest place for the Ring, and he desires to protect Frodo from Sauron and take responsibility for placing the burden on him.
• Is this a long-distance Ring temptation? The Ring couldn’t be acting directly upon Bilbo, but it is a remnant of the lingering influence of his long ownership of the Ring, like Gollum’s.
• It’s possible that these kinds of Ring-induced rationalizations are more of a one-way connection between the one having the temptation and the Ring. It is the thought of the Ring that causes it.
• Gandalf could not have told Bilbo about the true nature of the Ring after confirming it, as he had not returned to Rivendell until a few days before Frodo arrived.
• Note: Gandalf may have shared his strong suspicions with Elrond after returning from Minas Tirith, but not about the confirmation using fire. That would only have happened recently.
• Bilbo may also be referring to the last seventeen years since leaving Bag End as the period in which Gandalf as become closer, speaking in a general way.
• Note: Bilbo may or may not know about the lore of the Rings of Power from his learning the old tales. This would not be common knowledge, even among those who are interested in history.
• Bilbo explains Gandalf and Elrond’s reluctance to let him travel with his age and the danger.
• He may have had Sauron’s search for him explained through the capture of Gollum and his confession. Otherwise, he may not have believed that he had done anything to be noticed.
• They would have told him that the Ring was involved, but they would not tell him its story.
• Bilbo would not be surprised that Gollum came out of the mountains to look for him and the Ring, and he knows that the Ring is magical and special, but not it’s full importance.
• If Sauron had once owned the Ring, even as the least of rings, he wouldn’t be surprised that Sauron would want it returned, too, and he wouldn’t question its desirability.
• They would also have reassured Bilbo that Gandalf would inform and protect Frodo.
• Bilbo has relapsed into hobbitry when he makes his self-deprecating comments about his age.
• Why does Bilbo think Gandalf’s comments about the Ring passing on odd? It may be the use of the word “meddling”, as he thinks about his long ownership of it with a sense of possessiveness.
• His rationalization about protecting Frodo seems to contradict Gandalf’s assertion that he could do no good, as he knows that this would be self-sacrificial for Frodo’s sake.
• He would not understand the damage that he might do to Frodo by trying to take the Ring, as this may cause a conflict or fight, or might damage Frodo mentally by his losing the Ring.
• Bilbo does remember the way the Ring affected him, but just as he had attributed his longevity to himself, he may also have attributed his unwillingness to give it up only to himself.
• The emphasis on the Ring passing on attributes action to the Ring, which Bilbo wouldn’t understand, as he wouldn’t think of the Ring as having a will of its own.
• Why does Bilbo look at Frodo doubtfully? Is he doubtful about making the request the see the Ring, or that Frodo will say yes, or that this is a good idea, or that Frodo is well enough?
• If his doubt is about the statement before, he may be wondering about Frodo’s health. However, his pause seems to separate his doubt from what he has already said.
• Does Bilbo suspect that his meddling with the Ring goes against Gandalf’s injunction?
• Bilbo may not think that the Ring would hurt Frodo or himself, given their long ownership.

END OF SESSION