Episode 153 Summary

Tony Meade

Active Member
SESSION 153

Comment on Gandalf’s translation of Black Speech:
  • Gandalf would have had to choose between preserving the sense or the sound of the poem.
  • Because of the difficulty in preserving the rhythmic structure from one language to another, its possible that Gandalf had to choose to leave out one syllable out to preserve the meaning.
  • Therefore, the Black Speech version is correct, but his translation is a compromised version.
  • We still can’t be sure, because this is the only example of syntactic Black Speech that we have.
  • The first syllable emphasis on “grimbatul” and “krimpatul” makes the extra stop less jarring.
  • The consonant relationships among the compound word roots is unclear with a small sample.
Boromir breaks the awkward silence:
  • There is a seeming non sequitur in Boromir’s subject change from the bigger issue of Sauron’s global plans, which causes the tension, to the smaller issue of Gollum’s fate.
  • This seems to be Boromir’s first interruption which is an attempt at diplomacy, rather than an assertion of right. He wants to break the tension and bring up a subject that has a response.
  • There was no appropriate response to the subject of the threat of Sauron to the world.
  • Who is Boromir addressing with this question? Though Aragorn is responding, Gandalf had just been speaking of Gollum’s interrogation, so this may be a question to both.
  • Aragorn responding to the question shows Boromir something about himself, which may have been Boromir’s intent. He may be testing their character to see what they are willing to do.
  • The sense of the word “doom” here isn’t metaphysical, but in the sense of a judicial proceeding.
  • Boromir would have experience and training in matters of justice, so by gauging their sense of justice for Gollum, which is why he clarifies his first question about Gollum with the second.
  • Boromir may be subtly advocating for an execution by pointing out Gollum’s pettiness and criminality. He may judge a merciful sentence on Gollum as a sign of weakness on their part.
  • Note: Boromir’s later words about fear and doubt over something small, and that the ruthless are the only ones who can win, will reveal more explicitly what he meant implicitly here. Bilbo had been generous in his assessment of Gollum when he chose to show Gollum mercy, showing pity and glossing over the real threats that Gollum presented to him. This difference is revealing in the way that the Ring interacts with them both. Frodo also had a strong condemnation of Gollum, but he admitted that this was out of personal fear, and later shows Gollum pity.
  • Gandalf admitted to Frodo that Gollum deserves death for his crimes, so Boromir is not wrong.
Boromir shows his quality:
  • The overall effect of Boromir’s interruption is to tactfully get the narrative moving again. This is not only diplomatic, but also bold, as he is a stranger in a legendary place and only just arrived.
  • The last contact between Gondor and Rivendell may have been the end of the war with Angmar.
  • Boromir is also travel-worn and surrounded by legendary and impressive people, so for him to take it upon himself to break the silence and move the council is telling about his character.
  • He is used to commanding armies, so he has reason to believe that they would listen to him.
  • It is also courageous, as he is willing to risk rebuke to bring everyone around from reverie.
  • He is redirecting the councilors from an overwhelming evil that they cannot confront to a familiar, petty evil that they can deal with. This allows them to focus on things they can control.
  • Note: Gollum’s role in the destruction of the Ring in Mount Doom was an idea in Tolkien’s mind from the first version of that scene, though originally that included an ultimate sacrifice by Sam.
Aragorn’s pity and justice:
  • Aragorn seems to pick up on Boromir’s implication that death was the just punishment and responds with an appeal to pity and mercy. This is important because of Aragorn’s experience.
  • Note: The modern usage of “torment” is usually of a spiritual or emotional kind, while in The Lord of the Rings, it is used as a synonym for physical torture. The word “torture” is used less frequently and is primarily used in the sense derived from the Latin root that means “twisting”.
  • He asserts that Gollum’s torture in Mordor has already punished Gollum greatly for his crimes.
  • Note: Gollum has seen Sauron in person, as he is able to describe the missing finger on his hand, and it seems that Sauron questioned him personally. There is also a parallel to the “Spell of Bottomless Dread” employed by Morgoth in early versions of the stories from The Silmarillion.
  • Aragorn seems to conclude that at the least, Gollum isn’t in league with Sauron after his torture.
  • Aragorn isn’t blind to Gollum’s capacity for future crimes, so he balances mercy with justice.
  • Note: The Mirkwood Elves don’t have a reputation for watchfulness among this company, given Thorin’s Company’s escape with Bilbo and their allowing Gollum to evade them in the past.
The tidings of Legolas:
  • How does Legolas know about Gollum’s original name? It’s likely that the Elves learned it through Gollum’s interrogation by Gandalf, and that they have chosen to call him Sméagol.
  • This may be, in part, to assist in the spirit of helping Gollum’s cure. This is a kindness, since the name “Gollum” is a mean-spirited nickname for a monster, while Sméagol is a person’s name.
  • Why does Legolas wait until now to reveal this news? It’s probable that this news may not have seemed relevant to the events that were shared earlier, or even to the story of the Ring before.
  • Legolas didn’t know that there would be a Council, and he had probably only intended to share this news with the interested parties, like Aragorn and Gandalf.
  • Only now does he understand how bad this news is, and how it affects the whole Council.
  • Even if the Elves had heard about Gollum finding his ring in the river, Gandalf would not have shared with Thranduil that this was about the Ring of Power, given his history in The Hobbit.
  • Legolas now reconnects the Gollum news with Gandalf’s words about Sauron, especially when Aragorn speculates that Gollum’s escape from Mordor was intended by Sauron for evil.
  • Note: This is supported by the fact that Gollum is given assistance in his escape from Mirkwood
The folk of Thranduil fail in their trust:
  • Aragorn is rebuking the failure of the Elves, and his concern is for what this means for the world.
  • He seems to make this statement from an assumed place of responsibility for the consequences.
  • This is a candid response to the Elves, with whom he is usually deferential and respectful.
  • Legolas’ admission of over-kindliness may have confirmed Boromir’s suspicions and fears.
  • Gandalf doesn’t speak of his pity for Gollum, but he was proactive in his requests of the Elves. He had talked of a cure to Frodo, and this shows that he acted on that hope.
  • The Elvenking might have considered that allowing the Dwarves an underground prison as less onerous than it would be for other kinds of prisoners, like Gollum himself.
  • For Gollum to be locked without hope underground would place him in the same position as he had been during his corruption, so they are trying to change his environment to help him.
  • It was Sméagol’s delving into deep places that led to his initial downfall, so they want to avoid it.
  • Would the Elves attempt a kind of talk therapy? They do find it wearisome to guard him, so maybe not, but they certainly would have attempted to speak with him out of kindness.
  • Gandalf found Gollum’s talk wearisome, so there’s no reason that the Elves would be different.
END OF SESSION
 

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