Tony Meade
Active Member
SESSION 194
Nothing was decided beyond choosing poor Frodo and Sam:
Nothing was decided beyond choosing poor Frodo and Sam:
- Bilbo’s “well, anyway” could be seen as dismissing Gandalf’s objection to his having an eye-opener, but he is also transitioning away from the Council and toward their future plans.
- While Bilbo and Frodo probably spoke more with the other hobbits at another time, at this point neither one of them are interested in talking more about the Council at this moment.
- Bilbo can probably see that Frodo is still emotionally affected by his decision to take the Ring.
- Using the word “poor” is a kind of commiseration with Frodo and Sam, matching their mood.
- Bilbo feels responsible for this landing on Frodo shoulders, especially since his offer was denied.
- He now wants to pivot to a more hopeful subject by pointing out that Frodo will not be alone.
- Bilbo demonstrates insight into Elrond’s thought process, unlike Sam, who had only spoken in the Council because of the possibility that Frodo will be sent out alone, which Bilbo doubts.
- Bilbo seems to anticipate Elrond’s sending out scouts, which he uses to reassure Frodo that everyone is in this together and that they will act accordingly to support the quest of the Ring.
- It’s even possible that the sending out of scouts was decided in the Council after Sam spoke up.
- Note: Like Arwen, Elrond’s sons seem to be a relatively late addition to the story and remain peripheral characters throughout the text, though Elladan and Elrohir are directly involved.
- This scouting had already been going on since before Frodo even arrived, such as Glorfindel, though now the purpose of the scouting has a new purpose with regards to the party.
- The fact that scouts are being sent all the way to Mirkwood show that they are anticipating the party traveling far and would need to cross over the Misty Mountains at some point.
- Before, Thorin and company cross the passes based entirely on outdated advice from Elrond, which proved disastrous since the goblins had laid traps for travelers in the meantime.
- Note: While several passes are mentioned in The Hobbit, Tolkien seems to have deliberately limited their options here to the Redhorn Pass and through Moria, since the Gap of Rohan is closed to them. This may be due to increased world-building on Tolkien’s part, but also that the northern passes might be unpassable at this time of year or too far north to be useful.
- With the Nazgûl showing up in Eriador, there may be a thought that they represent merely the vanguard of many enemy groups being sent out from Mordor beyond the Great River.
- Even back in Back End, Gandalf feared that servants of Mordor might be secretly abroad.
- Does Gandalf know or suspect that Saruman has started having secret dealings with the Shire?
- Note: There is evidence is presented in Unfinished Tales that Gandalf was already aware that Saruman had taken up smoking pipe-weed and therefore had some knowledge of the Shire.
- Saruman suggests that he has spies or informants near the Shire keeping an eye on Gandalf.
- Note: The general series of events between “The Shadow of the Past” and “The Council of Elrond” mirror one another, as they are followed by discussions of ways and means and secrecy.
- While they want to keep their direction of travel undetected for as long as possible, Elrond and Gandalf may also want Sauron to believe that they are ultimately heading for the Sea.
- Sauron may still be thinking that they would not leave Rivendell at all and be certain that someone among the Wise will take up the Ring to oppose him if they don’t run to the Valar.
- Having committed the Nazgûl to search for the Ring, once Sauron assumes that someone will take up the Ring and come to Minas Tirith, he must regather them to use their full strength.
- Though not mentioned, its possible that other parties will be sent out as decoys for Sauron.
- Contacting Thranduil in Mirkwood shows that they are covering all their bases in terms of route.
- While Aragorn had no trouble from Dol Guldur while bringing Gollum to Mirkwood, that has changed since the orcs invaded in hopes of rescuing Gollum and has become more active.
- Note: This activity will culminate in the large battles with Mirkwood and Lórien later in the war. Before the hunt for the Ring, the Witch-king had rendezvoused with other Nazgûl at Dol Guldur.
- Gandalf mentions this as if he knew the longing that was in Frodo’s mind before volunteering.
- This time will satisfy his desire to be with Bilbo and explore Rivendell as he had wanted to do.
- Why didn’t Gimli and Legolas go back to their homes after the Council? Did they know that they would be asked to be part of the Fellowship, or did they not want to travel that late in the year?
- Note: It would be normal for travelers to winter in a place after a long journey and head back in the spring in pre-modern times, as travel in winter is dangerous. Bilbo and Gandalf spent the winter on their return trip from Erebor with Beorn, and it’s possible that those from Mirkwood and the Lonely Mountain were afforded this same offer by Elrond, since it’s now late October.