Episode 222 Summary

Tony Meade

Active Member
SESSION 222

Their farewells being said:
  • This passage is unusual in that no action takes place, but merely sets the stage for the action.
  • The emphasis is on their waiting, and the associated tension and uncertainty everyone is feeling.
  • While everyone is outside in the cold, they are looking on the Last Homely House, where light and warmth are still within. They have neither left, nor are they still really in Rivendell.
  • Their liminal state is highlighted by Bilbo’s presence, who is with them but not coming.
  • The darkness outside, in which everyone is waiting, is emphasized by the lights shining inside.
  • Note: In the film version, this scene is done in daylight, and the emphasis is more about Frodo’s discomfort at being a leadership, and his need to lean on Gandalf for support and guidance.
What this hour meant:
  • How exactly is Aragorn physically positioned, and what does this mean for his state of mind?
  • Note: It is unusual for Tolkien to give these kinds of details as to people’s physical postures.
  • This may be a physical representation of the weight of Aragorn’s responsibilities upon him. It is the turning point of Aragorn’s life and career, and a pause before the greatest quest of his life.
  • There may also be a hint that Arwen is involved, since others know about Aragorn’s royal lineage and destiny, but only Elrond would know fully what it means for Aragorn and Arwen.
  • It wouldn’t be simple sadness for leaving Arwen since that’s been a usual occurrence for them.
  • There may also be a moment of meditation or prayer, though not a temptation to turn aside.
  • However, it’s unlikely that Aragorn is expressing depression, as when he was on Weathertop remembering Elendil, he seemed conscious of the fact that he was walking in Elendil’s footsteps.
  • Aragorn has always understood that he is Elendil’s heir, not just to the throne, but also his role in regard to defeating Sauron. Aragorn has walked that path willingly, affirming it at the Council.
  • Note: Aragorn will come close to despair later at Parth Galen with the death of Boromir, and the stress that he is under while searching for Merry and Pippin, trying to decide the path forward.
  • This is a culmination of the entire northern line of the Dúnedain, and what they have awaited.
  • While Aragorn has left Rivendell and Arwen many times before, it is very different this time.
  • Departing with Boromir for Minas Tirith after the public declaration of his identity and purpose makes this momentous for both the northern and southern kingdoms, not just Aragorn himself.
  • Note: While Tolkien is notable for the length of his finished texts, the drafts are even longer, and its important how much he is willing to cut in revision to say more implicitly than explicitly. He often leaves the concepts present but leaves them there for interpretation rather than stating them. In this case, we’re told that it meant something important to Aragorn, but not what.
  • There may also be a memory of his mother, Gilraen, and her words to him about hope for Men.
  • Note: It’s not clear if the narrator, likely Frodo, knows what the moment means for Aragorn, or how he would know, though he may be venturing a guess about Arwen, retrospectively.
  • Invoking Elrond means there is also a sense of what this moment would mean for him, too.
  • This is losing proposition for Elrond personally, and for the Elves in general, no matter the outcome. They will either be defeated by Sauron or lose all that they love in Middle-earth.
  • Aragorn also knows that his victory, gain, and joy would be the instrument of Elrond’s grief, and as his foster son, he understands what that would mean for Elrond, as well as for himself.
  • Note: There are many known parallels and anti-parallels between Aragorn’s and Beren’s quests, and Elrond is well aware of them, and he may have wanted to allow Aragorn and Frodo to volunteer, rather than send them per force, and he understands Arwen’s parallel to Lúthien.
  • It’s likely that Aragorn is sitting with the sword across his lap to accommodate his posture.
Grey shapes in the darkness:
  • It’s important that the previous descriptions were given about people that cannot be seen, since everyone who’s described is currently standing in the dark, except Gandalf, who isn’t there yet.
  • While it’s possible that the descriptions come from when they were standing in the Hall of Fire, Boromir would not have blown his horn inside the house, especially given the situation.
  • There is a parallel with this description and the Ringwraiths while Frodo was wearing the Ring, and also how he saw his friends after being wounded and on the way to the Fords while ill.
  • Sam described how Frodo sounded distant when wearing the Ring on Weathertop, and this sense of distance between Frodo and his friends has been a consistent theme via the Ring.
  • While nothing as sinister as that is happening here, there is a strong sense of Frodo’s isolation.
  • Frodo’s sense of anticipated loneliness has been consistent, though in most cases this has been voluntary in order to protect other, but he also feels the sadness of isolation from the others.
  • This isolation has been used by the Ring to isolate him further, much like it did with Gollum.
  • Even Sam has been concerned with Frodo’s isolation, and he has set himself to be with Frodo.
  • Frodo’s fears have isolated him at this point before they depart, even though he is not alone.
  • Note: It is emphasized throughout the book that any time that Frodo has tried to leave his friends behind, and especially Sam, this has been a bad choice, even done with good intentions.
Standing by the pony, sucking his teeth:
  • What is meant by this idiom? Is Sam annoyed or bored or being thoughtful and speculative?
  • The juxtaposition of Sam’s desire for adventure at its lowest ebb with the river roaring stonily is a physical manifestation of Sam’s overall mood, using the shared metaphor of running water.
  • Note: In the poem “Errantry”, Tolkien uses a similar metaphor of a river running stonily, though in that poem, the river is running merrily, which is in contrast to the characters loneliness.
  • Sam is no lonely like Frodo, but rather simply resistant to leaving, since he has no personal interest in going on this adventure, and his going is completely an act of self-sacrifice.
  • The personal interest Sam had before was to see the Elves, and he has fulfilled that desire.
  • He is now leaving the Elves, however, and not to go home, which would have been his wish.
  • This river that is now used to express gloominess, with its coldness and impersonality, is the same river where the Elves sang silly songs before in The Hobbit, so it has taken on their mood.
  • Note: This narrator of Sam’s actions points to Frodo being the narrator, showing that Sam is resolved to do his duty in spite of his reservations and lack of motivation for an adventure. While Sam will not lose his sense of wonder, but he is not going in search of those things.
END OF SESSION
 

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