Tony Meade
Active Member
SESSION 223
Desire for adventure at its lowest ebb:
Desire for adventure at its lowest ebb:
- The use of the water imagery sets up the tidal metaphor describing Sam’s current state of mind.
- It’s contrasted with the roaring of the river, which shows the power of the moving water.
- The ebb of the tide is not only much slower by comparison, but also the volume of water is lower in relation to the land, and seems to be moving away from the shore, not towards it.
- Sam’s desire for adventure is not only low, but also running out like the ebbing tide. He doesn’t really want to go; he’d much rather stay in Rivendell, or better yet, go back home to the Shire.
- The running river was a metaphor that Bilbo used to describe being swept off on adventures, comparing the Road to a river can take one along to unforeseen places and experiences.
- Note: What is Sam’s role in the narration? He is an ordinary person’s point of view, since as a servant, he’s the lowest ranking person featured in the book, and as such a stand-in for readers. This is true for the hobbits in general, though Sam is the most exemplar, like Bilbo did before. The level of height from which events are observed make a real difference in how they are seen, and physical stature is often correlated to spiritual stature, such as with Aragorn and Boromir.
- Sam may project onto Bill, but he is also expressing to Bill things that he is not able to express to the others. Sam softens his remonstration of Bill’s folly to come along on the trip with affection.
- In a sense, like Bill, he could have stayed in the Shire or Rivendell and not taken up with Frodo.
- While Sam may not exactly regret his decision, he can only express this by talking about Bill.
- Sam has already expressed the wondrous change that has happened to Bill, and not just physically, but also spiritually, and this is a sign of what might happen to Sam if he stayed there.
- Sam’s love of poetry and music and stories could be fed and nurtured in Rivendell, though he would not be seriously tempted to stay behind when Frodo leaves, though he feels the desire.
- The use of “oughtn’t” allows Sam giving Bill the advice he thinks the Gaffer would give to him.
- While this applies to the trip to Mordor, it wouldn’t have been better to stay with Ferny in Bree.
- This is parallel to Sam’s current situation, which allowed him to learn his letters and meet Elves.
- Note: Sam will have grown the most in stature by the end of the story from where he begins.
- His grumbling and griping also does not reflect the convictions of his heart and sense of duty.
- The reference to Bill’s saying nothing seems related more to discretion than lack of ability.
- The swishing of his tail is like what he would do to swat away a fly or communicate as a horse.
- Note: This will be reflected more openly when Sam is arguing with himself and chooses to stop.
- Sam is not as divided in his heart as Bilbo had been, and the difference is his sense of duty. Bilbo was not truly responsible for what might happen and was convinced to go by enflamed desire.
- Sam has left behind many other desires and responsibilities, like Rosie and the Gaffer, for Frodo.
- While his desire for wonders, such as Elves, is operative, he also has a sense of destiny or calling.
- Even with that calling, there are still low ebbs of his desires, such as this one, and many others.
- Since Sam doesn’t attribute this sense of purpose to Bill, he is envious that Bill has more options.
- Sam had referenced Pippin’s desire to go on the journey and compared it with Bill’s, while Pippin said Sam had been rewarded with a place in the Company, which Frodo denied.
- Sam’s comments are premised on the idea that Bill’s choice, which is like Pippin’s volunteering, which is outwardly different from Sam’s sense of destiny, though it is operative for all of them.
- Merry and Pippin are coming out of love and friendship with Frodo, and that is what leads them.
- This doesn’t mean that there is no destiny working on them even though they are unaware of it.
- It’s no accident that Pippin is 100% Took, and he and Merry are clearly looking for adventures.
- This desire for adventure is currently allied with their love for Frodo but might hold them back and set those two things in opposition if they were clear on the perils ahead, like Gandalf said.
- Their desire to help Frodo as a kinsman is also in effect here, as is their personal honor as genteel folk within the Shire. This is reflected in their possible shame had they stayed behind.
- It’s important that only the hobbits are going solely for Frodo’s sake. The others are already planning to turn to other journeys at some point along the way, except for maybe Gandalf.
- Gandalf seems to be operating under the assumption that he will go with Frodo unless he is turned to other matters as events play out, and will allow himself to be guided by chance.