Episode 229 Summary

Tony Meade

Active Member
SESSION 229

A tale growing in the telling:
  • The hobbits’ three journeys have grown immensely in both scale and importance so far.
  • Only Frodo has the most real sense of the danger of their journeys, unlike the others, for whom this has been the beginning of an adventure in the Bilbo tradition, but only theoretically.
  • Even Frodo, who had been warned of the spies of the Enemy by Gandalf, could not have foreseen one of the Ringwraiths turning up in the Shire on the day that he left Bag End.
  • Note: This also shows Tolkien’s own journey in the writing of the story, as he did not set out with a clear end point in mind, and both the size and stakes of the journey continue to expand.
Many sunless days:
  • As the quest begins, the emphasis is upon the overview, not the actual events of their journey.
  • This shifts as it moves back to Frodo’s point of view and the physical details of their experience.
  • The elements are described in a tactile way, and the use of “hard and dreary” captures the difficulties of both the landscape and the physical challenges, but also the emotional burden.
  • The word “hard” could a double meaning, as it may refer to both the physical effort involved, and the cold, stony ground that they are walking over, and in both these ways, difficult terrain.
  • The joylessness of the struggle removes any sense of reward for the effort involved traveling.
  • Note: Though this part of the journey is difficult, it will pale in comparison later in Mordor, but this emphasizes how unprepared at this point the hobbits are for what lay ahead of them.
  • The wind is the one detail that stands out, which not only adds to the tactile description, but is also anthropomorphized in the way it is ascribed actions as to how it affects the Company.
  • Note: This is a common experience for most people and allows readers to enter into the scene.
  • While their suffering isn’t dangerous, it is very uncomfortable, despite their adequate clothing.
  • Note: This maybe an example of foreboding in the way that Tolkien often uses types of characters and experiences in ascending or descending scales of magnitude that echo each other. In this case, the wind becomes a foreboding of what will happen on Caradhras later, and Caradhras will forebode the suffering of Mount Doom, with Caradhras’ spirit echoing Sauron. The “searching fingers” echo Sauron’s own intent seeking them out personally, and the Ringwraiths, nine in number like Sauron’s fingers, extensions of his searching will. It’s important that, like the red star reminding him of Mordor, the wind brings Sauron to Frodo’s mind.
  • Camping in hollows shows their intent to get out of the wind but is inadequate as real shelter.
  • Sheltering under thorn bushes are equally comfortless, as in trading the wind for sharp thorns.
  • The description of their usual day is not any particular day, which emphasizes both the monotony and the unending discomfort of the constant cold and lack of light or adequate rest.
  • It is notable that the first time that the actual word “cold” is used, it is to describe their meals.
  • There is an emphasis on the fact that these weren’t always the conditions, and occasionally they were able to have a fire or hot meal, but also that the usual conditions are rules set by Gandalf.
Getting nowhere:
  • This monotony is exacerbated by their seeming lack of progress, and therefore a waste of effort.
  • Note: While other authors emphasize the description of long discomfort by continuing to show the characters’ suffering again and again, Tolkien is able to do the same by describing it once, but ascribing these conditions to long periods of time, which improves the reading experience. By including the detailed timeline, it is easy to understand the exact length of time that passes in these experiences, but by focusing on the text itself, we get to feel more like the characters. Tolkien is very restrained in revealing this kind of logistical information, which he knew and had worked out, preferring to allow the reader to stay in the moment as described most of the time.
  • The shift back into landscape description emphasizes the hobbits’ experience in particular, as we see the environment through their eyes, and what they think and feel about their journey.
  • This is shown through the use of the simile comparing their progress to progressing like snails.
  • There is also an emphasis on how the land is getting even harder as they go south than earlier.
  • While before we were made to feel their weariness, the hobbits’ stumbling allows us to see it.
  • The increasing hills and running water have begun making the land unpassable, not just hard.
  • However, the wonder of the hobbits seeing mountains for the first time, like Bilbo had before, though as they go south, the mountains are becoming even larger and more intimidating.
  • While the route is probably a good one, based on Aragorn’s experience, it is also probably not to the hobbits, and they feel as though as they are lost, only reassured by the nearing mountains.
  • Aragorn may even be doubling back on certain paths to throw off spies, like after leaving Bree.
  • There are also probably easier routes south that Aragorn and Gandalf have deliberately avoided.
  • Aragorn’s familiarity with the land may also decrease as he gets further from Rivendell, plus the landscape may have changed much in the many years that have passed, and they must adjust.
  • Their concern over being followed from Rivendell, and not just being spotted or awaited on the road, may also be leading them to these harder measures for the sake of secrecy and stealth.
  • It’s important that this is the hobbits’ perspective, and not Aragorn or Gandalf’s, and so limited.
  • Gandalf has been south many times, but he likely has only used the Greenway or Anduin valley, as the roads and rivers are the fastest and safest routes to take, and is a traveler, not a Ranger.
  • Note: There is a distinction between lands that one passes through frequently and where one goes on purpose, and therefore the quantity and quality of knowledge of them is different.
END OF SESSION
 

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