Episode 233 Summary

Tony Meade

Active Member
SESSION 233

Joy of the sight:
  • Gimli’s interruption seems prompted by both Gandalf’s pause and his description of the path ahead, which indulges in naming the places that they are likely to see along the way.
  • Once again, Gimli is sharing parts of the secret Dwarvish language, through the placenames.
  • It’s likely that this is a quote from a Dwarvish poem or song, or even hymn, given his reference.
  • The language that Gimli uses is that of a sacred pilgrimage which might be expected of him.
  • The rhythmic and length balance of the two lines of description suggests translation of poetry.
  • Note: Tolkien was known for developing his own metrical patterns, including variations, as well as experimenting with traditional forms to make them unique to his own world-building.
  • Gimli’s emphasis seems to be that he may get to see these sights personally for the first time.
  • It seems likely that Dwarves would have songs in the same vein as the Rivendell Elves, but since they are secretive and only sing them out of sight of other people, no one else would hear them.
  • While Dwarves sometimes speak Khuzdul publicly, it is usually not translated as Gimli does here.
  • Note: The moment that Galadriel later quotes these lines to Gimli will have a great effect on him, and it will lead him into his later unusual role as a uniter among the Free Peoples.
  • While Gimli showed a bit of his personality and values in his conversation with Elrond, but this conversation shows us more of his relationship with his own culture and with the Company.
Whatever you may do:
  • Gandalf reminds Gimli that he is free to stay in the valley and not bound to continue with them.
  • This is in contrast to the exchange with Elrond where Gimli showed his willingness to bind himself to them, but Gandalf is leaving the possibility of his departure open in the future.
  • Gandalf may not be anticipating pursuit in the Dimrill Dale, but he does anticipate making their way to the “secret woods”, as that is their agreed goal once they cross over the mountains.
  • By describing it as “the deep vale of the Dwarves”, Gandalf is speaking in deference to Gimli, but at this time, there are no Dwarves there, even though most of them expect to find Balin there.
  • It has been twenty-five years since anyone has heard from Balin’s folk, so Gandalf assumes they are gone. Therefore, this might be a reference to the importance of the valley to Dwarf history.
  • According to their history, there would be an expectation of danger from Orcs in Dimrill Dale, but Gandalf doesn’t mention this, rather emphasizing that they will have to move on quickly.
  • Note: Thorin’s Company used the High Pass in the north to cross the mountains in The Hobbit, but from there, they were pushed far to the south by events. This time, Gandalf wants to use the Pass of Caradhras as his first choice, but he eventually seems resolved to go through Moria.
  • Likewise, Gandalf also doesn’t mention the threats present in the secret woods to any of them.
  • Note: After Gandalf’s fall in Moria, Aragorn will take them on exactly this route to Lothlorien, but he will be in doubt after this, just as Gandalf didn’t want to think further ahead himself.
  • It’s even possible that Gandalf and Elrond have a plan beyond the Great River, and certainly not how to get into Mordor, nor to get to Mount Doom, and are simply being open to Providence.
  • Elrond had told Frodo that ultimately it would be up to him to find a way to accomplish it.
  • Note: The breaking of the Fellowship will be the final push that decides Frodo’s path for him. Gandalf may not foresee the breaking right now, but Galadriel will give him a warning of it later.
  • Gandalf’s use of “my good dwarf” is sincere, as Gimli is showing both goodness and Dwarvishness, and he acknowledges his reverence and the strength of his feelings.
  • Gandalf shows that he knows that this is special in a way that it may not be for the others.
  • Note: Gimli will turn out to have more reason to leave the Company after leaving Moria than Gandalf anticipated, since he could be seen as having a duty to report to Dáin what happened Balin and his folk, but he will choose to stay with them in spite of this and see it through.
Into the secret woods:
  • Gandalf may not have a clear plan going forward from Lórien, but he may have an inkling.
  • It’s not obvious why Gandalf pauses there, as it would seem there was something to follow it.
  • Gandalf may be partly trying to avoid speaking the name of Mordor, even though they all know where the ultimate destination is for this journey. He doesn’t want to be proscriptive about this.
  • Also, Gandalf may be acknowledging that the end of the journey could be different for them all.
  • It seems unlikely that all of them are expected to go all the way to Mordor, even not counting Aragorn and Boromir, who are already planning to leave to go to Minas Tirith along the way.
  • This expected breaking of the Fellowship is what forces him to end his proscription there.
  • Note: The original version of Gimli’s lines was prosaic but was edited to make it more poetic, as this shift in tone takes this from being mere exposition to a more reverent expression by Gimli. This also allows the reader to build anticipation for the Mirrormere before they arrive there.
  • Merry is the one to express the obvious question because he is the one who had looked at the maps and had taken it on to concern himself with their route earlier in the Old Forest.
  • The fact that it is a hobbit asking this question, instead of the others, and so softens the asking.
  • Note: The Hobbits also stand in for the readers, so it makes sense that they would ask for us. This also gives the narrator a chance to distinguish between Merry and Pippin in personality. Tolkien has expanded how he is handling the differences in the characters of the Company in contrast how he had done so in The Hobbit, where most of the dwarves are not well-defined.
END OF SESSION
 

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