Episode 244 Summary

[Tony Meade]

SESSION 244

Continuing some debate:

• This clearly frames this conversation through Frodo’s point of view and how he feels about it.
• He is not meant to be hearing this debate but makes his assumptions after listening to them.
• Frodo would probably not feel that he was doing anything unethical by being within hearing.
• His hearing has gotten keener since his wounding on Weathertop, and this is one of the effects.
• There is an ironic parallel to Sam’s overhearing conversations when people think he’s asleep.
• It’s possible that Gandalf is aware of Frodo, though he only caught Sam when he made a noise.
• Given that Gandalf has been making a great effort to put their situation in the cheeriest possible light for benefit of the hobbits, his candid tone with Aragorn hints that he is unaware of Frodo.
• Even in this private conversation, both Gandalf and Aragorn are speaking cautiously, just in case.
• Aragorn at least is explicit in his wishes that no one else in the company know about the debate.
• Frodo’s anxiousness to overhear is different from Sam’s defense that he didn’t actually mean to overhear, and was drawn in by the talk of Elves, even though he was actually spying on purpose.
• Frodo had complained that he could not trust anyone, based on Sam’s eavesdropping on him.
• However, it was love and care for Frodo that created the conspiracy and made him excuse it.
• Frodo’s social scruples about overhearing is overridden by his anxiety about their future path.
• This conversation reveals a divide in the Company between the leaders who know the plan and the rest of them who don’t, and Aragorn and Gandalf withholding information from the others.
• Frodo doesn’t ask because he doesn’t think that they will answer him honestly if he does ask.
• Aragorn begs for the information to be withheld because he is afraid of the impact on morale.
• He may also want to keep the image of unity within the leadership, avoiding a general debate.
• While this may be compared to a military unit in one way, there is no clear chain of command.
• By avoiding this, they avoid causing any tension due to the others’ personal status and rank.
• At this point, they are bound by no oaths to be unified all the way to Mordor, but only to go as far as they will and to follow the previously made plans for each of them as chance allows.

Perils known and unknown:

• Aragorn’s primary argument is that delay is worse than the perils of the mountains, which they will have to pass either way, and this is the best of all the bad options open to them now.
• Aragorn has no doubt that the Rohirrim would never serve Sauron, just as Boromir had expressed, but in this context, he is worried about their possible overthrow by Saruman instead.
• Based on Gandalf’s recent interactions with Théoden and Grima, he and Aragorn may have discussed the possibility that the Rohirrim were under the influence of Saruman already.
• Therefore, his concern for passing too near to Isengard is valid if they don’t know the situation.
• Even if they die in the pass, they will do so without giving a chance for the Ring to be found.
• Could the spirit of Caradhras manifest a form that could wear or wield the Ring? There is no evidence either way, but there is also no evidence that he would have any interest in doing so.

The dark and secret way:

• Gandalf’s circumlocution is important again, especially in that he uses two different forms of it.
• This reveals something about Aragorn’s resistance to the idea and Gandalf desire to be clear.
• Aragorn has already preemptively parried Gandalf’s options by mentioning the Gap of Rohan.
• The fact that he doesn’t even want to speak about the other option shows Aragorn’s fear of it.
• Gandalf wants Aragorn to admit that it is an option, but Aragorn only agrees to it as a last resort.
• Aragorn seems worried that Gandalf will explain the options to the others and bring it to a vote.
• Note: Gandalf seems to have had a premonition about the need to go through Moria, but Aragorn’s premonition about Gandalf’s fate in Moria doesn’t seem to come to him until the moment arrives. Therefore, his anxiety about going through Moria is not driven by that.
• Aragorn would be worried that he would probably lose a vote because of Gimli and the hobbits.
• Note: Aragorn is also not in the same position personally when he chooses to go through the Paths of the Dead, as he is not making a choice on the others’ behalf, especially the Ring-bearer.
• By using the word “beg”, he is placing an obligation on Gandalf that will mean more if he brings it in spite of Aragorn’s request, and it is not simply a polite turn of phrase, within this context.
• There is a note of desperation to delay the decision, but Gandalf puts the choice back on the table, just as Aragorn had sought not to delay the passing of the mountains before.
• Rather than calling for further discussion, Aragorn calls for further reflection and contemplation.
• This is reflective of their decision-making process throughout they journey, by searching within.
• This is just as Elrond had not wanted a decision based on cold logic in the Council, but by trying to understand the movements of Providence and what they are meant to do, regardless of facts.
• Therefore, Aragorn believes that if they look within themselves, they may receive a new insight.

END OF SESSION