Episode 248 Summary

Tony Meade

Active Member
SESSION 248

Where the paths are usually open all the winter:
  • Given the tone of Gandalf’s question, this is surely not the first time he has used it with Aragorn.
  • Gandalf has already voiced his concerns about the snow to the whole Company, but this brings into the open that there had been a debate between him and Aragorn about the path before.
  • This focuses on Aragorn’s responsibility for choosing this path, though he is vague on reasons.
  • Though Aragorn acknowledges that it was likely they would meet snow in the mountain pass, he emphasizes that this snow is highly unusual for where they are, and something else is at work.
  • This reminds us that Aragorn has a lot of experience in these countries, and knows what is normal and what is not, just has he was alarmed by the unusual silence in Hollin before.
  • Also, the sons of Elrond had crossed this pass about a month before and were not hindered.
  • They chose this pass because of its southerly location, which would reduce the risk of snow.
  • Aragorn is not trying to shift responsibility, and he acknowledges the risks in continuing forward.
A contrivance of the Enemy:
  • Boromir seems to immediately pick up that there may be a supernatural power at work in this.
  • While it is known that Sauron has direct control over the mountains in his lands, this is far away.
  • He approaches this supposition tentatively and with humility, only based on his own learning.
  • Boromir is not asserting that this is true but putting it forth as a possibility in their ignorance.
  • Gimli is not convinced by Boromir’s suggestion and takes a sarcastic tone in that it is impossible.
  • Note: Modern readers tend to assume that Sauron’s power is nearly limitless, but the text makes it clear that while his power is great, he is not omniscient or omnipotent, and can be opposed. The fact that Frodo is able to enter Mordor and Sauron is not able to detect him until he claims in it in the Sammath Naur shows that Gandalf’s plan to distract him with Aragorn acting as a potential Ring-lord revealing himself works, because Sauron can’t know otherwise.
  • Gandalf rebuts Gimli’s objection, but though it sounds like Gandalf is suggesting that Sauron is capable of this, he is not asserting that this is the explanation, only that it is a possibility.
  • His main point is that they must not underestimate Sauron, because they do that at their peril.
  • Boromir’s point about Sauron’s strange powers and allies is seemingly supported by Gandalf.
His arm has grown long:
  • It’s not just Sauron’s personal native powers they must fear, but power wielded through others.
  • Boromir is probably remembering Gandalf’s story about the betrayal of Saruman, for instance.
  • While Saruman may not be Sauron’s ally from his perspective, he may be one from Boromir’s, regardless of the distinctions and qualification, as he is only thinking in terms of the two sides.
  • This also shows Boromir perceptiveness in seeing the ways in which Sauron could be responsible for the snow, without it being superstition or folklore, but an understanding of how he works.
  • While Boromir doesn’t seem to suspect the mountain, Gimli personified the mountain before.
  • Gimli is displaying a leeriness of the situation, but he is not the one who blames Caradhras.
  • While Gandalf is responding directly to Gimli, it calls back to Aragorn’s hint of malicious intent.
  • Note: In this case, the reader is privy to more than the rest of the Company, as we had heard the prior debate through Frodo. However, here they are calling back to it without talking about it explicitly, just as Aragorn had asked Gandalf not to do in front of the rest of the Company.
  • Gandalf is adding the possibility of malicious power working against them to his arguments as to why they should use his alternative route instead of the Pass, along with danger of exposure.
  • If Sauron or his allies are responsible, it would be in order to turn them back and trap them.
  • Knowing that they had the Ring in Rivendell, the only reason to cross the Misty Mountains here is to bring it to Galadriel in Lothlorien, where there is the danger of having her claim the Ring.
END OF SESSION
 

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