Tony Meade
Active Member
SESSION 265
To go back is to admit defeat:
To go back is to admit defeat:
- Gandalf is very clear about the consequences of choosing to go back and to remove that choice.
- During the Council, the question had been raised as to whether they could withhold the Ring from Sauron in his weakened state and had decided that they couldn’t defend it for long.
- Also, this reopens the question as to where the Ring would go once the Company sets out again.
- Gandalf’s view of doing anything other than destroying the Ring as an abdication of their responsibility to seek a final end to the menace of Sauron and the One Ring in Middle-earth.
- All other solutions are a temporary avoidance of the present situation, not long-term answers.
- Gandalf and Elrond also feel that the providential and serendipitous way that the Ring has come into their possession is a clear sign of the will of the Powers for them to take on the final quest.
- This is similar to Aragorn’s perception of Boromir’s dream as a call for him to act at this time.
- Elrond’s insight is that this problem is for Middle-earth and cannot be appealed to the Valar.
- There would be no shame for Frodo in attempting to destroy the Ring, and to fail in the attempt.
- However, turning back before even crossing the mountains and facing the greatest danger of their quest, this is the same as giving up before even starting for Frodo, at least in his eyes.
- The only way that he can turn back without shame is if the journey is simply impossible.
- The reason that the Company could not simply set out again if they did return to Rivendell is due to the shortness of time available to them to destroy the Ring before Sauron overruns the West.
- This is why Gandalf has abandoned secrecy for speed, as his location at least is already revealed.
- Thus, pursuit is not far behind, and Gandalf believes that they might not even make it to Rivendell, which is the only source of support on the east side of the Misty Mountains.
- Gandalf revealing himself might be perceived as a possible sign of one of the Wise taking up the Ring, and even if Elrond and Gandalf are eliminated, signs point to them going toward Galadriel.
- It’s unclear how Gandalf thinks he revealed his location, but he definitely believes it to be so.
- While Sam had associated this with lighting a fire at night in a high place before, in the case of Gandalf in the storm it is the use of his own power that allows those who can detect it to do so.
- Gandalf emphasizes the increase of power that the Ringwraiths would gain because nearly all of them have encountered the Ringwraiths before and therefore have a frame of reference for it.
- None of them, except perhaps Gandalf, have any experience of the power of Sauron himself.
- This is particularly in the front of the minds of the hobbits from their fight at Weathertop, just as Boromir encountered them in battle in Gondor, and they can imagine what they might be like.
- Note: Gimli possibly encountered the Mouth of Sauron outside Erebor, and not a Ringwraith.
- It’s possible that none of them know at this point that destroying the Ring will break Sauron’s power, but only that destroying it will keep Sauron from being able to use it against them.
- They seem to believe that Sauron had believed, before hearing news of the One Ring, that the Ring had been destroyed and that this had not broken his power, but that has since changed.
- Thus, Sauron must clearly know, or at least suspect, his peril if the Ring were to be destroyed.
- Note: Gandalf the White will only begin to tell everyone that destroying the Ring will break Sauron’s power permanently after his return from death and may be a consequence thereof.
- In their state of mind, the destruction of the Ring may only prevent Sauron’s immediate victory.
- Note: Even without the Ring, Sauron will continue to pour his own power into the Ringwraiths, and this is shown by the comments of Gorbag who understands that they have been promoted. Likewise, the trolls who can survive the daylight might also be explained by Sauron’s upgrade.
- Frodo’s sigh shows that he alone understands that this means they must go the unknown way that Gandalf had proposed, and Aragorn had feared, and is resolved to go whatever way that is.
- Sam gives us a clue for what the other hobbits feel when the return to Rivendell is dismissed.
- It’s important that Sam’s task is to protect Frodo, not the accomplishment of the quest, and that job is much easier in Rivendell than out in the wilds, though the consequences would be dire.
- Sam is also pessimistic that any other way forward would be better than the Redhorn Gate.
- Gandalf continues to be indirect, and doesn’t immediately name the way, only describing it.
- It is up to Merry to pose the direct question that gets him to stop building up and say the name.
- While the Mines of Moria have been mentioned in The Hobbit, as well as a little of the history, but the full threat of Moria is not fully expressed, especially compared to the Necromancer.
- What is mentioned by Elrond at the time is the Mines of Moria are supposed to be abandoned.
- Note: Both the long build-up and the structure of Gandalf’s sentence are intended by Tolkien to create a sense of dread about the Mines of Moria that might not have been there otherwise. In the films, Gimli’s enthusiastic suggestion of going through Moria removes much of the dread.