Episode 65 Summary

Tony Meade

Active Member
SESSION 65

Comment Morgul blades (again):
  • Is the Morgul blade carried by the Witch-king a unique weapon, or is it a description of a type of weapon carried by the Nazgûl or other servants of the Enemy?
  • The term “Morgul”, as used as a proper noun, seems to point to Minas Morgul. But the word itself is merely descriptive, meaning “sorcery” in Sindarin. It contains “mor-“, meaning “black”.
  • Tolkien uses “sorcery” as a near-synonym for “magic”, but always in a negative connotation, so “Morgul” would be translated as “black magic”
  • Note: The element “gul” in “Nazgûl” is Black Speech for “ghost” or “spirit”, but it is different in Sindarin Elvish, where it means “magic”, as in Dol Guldur, which means “hill of dark magic”.
  • It could be associated with the location of Minas Morgul, but the way they are spoken of implies that they are referring to its dark powers.
  • We don’t have enough information to know if all Morgul blades have exactly the same effect.
  • Aragorn and Gandalf seem to know what the knife does, but there are runes on the blade that seem to help them diagnose Frodo’s ailment and how to heal him.
  • This is why Aragorn is determined to show Elrond those runes, which he believes will be useful.
  • Note: These is an example of Tolkien’s naming conventions, which use simply descriptive phrases made into proper nouns, which is how things are named in real life.
Comment on Harry’s guilt or innocence:
  • We don’t have any clear evidence that Harry the gatekeeper is a bad person, unlike Bill Ferny.
  • Bill Ferny’s involvement in the horse-theft is badly kept secret in Bree, but he is an opportunist and sees the arrival of the Black Riders as a chance to make a move for power.
  • Note: This is parallel to Gollum’s talk of “new friends” that will support him against his enemies.
  • Note: We will learn later that it is not long after this that Bill Ferny will go into the wild to join up with ruffians who will attempt an armed takeover of Bree.
  • Bill may no longer care what the Bree-folk think of him, as he has openly declared himself an enemy of Bree.
  • Harry is in a different category from Bill Ferny, for whom this is the next logical step as a malcontent and possibly a small-time criminal. Public opinion had seen Harry positively.
  • Harry was not involved in the attempted kidnapping of Merry. Ferny was assisted by the Southerner. And he was probably not involved in the break-in.
  • The real evidence, aside from his encounter with the Black Riders, of Harry’s turn to Bree’s enemies comes later when the battle occurs in Bree. He will be on the ruffians’ side.
  • The only way one could release all the horses from the town was to go though the gates, and it seems most likely that they went out the west gate, as they ended up with Bombadil.
  • Harry is at the very least an accomplice to the horse theft, turning a blind eye, not perpetrator.
  • Strider does not suggest that Harry is colluding with the Black Riders; rather he has been daunted by them and is acting out of fear.
  • Note: Gandalf will ask about Harry later, which implies that Gandalf knew Harry and did not think ill of him. Therefore, news of his defection to the brigands is a shock and disappointment.
  • There’s no evidence that Harry was involved with the ruffians during the Scouring of the Shire.
  • In Bree, the sides aren’t as clear-cut as in Gondor, as this is an internal power struggle between order and lawlessness, as opposed to serving the Enemy.
Sam’s point of view:
  • The fact that Bill Ferny’s house is the last house shows that Ferny is a marginal character in Bree.
  • The Bree-folk are not lining the streets like a parade. They are watching from their windows, and the company is trying to ignore them as they go by.
  • The crowd is not described as openly hostile, but few positive interactions are described, which means that the negative reactions are what makes an impression on the hobbits.
  • Sam is made the point of view character at the rear of the column, which is an interesting shift.
  • Is Sam’s saying about apples and pipe a proverb, or just his own observation? The fact that this is in quotes implies that this an aphorism of wellness among Hobbits, and he comments on it.
  • Sam has a tendency toward pessimism, as we see in his observation that he will have to do without pleasant, comforting things like smoking and eating apples before long.
  • He has already shown this tendency to voice pessimism, such as his continuing suspicion of Strider even after Frodo has decided to trust him. This will continue all the way to Mount Doom.
  • Sam’s pessimism seems to be part of his character and even bound up with this heroism.
Frodo’s observations:
  • Frodo has never seen a goblin in person, but he sees that there is something beyond simple human ugliness in the southerner’s appearance.
  • Frodo may have heard descriptions from Bilbo, or even seen drawings of them.
  • Note: Tolkien will later reveal that this part orc was chosen by Saruman to go to Bree because he was most likely to pass as human, which seeds are laid in this scene.
  • Note: The term “goblin” is traditionally a vague term, so it is hard to make specific classifications of orcs and goblins throughout Middle-earth. The difference seems to be linguistic. Fatty Bolger’s nurse had told him stories of “wolves and goblins” in the Old Forest, but this might not be literal, but rather the vague idea of monsters and scary things, which Merry rejects.
  • Frodo probably does not suspect cross-breeding, but more an extreme ugliness and strangeness.
  • The cross-breeding of Orcs and Men is not common knowledge. This is a secret experiment of Saruman at this point.
The continued scheming of Bill Ferny:
  • We are never told any of the other names given to Strider, but we can see the direction from the ones he is given.
  • “Longshanks” simply means that he is unusually tall. He may be the tallest person in Bree and probably towers over Bill Ferny, who chooses to make fun of it passive-aggressively.
  • “Stick-at-naught” may mean that he has no morals and is willing to do anything. This is intended to sow dissention among the hobbits, as he suspects that they don’t know Strider well yet.
  • Ferny is implying that they are in danger tonight when they are alone in the woods with Strider.
  • “Stick-at-naught” may also mean that he is shiftless and not committed to anything. If so, it implies that Strider will simply abandon the hobbits in the wild.
  • Note: There are modern YA novels set in Victorian times that use “stick-at-naught” in the latter meaning, but it may be because of a modern misunderstanding of the phrase. In 19th century literature and before it is used as the former definition.
  • The key word in the phrase is “at” as opposed to “to”. “At” is a place to stop.
  • Ferny’s prominence in negative reputation among the Bree-folk, along with his cunning in setting free the horses, may imply that he is the leader of the brigands later on.
  • Ferny seems to be building up a resume for some bigger leader he can rule underneath.
  • His insults are not just petty attacks; they serve the agenda of the Black Riders.
  • Bill Ferny is probably surprised to see Strider taking up with these hobbits, and he may believe that they have become desperate if they have chosen to hire Strider as their local guide.
  • The insults are also smug, convinced that he has done a fatal injury to their cause.
Sam’s apple attack:
  • Note: Hobbits are described in the Prologue as exceptionally accurate with missile weapons, as Sam demonstrates here.
  • Why does Sam choose to hit Ferny with the apple? Is it merely a response to an insult?
  • Ferny’s use of “Sammie” is intended diminish Sam, as it is something one would call a kid.
  • Sam may see through the intent of Ferny’s insults and wants to shut him up to negate any dissention he might cause among the hobbits, though he is echoing Sam’s own fears.
  • The critical moment seems to be when Bill Ferny references the pony that he has mistreated, ridiculing it and Sam’s objection to the pony’s ill-treatment. He thinks animal abuse is funny.
  • He seems to think that anyone who cares about others’ suffering is foolishness
  • The act of throwing the apple shows that Sam is making a sacrifice of something he associates with peace and comfort in order to punish Ferny.
  • Sam doesn’t justify it aloud. He sees it as waste and misuse, even if Ferny deserves it.
  • Note: This is the second act of combat on this quest, the first being Frodo’s attack on the wight.
  • Sam doesn’t regret the attack, only that he didn’t use a more appropriate weapon.
  • Note: They will reference this later when they return to Bree, and they see Bill Ferny’s house boarded up. Once again, Sam does not regret his actions, and they make a joke of it.
END OF SESSION
 

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