Episode 89 Summary

Tony Meade

Active Member
SESSION 89

Comment on Strider’s attraction to high places:
  • Strider’s tendency to go to high spots and look around could be a normal choice for a Ranger who has to make decisions about travel in the wilds. Most of the time, this works out well.
  • There are also metaphorical reasons, such as at Amon Hen, which is translated as “seat of seeing”, and allows one to see further than is physically possible in space, and maybe time.
  • Aragorn was originally pursuing Frodo up the hill, but he continues even after Frodo leaves.
  • Another sense of Aragorn’s looking around is in his use of the palantir, not just revealing himself.
  • Aragorn often operates under a kind of faith in his decision-making, but it’s not a blind faith.
  • The attempt on Caradhras isn’t in this same category of scouting on a high place, but rather his taking a known route with known risks, rather than the unknown dangers of Moria.
  • The moments where he uses old Numenorean places as vantage points has to do with his right to do so as the heir of kings, not just showing his kingliness.
Comment on the use of “raiment”:
  • The times that the word is used in The Fellowship of the Ring, it is associated explicitly with elf-made items. In the rest of The Lord of the Rings, it’s associated with items reputedly elf-made.
  • It’s possible that Tolkien would use that word specifically in these cases, in order to signal something in particular, since it is archaic. This achieves a tone not possible with modern terms.
  • His choice to use any given word is done deliberately to achieve a particular effect or because of its specific definition. As a philologist, these kind of word distinctions would be his specialty.
  • There is a relation between “raiment” and “arrayed”, which are close, but not exact synonyms to “clothing” and “dressed”. There is a reason why he chooses one over the other.
  • It’s a possibility that “raiment” is being substituted for a specific Westron word in translation.
  • There is a sense in which each of the times the word is used is a formal occasion or introduction.
  • Overall, the use of “raiment” has to do with either the clothing itself or the context of its use.
  • The register of The Silmarillion is different overall from The Lord of the Rings, so the use of “raiment” to describe the physical forms of the Ainur is done in a different context.
  • The particular use with Glorfindel seems to be more about the context than the clothes. This goes along with the use of “form” in creating a tone of reverence from Frodo’s point of view.
  • Given Frodo’s descent into cold and darkness, the warmth and radiance radiating from Glorfindel makes this first sight of him special and memorable.
  • The forms of the Valar being as raiment highlights the effect of seeing the spirit behind the physical form, and it is in this context that Frodo sees the spirit in Glorfindel through his outside.
Comment on Glorfindel’s status in Rivendell:
  • Strider says that he “dwells” in the house of Elrond, but not “of” the house of Elrond.
  • This says something about Glorfindel’s position, in that he has not sworn fealty to Elrond.
  • That Glorfindel dwells in Rivendell but is not part of the household implies his high status, and also that this is an informal arrangement that is voluntary on both sides.
  • Another example of this kind of arrangement is Galadriel’s time in Doriath, where she “dwelt” but didn’t serve in the households of Thingol or Melian.
  • This may show a distinction between Elf-lords and non-lordly Elves, in that the latter may not be expected to move or change lords, while the former may make other arrangements.
  • Gildor’s introduction includes his affiliation with Finrod, and even though Finrod is gone from Middle-earth, he still identifies himself through this allegiance.
  • Does this have anything to do with Elrond not being a king? Like Galadriel, he doesn’t identify himself as royalty, but they are both from royal houses and in that position without the titles.
  • Glorfindel might think of himself and Elrond as peers and is connected to Elrond through his family history in Gondolin, and so has a senior position, though Elrond has the royal lineage.
  • This may be parallel to the relationship between Elrond and Gil-galad, where Elrond dwelled with the High King, but wasn’t a formal servant, even though he was a subject of the king.
  • This situation would also apply to Aragorn, and he uses the same word “dwelt” to describe his time there. He is not a servant or vassal of Elrond, but he did live there as a guest.
  • We see some of the work of servant-class Elves among the Elvenking’s halls in The Hobbit.
  • It’s unclear what form the arrangements would take between servant elves and their lords, though it seems that the work they do is done more for love of the work itself and their lords.
  • This is similar the medieval idea of a Great Chain of Being, though more understood and accepted and perfected than in men. Tolkien sees great value in both service and leadership.
  • Any economic relationships with elf-servants is unclear, as are most economies in Middle-earth.
  • There don’t seem to be class relationships in the same way of the “upstairs/downstairs” notions from Victorian Britain, but more voluntary associations based on service.
(continued below)
 

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(continued)

Glorfindel’s healing hands:
  • Glorfindel’s search of the wound with his fingers does not seem to be a probing, but more touching it to feel the location and temperature, for instance.
  • At the site of the wound and beyond, there is a physical change when Glorfindel touches him there, showing that there more happening than just a physical diagnosis.
  • There is a spiritual blessing that Frodo is receiving from Glorfindel, and this aids him not only spiritually in a return of hope, but physically, as the spiritual and the physical are interwound.
  • This is similar to what Strider had done, but it is notable that Glorfindel doesn’t sing or chant.
  • There is a sense that Glorfindel is pushing some of the poison from the wound, spiritually.
  • Much like the Black Riders withdrew from the Bridge at his approach, the evil in the wound cannot abide Glorfindel’s touch and seems to flee, too.
  • There is a sense of Glorfindel’s worry at what he learns from his touch, but he does not seem to be adversely affected by the wound the way he grimaced when handling the knife hilt.
  • However much he does here to aid Frodo temporarily, he does admit that he cannot cure Frodo.
  • The effect that Frodo comments on the most is that his friends’ faces come back into focus, which is a reversal of the spiritual isolation from love and support that the wound is causing.
  • There is an analogy to a blood transfusion going on spiritually between Glorfindel and Frodo.
  • This healing may be secondary to his diagnosis, but it is at least a conscious side effect.
  • There doesn’t seem to be any evidence that Glorfindel is affecting the shard, nor that any of them are aware of the shard in the wound at this point.
Glorfindel offers his own horse:
  • Besides giving Frodo the fastest horse to escape the Ringwraiths, why does Glorfindel offer Asfaloth? Part of it may be his smooth gait, which will also help satisfy Sam’s concerns.
  • Glorfindel emphasizes that the horse will bear him away, with or without Frodo’s choice, and he will not allow Frodo to fall, not only the save him from injury but to keep him from the Enemy.
  • Glorfindel may be worried that Frodo may succumb to the domination of the Enemy before they reach the Ford, so Frodo will be taken to Rivendell whether Frodo is in their side still, or not.
  • Note: There will be a battle over Frodo’s will when the time comes of the Ringwraiths pursuit, and it will take Glorfindel’s command to the horse to overcome it.
  • Note: There is a parallel between Frodo’s condition and Mina Harker’s condition in Dracula.
  • Glorfindel clearly knows how close Frodo is to fully be succumbed to the wound, more than Strider or Sam have seen. It may be that he sees Frodo’s spiritual state as Frodo can see his.
  • Frodo acts similar to Sam in claiming a brave and loyal intent, without thinking it through.
  • How does Asfaloth prevent its rider from falling? It’s not clear, but Gandalf makes a similar claim about Shadowfax later, and he has no saddle at all. Frodo doesn’t appear tied into the saddle.
  • Glorfindel’s smile and statement are kind, and echo Frodo’s earlier concerns about bringing his friends into danger, so he allays them by saying his friends are actually safer without him there.
  • From this statement, we could say that Glorfindel seems to know about the Ring, though this is not absolute proof, since he doesn’t name it. He would not be able to see it independently.
  • He only knows for sure that he is bearing something important that the Enemy wants, and this is also based on the messages of Gildor. They all know that Frodo owns a ring, but not The Ring.
  • Note: When characters in the story make elliptical statements, it is easy for long-time readers to assume that this is a kind of code that they really know everything, but this isn’t the case. Most of the time, they are simply stating that which they do know or suspect and omitting that which they don’t. For instance, when Faramir is unclear about what Isildur took from the hand of Sauron, he is actually saying that he doesn’t know specifically what that was until Sam reveals it.
Another mysterious elvish drink:
  • Is the drink Glorfindel gives the hobbits the same miruvor of Rivendell seen later? It’s likely that it is like the cordial of Imladris, but probably not the same as the liquor given to them by Gildor.
  • However, miruvor is later described as fragrant, and it warms them on Caradhras, unlike here where it is odorless and tasteless and not cold or warm, though it may change per their needs.
  • It’s possible that there are many varieties of miruvor, and it differs by the Elvish maker.
  • While the hobbits have primarily needed spiritual buoying as they’ve gone along on this journey, the effects of this drink are mainly physical. Their bodies are strengthened, not their hearts.
  • Glorfindel did not give this to Frodo right away, showing that it is needed more by the others.
Glorfindel’s considerations:
  • Why doesn’t Glorfindel split up the party, and take Frodo away like Arwen in the film? It may be in part to keep him with his spiritual support and he doesn’t know what the effect would be.
  • Glorfindel only said that he thinks that the Ringwraiths would pass up the others, but he doesn’t know that for sure, and Frodo isn’t the only member of the party he’s trying to help.
  • Glorfindel almost certainly wouldn’t consider sacrificing the others to save Frodo, and he knows that it will be easier to resist all nine Riders as a group than just him alone.
  • What would Glorfindel think about the result of the attack on Weathertop? Having heard that story, he may think that the presence of the hobbits in particular could give them an advantage.
  • Glorfindel may not think of the hobbits only as other charges, but as allies, thinking along the lines of Gandalf in considering the strength of their friendship in his calculations.
  • Note: It’s important to remember that Glorfindel was the one who made the prophecy that the Witch-king would not fall to the hands of a Man. He may also have noticed the kind of swords the hobbits are carrying, made by Arnor to fight the Witch-king.
  • Note: There is also a precedent in a plan to use the other hobbits as decoys in the early drafts, where Odo traveled with Gandalf to draw the Black Riders away from Bingo Baggins. However, this may not make the other hobbits safer, as they may kill or capture them all to be sure. Nor would Aragorn or Glorfindel be safe, as they assume the most powerful would take the Ring.
END OF SESSION
 

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