Hi Corey,
First, thank you for this fantastic work!
I started listening back in August 2023 and have been working my way through your exploration of the Lord of the Rings, and am now on episode 205, where Merry and Pippin will soon be chosen for the remaining two slots in the Company of the Ring.
In episode 203 & 204, you discussed why the various members of the company were chosen, and concluded that the main reason for Gimli and Legolas to be chosen was the, by chance, the path that the company would take partially coincided with their way home.
While this is certainly true, I think that there are more good reasons for them to be chosen, or more reasons that Providence brought them here to be chosen.
Legolas and Gimli are both tied to the recent history of the Ring:
- both their peoples and fathers were impacted, and arguably benefitted, from Bilbo finding and using the Ring. It could therefore seem fitting for them to contribute to this next quest
- it creates a nice parallel with Bilbo’s quest. Glóin was one of Bilbo’s companions, and Thranduil ended up being in Bilbo’s debt. Now, as Bilbo’s heir and (adoptive) son goes on this quest to destroy the Ring, Glóin’s son and heir, and Thranduil’s son and heir, will both accompany Frodo.
- my knowledge may be off here, but I also think that choosing Legolas, a Silvan elf, rather than one of the Noldor, is quite appropriate. As we saw in the Council, mostly through Galdor, is that the Noldor plan to go West. While this may ultimately be true for all Elves, I wonder if the Silvan elves, not having been to Valinor/not having seen the Light of the Trees, aren’t much more deeply tied to Middle-Earth. While the Noldor might see the fight against Sauron as necessary for the Peoples who will live in ME during the next age, it is not their own future. Would the Silvan elves not remain longer in ME than any other elves?
Thanks for your time,
Totch
First, thank you for this fantastic work!
I started listening back in August 2023 and have been working my way through your exploration of the Lord of the Rings, and am now on episode 205, where Merry and Pippin will soon be chosen for the remaining two slots in the Company of the Ring.
In episode 203 & 204, you discussed why the various members of the company were chosen, and concluded that the main reason for Gimli and Legolas to be chosen was the, by chance, the path that the company would take partially coincided with their way home.
While this is certainly true, I think that there are more good reasons for them to be chosen, or more reasons that Providence brought them here to be chosen.
Legolas and Gimli are both tied to the recent history of the Ring:
- both their peoples and fathers were impacted, and arguably benefitted, from Bilbo finding and using the Ring. It could therefore seem fitting for them to contribute to this next quest
- it creates a nice parallel with Bilbo’s quest. Glóin was one of Bilbo’s companions, and Thranduil ended up being in Bilbo’s debt. Now, as Bilbo’s heir and (adoptive) son goes on this quest to destroy the Ring, Glóin’s son and heir, and Thranduil’s son and heir, will both accompany Frodo.
- my knowledge may be off here, but I also think that choosing Legolas, a Silvan elf, rather than one of the Noldor, is quite appropriate. As we saw in the Council, mostly through Galdor, is that the Noldor plan to go West. While this may ultimately be true for all Elves, I wonder if the Silvan elves, not having been to Valinor/not having seen the Light of the Trees, aren’t much more deeply tied to Middle-Earth. While the Noldor might see the fight against Sauron as necessary for the Peoples who will live in ME during the next age, it is not their own future. Would the Silvan elves not remain longer in ME than any other elves?
Thanks for your time,
Totch
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