Flammifer
Well-Known Member
In response to Bilbo’s question, Lindir laughs, “To sheep other sheep no doubt appear different. Or to shepherds. But mortals have not been our study. We have other business.”
The Biblical reference is to John 10:11-18: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees.”
So, what should we, the readers think when Lindir implies that the Elves are neither sheep nor shepherds?
First, we might wonder; Should the Elves be as shepherds to mortals? Then, we might wonder; Or should the Elves and Mortals both be seen as sheep?
I think, as first time readers, we don’t really know which yet (though later, the ‘both are sheep, as both are children of Iluvatar’ seems more likely).
However, we should certainly think that the Elves should be either sheep or shepherds, and that they consider themselves to be neither is ‘wrong’, and evidence of ‘Arda marred’, (which we don’t know anything about yet).
Shouldn’t it jar us, when we hear Lindir proclaim that Elves are neither sheep nor shepherds?
Perhaps, Frodo, later telling Bilbo that his song ‘fit’ with the earlier Elvish song, is a hint that Frodo perceives both as sheep, and not so different after all?
The Biblical reference is to John 10:11-18: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees.”
So, what should we, the readers think when Lindir implies that the Elves are neither sheep nor shepherds?
First, we might wonder; Should the Elves be as shepherds to mortals? Then, we might wonder; Or should the Elves and Mortals both be seen as sheep?
I think, as first time readers, we don’t really know which yet (though later, the ‘both are sheep, as both are children of Iluvatar’ seems more likely).
However, we should certainly think that the Elves should be either sheep or shepherds, and that they consider themselves to be neither is ‘wrong’, and evidence of ‘Arda marred’, (which we don’t know anything about yet).
Shouldn’t it jar us, when we hear Lindir proclaim that Elves are neither sheep nor shepherds?
Perhaps, Frodo, later telling Bilbo that his song ‘fit’ with the earlier Elvish song, is a hint that Frodo perceives both as sheep, and not so different after all?