[Lyta_Underhill]

I'm not going into biology here... but still I think that it's rather likely something changing the height of a mamal to change its DNA too.

I do not believe the DNA itself would change; if that were so, then Merry's and Pippin's children would all carry this rogue "Entwater" gene and many would be giants. I don't remember Tolkien mentioning that Faramir Took was a giant... (But he can't mention everything.) Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but to change a creature's DNA once it has come to maturity would be akin to introducing a virus into their system. I would think simply that the Ent Draught worked on certain hormonal systems in the hobbits and triggered a latent response, i.e., growing taller. Also, I'd think that, in the real world, both Merry and Pippin would have terrible joint problems as a result from the strain!

But that's neither here nor there, I suppose!

We should not be surprised that Merry shows the most maturity. Sam, before the War, had little responsibility other than looking after the garden at Bag End. Frodo, with his inherited wealth, had nothing to do except study Elvish, write poetry and dream. Pippin was too young (under 33) to take on the burden of being heir to the Thain.

In the early chapters, Merry is the planner. Frodo seems to think that he can set out to walk to Rivendell with little thought or preparation. It's Merry who makes the house at Crickhollow available, it's Merry who arranges for Fatty Bolger to stay in the house to give the impression that Frodo stays there and it's Merry who organises transport for the party and provisions for the journey.

You make good points, Selmo, especially concerning the necessary progression of Merry's responsibilities within the Shire. He is indeed showing his fitness to become Master of Buckland one day, and at his age that is proper and expected. I imagine that many Brandybucks of Merry's age would be thinking of the same thing, but Merry proves a greater aptitude for those necessary requirements to being eventual Top Brandybuck.

Pippin would not be thinking of such things yet, as he is about at the stage of development Frodo has reached when Frodo concentrated on stealing Farmer Maggot's mushrooms and escaping his dogs! Pippin was a brash wanderer, a true heir to the Tookish strain of hobbit. He did not plan and his contribution to the unfolding "conspiracy" was to guide Frodo and Sam through the back roads in his neck of the Shire. Escaping the travelled roads and foiling the Nazgul took quick thought, and Pippin was an extremely talented navigator as far as his known territory. Also, he had an easy way with the inhabitants. Think of what comical fear we could have seen on Frodo's part if Pippin had not been there to greet Farmer Maggot!

Merry and the Nazgul are deeply bounded throughout the book - first he is mistaken for one, which represents them as poles. Then he has a close encounter with a Nazgul in Bree. Also he's the first one to notice the Nazgul from Weathertop, but that's not so important.

Interesting theory, Mirkgirl (and great thread too!); I am not sure about "bonding" but perhaps there is a significance to Merry having a lot of "contact" with the Nazgul, being the only member of the Fellowship to take the Black Breath twice!

I'd simply like to add that, even with everything above, there is more direct stress to Merry and Pippin, which falls upon the 'salvation' of Boromir, his release from the grip Ring has on him

Excellent point bringing in Boromir here, HI! This is one area I thought that PJ showed well, the interactions and play between Merry and Pippin and Boromir in Fellowship and then the echo of the valorous fall of Boromir as Pippin pledges his fealty to Denethor and Gondor in ROTK.

Another interesting parallel is the nature of the friendships and the direct outcomes of such with Merry and Theoden and Pippin and Denethor. As a matter of fact, I find it ironic and pleasing to think on the legend of Ernil i Pheriannath in Gondor, that when the Riders of Rohan came to Gondor's aid, each would carry with him a Halfling warrior! Both Rohan and Gondor could not have done better with 500 men in the place of Merry and Pippin alone, I think! So, in that way, the acts of friendship of these two hobbits were not only personal (Merry for Theoden and Eowyn and Pippin for Faramir and Beregond) but the effects of these acts were legendary. Perhaps Ernil i Pheriannath can apply not only to Pippin who inspired it, but also for Merry!

On another note, let us not forget the small and large acts of friendship of Frodo and Sam. In a direct way with Sam and in a rather serendipitous, providential way with Frodo, the small acts of kindness of these two dealt the final blow to the Darkness. It is, I think, a Light characteristic of hobbits in general but is amplified in the four of the Fellowship.

Cheers!
Lyta