Thoughts on Gildor Inglorion
Quote:
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The name seems to suggest that Gildor is Finrod's son. There is however no mention of this in any genealogy. It does say that he is of the house of Finrod.
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I would suggest that possibly
Inglorion means of the House of Inglor (Finrod Felagund), to be taken as
the people of Inglor. In Maori culture an
iwi (tribe) or
hapu (sub-tribe) may take its name from one distinguished ancestor, in a similar way. In this case they would be known as
Ngati Finrod (lol!) and all of its members would be able to say that they were of that people, whether biologically related or not, as they could all claim a sort of spiritual descent from him.
I think there is also a question of
what was Gildor's position in the hierarchy of the Noldor at the time of the War of the Ring? Were he and his company permanent residents of Rivendell? It is almost certain that they went there from time to time, but perhaps they were always a "wandering company", roaming sadly around the lands. Galadriel frets about becoming a "rustic folk" living in "cave or dell". Did Gildor and his company already live such an existence, out of choice?
If there was this marked difference in the lifestyle or role of Gildor compared to Elrond, Galadriel and Glorfindel, it becomes easier to understand his choices regarding Frodo. If he had chosen a life of exile and wandering, it is likely that he saw Frodo and the Ring as the problem of Elrond and the rest of the House of Fingolfin. He after all was of the House of Finarfin, who (with the key exception of Galadriel) may have been less ready to consistently wage war against Morgoth and Sauron.
Gildor eventually took ship with the Ringbearers in the Fourth Age. Was this an elevation of his position or an honour due to the help that he did provide to Frodo, though seemingly reluctant to do so?
Man-of-the-Wold's Ultimate Discourse on Gildor
Speculation on Gildor's Origins
<font size=1 color=339966>[ 7:44 PM January 08, 2004: Message edited by: doug*platypus ]