Even if
The Hobbit is not considered as authoritative as
LotR on Dwarves and other aspects of Middle Earth (and I'm not saying I agree with that), there is still a lot in LotR that corroborates my first post quote from TH about Gimli and Dwarves in general. This is especially the case in the Lórien chapters.
Quote:
|
'A dwarf!' said Haldir. 'That is not well. We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days. They are not permitted in our land. I cannot allow him to pass.'
|
Quote:
'And what gift would a Dwarf ask of the Elves? said Galadriel, turning to Gimli. 'None, Lady,' answered Gimli. 'It is enough for me to have seen the Lady of the Galadrim, and to have heard her gentle words.' 'Hear all ye Elves!' she cried to those about her. 'Let none say again that Dwarves are grasping and ungracious! Yet surely, Gimli son of Glóin, you desire something that I could give? Name it, I bid you! You shall not be the only guest without a gift.' 'There is nothing, Lady Galadriel,' said Gimli, bowing low and stammering. 'Nothing, unless it might be -- unless it is permitted to ask, nay, to name a single strand of your hair, which surpasses the gold of the earth as the stars surpass the gems of the mine. I do not ask for such a gift. But you commanded me to name my desire.' The Elves stirred and murmured with astonishment, and Celeborn gazed at the Dwarf in wonder, but the Lady smiled. 'It is said that the skill of the Dwarves is in their hands rather than in their tongues,' she said; 'yet that is not true of Gimli. For none have ever made to me a request so bold and yet so courteous. And how shall I refuse, since I commanded him to speak? .... 'These words shall go with the gift,' she said. ... 'I say to you, Gimli son of Glóin, that your hands shall flow with gold, and yet over you gold shall have no dominion.'
|
Here we have both the enmity held by Elves against Dwarves, and the singularity of Gimli. Perhaps any dwarf would have behave as well under the benevolence of Galadriel? I don't think so. This Dwarf was the son of Glóin, one of the company who had the friendship of the Wizard and the Hobbit, who had learned valuable life lessons through his part of the adventure of recapturing the Lonely Mountain; it is reasonable to suppose that he passed his wisdom and good heartedness onto his son Gimli.