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Originally Posted by Firefoot
What does Gimli do at all? Seriously, he's involved throughout the vast majority of the book, and what does he really do that couldn't have been easily done by someone else? Nothing! He's useless! He is completely unoutstanding, both as a character and as a player of Survivor! He pulls his weight, but he hasn't ever done anything of real benefit. The only real reason for his existence is so that there might be a representitive of his kindred. That's all he's good for, and he doesn't even do that well. He ends up almost more like an Elf than a Dwarf. Really.
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Ooo, bitter.
He-
-provides someone readers can identify with when in the company of the perfect Aragorn and Legolas
-has pithy and intelligent wit, of the Tolkien, not PJ, sort
-plays at courtly love a damn sight better than the rest of the Fellowship put together
-saves Eomer twice and Aragorn once at Helm's Deep
-beats Legolas by an Orc
-is, on the contrary, a sardonic character, one of the few who consistently has the spirit to see the dark humour in impossible situations
-sings and
dances
-says
Barak Khazad, Khazad Aimenu!
on numerous occasions, thereby displaying the essential, compelling quality of Dwarvendom-axing
-unlike cissy little hero-Hobbits and would-be-King Men, doesn't sully himself by effecting a plot unduly. Basically-along with Legolas-he has the dignity to stay peripheral.
Let me put it,
Firefoot, in an analogy you'll sympathise with. If LOTR is an RP, Gimli's player shows an excellent style, lightens tension, engrosses the reader, while at the same time not domineering the storyline.
Rather like your Orc pair in
Red Flows The Sirannon.
This is Gimli's purpose. He may not defeat Sauron or kill the Witch King, but he is a gripping and vital adornment to the books, and I would regret his omission from them far more than I would regret the passing of Meriadoc-AKA Yet Another Perfect Hobbit Hero...
Vote for the adornment of the books, the cynosure of earthy wit! Vote Gimli!