Quote:
|
Originally Posted by malkatoj
Faramir, clearly, is simply trying to prove himself. But what about Arwen? I'm curious where her strength comes from--is she just rebelling against her father, or is it because of her love?
|
Not rebellion, I don't think. Remember, she love her father very much and it's a very hard choice for her to decide between immortality with him and death with Aragorn. She wants very much to be with Elrond... she just wanted Aragorn that little bit more.
Quote:
|
Also, I'm curious to see what people have to say about Sam and the Gaffer.
|
That apples occasionally fall far from the tree, so to speak, and in some respects. Though Sam loves his father "This is for my own gaffer!", he doesn't listen to everything he says. You wouldn't ever find Gaffer Gamgee moseying through Mordor, now would you?
Now to address the unbiological parental relationships, I think the reason that they are so close is because they
don't have to be. The "child" in the situation seems to have an equal standing with the "parent", such as Bilbo and Frodo. Bilbo was his guardian, yes, but it was a mutual decision. Bilbo didn't cloister Frodo, or keep him from doing anything. Frodo was free to come and go, and so, with that freedom, chose to stay. With Gandalf and Pip, that's tougher, because Gandalf had more say in the matter, and made sure his say was heard. But that's sort of like choosing to listen to you grouchy old grandpa because you know that beneath the gruffness, he really cares about you, and has a lot to share that's very interesting and possibly important. Pip doesn't have to listen, he just does because he respects that Gandalf is the leader. Even then... he doesn't always.
You see more with the biological relationships that they are one-sided, no matter how old the child gets. Though in the end, Arwen's decision is entirely her own (only because Elrond actually can't make it for her), Elrond tries to convince her otherwise the entire way. He's the father, he knows better, he's got more experience with these sorts of things... I can just hear the arguments now. Yes, Arwen's opinion would quite obviously counts, but you never forget at all that she is
his daughter. Denathor is the most controlling dad, obviously. Quite honestly, I think he would have benefitted from having a pretty and vivacious teenage daughter around. But his outlook seems to be that of an old warrior (I wonder why that could be...). His sons, though he loves them and "remember[s] it in the end", are soldiers (well... commanders) to be used for the good of Gondor. That relationship is more of a commander/underling one, though not entirely, as you will remember that he was their father and did love them. That's the important bond there with all of the relationships... love.
B, I like your topic. Ye've gone and made me think a bit about my parents and my other "parents".