View Single Post
Old 04-05-2004, 06:01 PM   #37
The Saucepan Man
Corpus Cacophonous
 
The Saucepan Man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: A green and pleasant land
Posts: 8,468
The Saucepan Man has been trapped in the Barrow!
Pipe The character of minor characters

Quote:
Dininziliel, I will definately have to but a copy of Letters !
Oh, but you definately must, Essex. I am reading the Letters at the moment, and finding them to be an absolute revelation. For one thing, they provide the answers to so many of the questions that come up routinely in this forum. And for another, they give great insights into Tolkien's works (particularly LotR). And I also find myself agreeing with so much of what he says about life in general (see my sig, for example ).

Anyway, back on topic. For me, it is not so much Tolkien's use of minor characters as "plot devices", to move the story on or impart useful information, that indicates his skill as a story-teller. After all, any story which spans great distances and encompasses great events must include characters other than those at the forefront of the story. What I do find delightful, however, is the way in which he imbues so many of his minor characters with real character. He really brings them to life by giving them individual identities and character traits which make them seem real, and only some of which are necessary to help in developing the plot. While their characters are not really (and do not need to be) developed beyond what we see of them when we meet them, what we do see of them makes them entirely believable and completely individual.

The two prime examples of this which spring to mind are Barliman Butterbur (whose very name gives a good indication of his character) and Ioreth. They have individual characters which really mark them out as more than just cardboard cut-outs carrying out their plot-developing duties. Butterbur is the slightly bumbling and absent-minded, but nevertheless kind-hearted, barman. He maybe fearful of the Ringwraiths (who wouldn't be), but one suspects that he would be as tough as nails if a fight were to develop in the Prancing Pony (which it probably does quite frequently). But it is only his role as barman of the Prancing Pony and his forgetfulness (in sending Gandalf's letter to Frodo) which is necessary for plot purposes. As for Ioreth, she probably occupies even less space in the book than Butterbur, but we get a good sense of her character as someone who is kind-hearted, learned in her art, and also a bit of chatterbox (evident in Aragron's gentle teasing of her quick tongue). But it is only her knowledge of old lore which is necessary to the plot, since it is this which is central to Aragorn becoming recognised as the true heir to the throne. Importantly, though, her role in the development of the plot flows not just from what she says, but also from what she is.

We even get a good sense of the character of some of the bad guys in Ugluk, Shagrat and Gorbag. They are just Orcs, and all we really need to know about them for plot purposes is what they do. Ugluk commands the assorted Orcs who capture Merry and Pippin and attempt to take them to Isengard. We need to see his role in the argument which develops, and is central to Merry and Pippin escaping, but we do not really need to see that he also has a character. Except that we do, because this makes him a more interesting and believable character. And much the same goes for Shagrat and Gorbag. They could just be those two Orc leaders who capture Frodo and then fight in the Tower of Cirith Ungol. But they are much more than that. They are also the two Orc leaders who talk nostalgically about the old times and would rather make off and have an easy time of it. It's not necessary to the plot for us to know this about them, but it does add so much more colour to them.

Of course, not every minor character is so well developed as these, but there are many that are. Does anyone else have any good examples?
__________________
Do you mind? I'm busy doing the fishstick. It's a very delicate state of mind!
The Saucepan Man is offline   Reply With Quote