Farmer Maggot's Dogs

[Moonraker]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

First off, there's no evidence that the dogs ever "savaged" anyone. As Frodo said:



And as Pippin noted,



So yes, I think Maggot was reasonable to keep dogs for that alone, mushrooms aside.

As for the Ringwraith encounter, it was hardly likely to end in death. They were in the Shire covertly, and I can't see them killing any hobbits just for grins.

There is such a thing as drawing fire with fire, and Maggot and his three large dogs would have been over matched by an enemy eventually if they openly threatened anyone who entered his land. I think he would have been wiser to use a more subtle approach on the outskirts of the Shire.

Originally Posted by IxnaY AintsaY

Oh, I don't know about the Witch-king. There was that ol' prophesy about him, "...and not by the hand of man shall he fall." which potentially could been applied by any of the three dogs or their master.

I can't see how the dogs could successfully defeat the Witch-king. The prophecy was only a prediction by Glorfindel, not necessarily a reality, but Maggot was not Tom Bombadil. Who knows what he could do?

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by Moonraker

There is such a thing as drawing fire with fire, and Maggot and his three large dogs would have been over matched by an enemy eventually if they openly threatened anyone who entered his land. I think he would have been wiser to use a more subtle approach on the outskirts of the Shire.

It depends whether you're talking about the Ringwraiths specifically or trespassers in general. Wolves or trespassing Big Folk might have been seen as a possible threat, but Orcs had not entered the Shire in nearly three hundred years. The dogs would probably be enough to keep troublemakers at bay, which was probably the extent of his or indeed many hobbits' thinking on the subject, as wise as Maggot himself was. Maggot obviously had no knowledge of the Ringwraiths so I fail to see how he could be expected to take any other plan of action except one according to his own wisdom and knowledge of the situation. It may not have been effective, but he can hardly be expected to have taken a Ringwraith-specific plan of action given that he didn't know what they were.

It is still questionable whether Maggot had the right and authority to threaten anyone with his dogs, even if trespassing by mistake.

Given that there was no real government Maggot, much like any other hobbit, had the right and authority to do as he pleased, constrained more by the bounds of common sense than any law or constitution.

Perhaps Aragorn ought to have arrested him for keeping such large and dangerous animals?

[Andsigil]

Originally Posted by Zigûr

Perhaps Aragorn ought to have arrested him for keeping such large and dangerous animals?

I was going to ask the same question before I saw your post.

[Moonraker]

Originally Posted by Andsigil

I was going to ask the same question before I saw your post.

I think the Council, and other great powers like Lorien and Gondor, had better things to do than arrest Maggot for killing a trespasser with his dogs. But he may have been tried by the highest power available in the Shire?

[Mithalwen]

It is clear to me from the scouring of the shire that the vilent death of hobbits in their own land was pretty much unheard of. Also that Magots dogs were not truly dangerous from Frodos words - alarm and deterrent not offensive weapons. To suggest that Buckland was some lawless violent and anarchic badland is ludicrous. Had Maggot been a danger to the community, no doubt the Master would have taken action but really this sort of extrapolation is the realm of speculative fan fic.

[Moonraker]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

It is clear to me from the scouring of the shire that the vilent death of hobbits in their own land was pretty much unheard of. Also that Magots dogs were not truly dangerous from Frodos words - alarm and deterrent not offensive weapons. To suggest that Buckland was some lawless violent and anarchic badland is ludicrous. Had Maggot been a danger to the community, no doubt the Master would have taken action but really this sort of extrapolation is the realm of speculative fan fic.

I think you have got carried away here. The visit by the Nazgul had made Maggot exceptionally sensitive to trespassers, and the dogs would be used unmercifully from then on, that is the impression he gave to Merry.

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by Moonraker

the highest power available in the Shire?

There was no power. There was no government. Both the Mayor and the Thain were, at least by that point, almost purely ceremonial positions.