LotR -- Book 1 - Chapter 04 – A Short Cut to Mushrooms

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

I admit that this is a pretty slight chapter – one of the least momentous in the book, and yet it has always been one of my favourites. The stouthearted Maggot is a wonderful character, and a ‘type’ of folk the likes of which it has been my very good fortune to know in real life (having grown up around farmers).

There are three points in this chapter that I would like to point out, in addition to those already mentioned.

A long-drawn wail came down the wind, like the cry of some evil and lonely creature.

This particular sentence has never really leaped out at me before, but after the discussions in the Monster thread I could not help but notice the part about the Wraith as being “evil and lonely.” It’s an odd sentiment I think; there is here at one and the same time fear of the Rider and a kind of sympathy for him/it. The “cry” of the “creature” is a “wail”: very sad. And then to respond to the cry with a recognition of loneliness, just as the hobbits are about to go into Maggot’s house to enjoy his hospitality. . .well, it almost makes me feel sorry for the Nazgûl!

Frodo’s memory of having been chased by Maggot’s dogs “all the way to the Ferry” introduces an interesting contrast between the everyday ‘dangers’ of the Shire and the new dangers that have invaded it (and that are now chasing Frodo right to the Ferry!). I don’t think that there’s any kind of Maggot-Nazgûl comparison (although maggots do eat carrion… ) but it is interesting that Frodo here is reflecting on the greatest fear of his innocent youth as he is simultaneously confronting the terror that will be his future.

That last point is about Mrs Maggot:

His wife stood in the light of the open door.

The association between women, light and the safety of home is a big and recurring theme in the book, and here we see it for the first time. Mrs Maggot has welcomed the hobbits and given them shelter, and like Galadriel later on, she sees them off upon the next dangerous leg of their journey after having given them marvellous food, and some good advice (“‘Don’t go arguing with any foreigners and come straight back!’” ). Again, I don’t think that I can make much of a Mrs. Maggot/Galadriel argument, but the foreshadowing is there, I think.

It’s significant that it comes here, too, as this is the hobbits’ departure from the Shire-proper. Yes, they are still in hobbit-lands, but as soon as they cross the River they are out of their homeland and on the (settled) edge of the Wild. I find it compelling that it is a woman who sees them off and provides them with the supplies they need for the journey…

EDIT

Originally Posted by Boromir88

Hobbits are just a race I can't like too much besides Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pip, the Took household, Bilbo, Farmer Cotton and Maggot.

You do of course realise, B88, that those are pretty much the only hobbits you get to really know in the course of the book: perhaps if we know more about the other hobbits we would like them just as much! (Well, maybe not Lobelia and Otho. . . )