LotR -- Book 1 - Chapter 05 - A Conspiracy Unmasked

[Fingolfin II]

Originally posted by Estelyn Telcontar:

He misses out on the journey and its adventures, but he is not belittled for staying behind and doing what he is capable of doing there for his friends. That reminds me of Aragorn's generous dealings with those soldiers who are too afraid to go to the Black Gate with him - he gives them a task that is within their strength to accomplish and does not condemn them for their cowardice.

I totally agree. Fatty Bolger's 'hobbitish' sense of staying put, yet firm resilience and loyalty to his friends is shown here. Don't forget that he has the job of raising the people in the Shire and facing the terror of the Nazgul-

....little did they know how dangerous that job would be.

I certainly would not like to be in his shoes there.

For me, this chapter was not extremely interesting, though later on it appealed to me when I saw Sam unmasked as the 'conspirator' and when I saw him pledge his loyalty and solidarity to Frodo, the simpleness of it just touched me. Here are three young hobbits who blindly support their older friend through perils and danger that only Frodo really comprehends at this stage. This encapsulates Gandalf's observations on hobbits and seems to be the core characteristic that Tolkien protrays in all the hobbit characters- that though they may be slow and greedy, that they are all essentially good people (yes, even Lotho!). Frodo's description of the pity he feels for Lotho just before Saruman dies really sums up the case of the Sackville-Bagginses; that they are greedy, yet they are not wicked- just blind to the outside world and sometimes to their own desire.

On the subject of Frodo's dream of Gandalf-

It seemed to Frodo that the riders came straight towards him; but even as they passed over him and beat him to the ground, he thought in his heart: ‘I am not here; they cannot hurt me. There is something here that I must see’. He lifted his head and saw a white horse leap the wall and stride towards him. On it rode a grey mantled figure: his white hair was streaming, and his cloak flew like wings behind him. As the grey rider bore down upon him he strove to see his face. the light grew in the sky and suddenly there was a noise of thunder.

This, along with his other dream, are very symbolic (duh!). I don't think this can be called foreshadowing, as it happens in the present, but his other dream (as well as the one in Bombadil's house) certainly is. I'm not sure how Frodo sees this vision of Gandalf, but I certainly think you're on the right track with that special 'pyschic' bond Frodo has with Gandalf, as well as greater perception and vision than most other hobbits that I know of.

What I enjoyed about this chapter most though- besides the pledges of loyalty to Frodo- were the simple, forthright behaviour of the hobbits, and their treatment of each other as friends, without thought to the task ahead, taking one thing at a time. I too have a passion for mushrooms!