Marriage!

[Essex]

re Sam's and Rosie's children

I always thought that the 13 children was a bit excessive

Remember that the hobbits were seen to be Tolkien's 'Common Men'. In Tolkien's days, having a multitude of kids was not uncommon at all. Indeed, my grandparents on both sides, living around the same time as JRR, had approximately 10 kids each. So 13 kids for Sam is not excessive to me, but I've got 2 myself and I admit that's enough for me!

[Lhunardawen]

I have always felt saddened (and frankly, annoyed) by the pure Numenoreans' intermarriage with others. I believe this is one of the factors that led to the downfall of the race. But come to think of it: Faramir, who relatively carries a lot of Numenorean blood (a loose translation ) would not have married Eowyn!

[Saurreg]

Lhunardawen, while I agree that intermarriages between the Dúnadain and men of lesser stature resulted in the dilution of pure Dúnadan blood and caused the lost of "potency", I also believe the outcome of each union depended on whom the Dúnadains married.

I think that the hybrid offspring of two people of different races tend to recieve the best characteristics and traits of the two. Take Eldacar for instance, his father Valacar was of pure Dúnadan blood but mother was Vidumavi of the Northlands. Not only did Eldacar retain the desirable traits of of the Dúnadain, he also added the fearless courage and spirit of his mother's people to the family gene pool.

[Mithalwen]

Err there was a smiley by my comment about the thirteen children indicating it wasn't intended to be taken QUITE so seriously ..... my grandmother was one of 12 surviving children, other branches were hit harder by infant mortality ......

However I think 13 is excessive, sorry ...... think about what it entails ...... I have a friend who is one of 15....... and her mother had a drudge's life married to a man whose contribution to the children didn't go beyond conception.

For me, Rosie just typifies the miserably limited lives women had until very recently in the West and still have in many parts of the world, the only plus is that she is married to a decent man.... Sam has social mobility but Rose is just a better class of skivvy ........

[Encaitare]

For me, Rosie just typifies the miserably limited lives women had until very recently in the West and still have in many parts of the world, the only plus is that she is married to a decent man.... Sam has social mobility but Rose is just a better class of skivvy ........

Perhaps, perhaps. But I like to think of Sam and Rosie as the happy, adorable couple that the movie portrays them as, and Sam's loyalty and love proves that he would play a major part in the upbringing of the children (when not tending to his super-important mayor duties, of course ).

[Mithalwen]

well I have just read a posting on the the thread for the barrowdowners of riper years which seems to agree with me ..... and what happened to all the kids they didn't take to Gondor....... And it seems to me that Rosie and the children play second fiddle to Frodo always ...when Frodo leaves, Sam wants to go to .. - I think it was interesting that Tolkien originally made Sam's last line "Well I've come back" ...

[Encaitare]

And it seems to me that Rosie and the children play second fiddle to Frodo always

That's very true. I wonder what the kids thought when Sam eventually left.