“Not all those who wander are lost.”

[Lyta_Underhill]

originally posted by Child of the 7th Age:

First, Tolkien makes a point of saying that the place where you start from is almost as important as the wandering you do.

originally posted by Estelyn Telcontar:

The other thought that I had concerns Aragorn. When he settled down in Minas Tirith to become King, he chose "Telcontar" as the name of his house - meaning "Strider", of course. Isn't it striking that he, who had so many names from which he could have chosen, decided to emphasize that aspect of his personality?

An interesting discussion indeed! And I do think it is significant that the good guys all remember their origins and emphasize them in latter days. I find it fascinating to consider the position of Barliman Butterbur as the hobbits and Gandalf return to stay with him for but a short time after the War of the Ring--his surprise and sudden enlightenment when told that "Strider" is actually the returned King of Gondor and Arnor, and that he "knows and loves" Bree and doesn't forget it. Butterbur is in a unique position to appreciate the length of Aragorn's journey, if not to understand how he got from here to there. It is in that moment that we realize that the wanderer was not lost, because he did not lose sight of the simple folk of Bree, even after ascending to the throne.

In this light, we consider others--particularly Arwen and Frodo, who always seemed linked by some ethereal thread to me (symbolized perhaps by the jewel she gives to him and the fact that they both wander away from others in the end). Arwen has lost her roots in a literal way--she has come from the line of the immortal Elves, who have all deserted her (of course, it is she who is the deserter with relation to them). She has lost, in an essential way, her beginnings and has become transformed. All that she has gained has been lost as she is a point in the wilderness, alone once Aragorn is dead.

In this same way, Frodo has given up his life in the Shire, and returns to it unable to share in its bounty. He ends up making the long journey away, breaking earthly ties and going over the Sea. In an essential way, these two have lost their origins, become transformed beyond the ability to remain anchored in Middle Earth. Both tarry awhile but in the end, both must go off alone. Perhaps this is the beginning of the great journey, which each one of us must make alone. Who knows how to retain the thread of one's beginnings when one makes the journey out of Middle Earth, or, in Arwen's case, where few Elves have gone before, but every Man, all journeying alone.

I'm not sure if this post makes sense, but I'll post it anyway, hoping someone will get something out of it! I think my coffee isn't reaching my brain very well today! Great discussion!

Cheers!
Lyta