Daily life in M-E

[Bêthberry]

Good morning to you, Gandalf the Grey. The vibrant sunlight shining into my room makes discussion here all the more pleasant.

With your usual acumen, you have indeed expressed clearly what I meant about the Breelanders, who have an admirable community of men and hobbits. I did not intend to imply the negative connotation of 'insular,' only meaning 'standing alone.' To me, the walled cities of Europe of a thousand years ago (and less) were defensive rather than exclusionary. I, too, do not see the Breelanders as narrowly restrictive but rather as protective or cautionary. That is the tone taken by Harry, the gatekeeper.

'I am Mr. Brandybuck. Is that enough for you? The Bree-folk used to be fair-spoken to travellers, or so I had heard.'

'All right, all right!' said the man. 'I meant no offense. But you'll find maybe that more folk than old Harry at the gate will be aksing you questions. There's queer folk about. If you go to The Pony, you'll find you're not the only guests.' ('At the Sign of the Prancing Pony')

There is, though, a hint of something parochial in The Shire, that the hobbits are a little too complacent with themselves and their land, a little too inclined to gossip over those who tend to be more irregular than proper. Comes perhaps from being protected by the Rangers, who are too mysterious for even the Breelanders to get close to.

When they [the Rangers] appeared they brought news from afar, and told strange forgotten tales which were eagerly listened to; but the Bree-folk did not make friends of them.

I am discovering the wonderful rewards for rereading. Just last week I realized that the Brandybucks have their own "private entrance" to the Old Forest. It is Merry who leads the Hobbits into the Forest.

Hoping you, and others, will find more to discuss,

Bethberry

[ June 07, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ]