Why did Legolas set sail for the Grey Havens only after Aragorn's death?

[Folwren]

Interesting and insightful post, Anguirel. I have known several people who liked Legolas best in the book long before the movies came out, and those were boys, too, so it's really not a Bloom-fan thing. I'm more of a hobbit liking person, so I the elves never quite caught my fancy, but I can understand your sentiments. I, too, love that part when Legolas shoots the Nazgul's steed. I've always liked this painting of that part. (I still don't know how to put a picture into the text.)

SlverGlass, I always assumed Legolas waited to leave until Aragorn died because of his ties to him on account of their fellowship. I think that although Tolkien did not describe in very great depth the comradeship between Aragorn and Legolas and Gimli, it was still there to a great extent. They would not leave him when he wanted to go through the Paths of the Dead, and they ran long leagues with him to save Merry and Pippin, and they fought battles together. All these trials and hardships and adventures are bound to bring a trio together, and while they might not become friends like Legolas and Gimli were able to be friends, on account of Aragorn being their leader, they still loved him. So, I feel that it was the loyalty to Aragorn that kept him in ME that long.


Good question and welcome to the Downs.

-- Foley

[Mithalwen]

I was another pre-film Legolas fan. It was the elves that captured my imagination though I liked other characters -it wasn't quite like the Leggy bopper frenzy. I must admit that I have long puzzled about Legolas' response to Galadriel's prophecy and Ang's explanation never occured. I just thought it was because the Silvan and Sindarin elves hadn't the same connection to Aman as the Noldor who had lived there and were Exiles returning home.

But while I agree that he would have waited the (to him) relatively short time for the sake of fellowship, isn't also possible that Gimli could only hope to be admitted to the undying lands when he is close to death, no matter what grace attached to him. Sam and Bilbo go there to die rather than to live. Frodo presumably lived long enough to be reunited with Sam but he is a little different - I think he effectively died to Middle Earth as a result of the attack on Weathertop - Gandalf notices the change and notes to himself that he might become like a vessel of light. It is not dissimilar to the description of Glorfindel, that preceded it living on "both sides" similtaneously.

[Anguirel]

Folwren, I'd forgotten that picture existed but it was definitely at the back of my mind. Probably the single finest argument for a dark Legolas, and the bow is pretty like kickass as well isn't it...reminds me, in a respectful manner of course, of that vaguely unintentionally homoerotic passage somewhere in the Prof's notes where he compares Legolas to "a young tree"...

[blantyr]

I've always wondered, since Legolas did set sail after Aragorn's death, whether he should have offered Arwen a berth.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by blantyr

I've always wondered, since Legolas did set sail after Aragorn's death, whether he should have offered Arwen a berth.

I'm sure both Legolas and Arwen knew that wouldn't have been allowed. Arwen had made her irrevocable choice to turn her back on immortality, and the West was no longer open to her.

[Galadriel55]

As I said before, I have nothing against the book Legolas. In fact, he is one of my (many) favourite characters. He is likable, and sort of half-serious and Elvish at the same time.

My comment reffered to those who are nuts about Bloom-Legolas, who appear not to notice anyone else.

Originally Posted by Foley

SlverGlass, I always assumed Legolas waited to leave until Aragorn died because of his ties to him on account of their fellowship. I think that although Tolkien did not describe in very great depth the comradeship between Aragorn and Legolas and Gimli, it was still there to a great extent. They would not leave him when he wanted to go through the Paths of the Dead, and they ran long leagues with him to save Merry and Pippin, and they fought battles together. All these trials and hardships and adventures are bound to bring a trio together, and while they might not become friends like Legolas and Gimli were able to be friends, on account of Aragorn being their leader, they still loved him. So, I feel that it was the loyalty to Aragorn that kept him in ME that long.

I think your post summs it up fairly well, Foley.

[SlverGlass]

Originally Posted by Anguirel

I think Legolas must have had a fairly healthy pre-Bloom fanbase, Galadriel55. He was certainly my favourite character at my first reading as a rather serious, self-important and chivalric little boy...

The reasons why, for reasons that rationally must be coincidental but certainly don't feel that way, were all extirpated from or altered in the films.

Obviously I always thought Elves were cool but for me this controversial passage picked out Legolas in particular:



and yes, I did interpret that as dark hair (not an unbiassed reader though). Then he only went and shot the blimming Nazgul steed. One of the finest moments of action Tolkien ever wrote I think; for a believer in the old heroic combats, he's always surprisingly excellent at archery moments; no Homeric contemner of Paris the archer he. I actually have a theory that shooting suits novelists much better than hand-to-hand fighting. An arrow going through the air, subject to aim, wind, accident, is a sort of perfect image of suspense. Tolstoy's duels are much more exciting, short-lasting, awe-inspiring than the stylish fiddling around of Dumas's rapiers. Anyway. This feat of archery was cut from the film, as far as I can see because the director thought the action might spoil the vibe of his soporific Enya-larded drift down the Anduin.

Legolas's next fine moment was his contribution to the Lament of the Winds. I've always loved that, though I understand why few songs made it cinematically. Still, sad.

And now, to at last reach the ostensible topic of this thread, how about the wonderful verse of Galadriel's warning?

"Legolas Greenleaf long under tree
In joy thou hast lived. Beware of the Sea!
If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore,
Thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more."

I seem to recall Legolas takes this as a warning that he is likely to be killed. Remember that on first reading you have next to no idea about the rules of the game re: Elves and the Sea, just indistinct feelings of elegy, often at an age before you know about anything else elegiac. I wouldn't be surprised if it was here (or maybe in some war at Troy retelling, but close enough) that I got the impression it was in some sense good to die, noble to be resigned to fate and defeat. I can see in the film this would have been complex: a prophecy about a peripheral character that doesn't even come true in any obvious clunking way (as no true prophecy should). But complex is beautiful, and I really resent that there was no reference to Legolas and the gulls in the film at all, except a nod in that admittedly lovely glimpse of Elves going seaward in FOTR: EE.

I think Tolkien's last footnotes about Legolas are a way of reconciling this sense of elegy (about which there is SO much good, short Ang-Sax poetry) with Gimli's more upbeat spirit, of wagers, promises to visit Aglarond, grim irony. Of course there are times when the buskin is on the other foot: Gimli has his sentimental side too, and Legolas raises the spirits (not the Spirits) in the Paths of the Dead.

Another lovely, structurally purposeless aside is Legolas's recognition of Imrahil's elven heritage; Imrahil himself being a sort of incidental flourish of a character.

Finally, when Saruman warns "it will be a grey ship, and full of ghosts", I think of Legolas, going off at last to fulfil that prophecy, as much as or more than I do of the Ringbearers.

You make some very good and well thought out comments, Anguirel. As I mentioned before, the movies, though great they may be, didn't tug my heartstrings merely due to the alternation of the personality of the character. Among the elves, Legolas and Lord Elrond had always been a little closer to my heart. However, the movie took away the finer points that had made them so dear to me in the first place. Their characters became something different in the movies. Not necessarily bad, not they were certainly not the Legolas and Elrond whom I had grown to admire and even, respect.

Originally Posted by Folwren

SlverGlass, I always assumed Legolas waited to leave until Aragorn died because of his ties to him on account of their fellowship. I think that although Tolkien did not describe in very great depth the comradeship between Aragorn and Legolas and Gimli, it was still there to a great extent. They would not leave him when he wanted to go through the Paths of the Dead, and they ran long leagues with him to save Merry and Pippin, and they fought battles together. All these trials and hardships and adventures are bound to bring a trio together, and while they might not become friends like Legolas and Gimli were able to be friends, on account of Aragorn being their leader, they still loved him. So, I feel that it was the loyalty to Aragorn that kept him in ME that long.

I agree Folwren. You put forward some very good points. I had quite forgotten that not all emotions need direct physical manifestations to show itself. Thank you for refreshing my memory and thoughts.

Originally Posted by Anguirel

Folwren, Probably the single finest argument for a dark Legolas, and the bow is pretty like kickass as well isn't it...reminds me, in a respectful manner of course, of that vaguely unintentionally homoerotic passage somewhere in the Prof's notes where he compares Legolas to "a young tree"...

The picture was beautiful. This was the first time that I came across it. Thanks Folwren. I must say that the Professor's comparison is dead on the mark, Anguirel. Not surprising, of course, as Legolas is his creation. Even as one of the Eldar, Legolas, according to me, came forward as an extremely flexible minded elf, who didn't backtrack in face of some new discovery and always remain open for knowledge. Thus, he 'grows', in mind and character, throughout the book and helps us to grow with him.

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

As I said before, I have nothing against the book Legolas. In fact, he is one of my (many) favourite characters. He is likable, and sort of half-serious and Elvish at the same time.

My comment reffered to those who are nuts about Bloom-Legolas, who appear not to notice anyone else.

That was obvious, Galadriel. The fanatic craze about Bloom-Legolas is a little over the head. Or maybe a lot over the head.

Your phrase, 'Half-serious and Elvish at the same time', describes Legolas perfectly, Galadriel. For me, Legolas is and will remain the most 'human elf'.