The Third Theme

[Mithalwen]

Also proud does not always relate to proud, it can mean not flush with a surface - as in proud flesh (scar tissue). Tolkien is reported (and I think in the letters admits to) a childish sense of humour. He may have just meant that their conspicuously big (as indeed they were). Most English surnames are based on relationships, professions, places, or physical attributes. He was rather prone to descriptive names - Ioreth, Arwen, Gandalf even at a stretch even Legolas (can be interpreted as sharp ears ).

As for hobbits, I don't think it is a question of humility or some innate predisposition to be good: Tolkien tells us that they are literally and metaphorically small people. The just aren't open minded or intellectually curious enough to go beyond their familiar world on the whole. When sufficiently stimulated some rise to the challenge of heroism while others are easily tempted to profiteer. I rather think that the wise having been exposed to the best of them see them rather as "noble savages" like Omai the south sea islander who Captain Cook brought to London for a while. If they had met others their opinions might be closer to those expressed by colonials - My father inherited a set of books called "People of all Nations" dating back to the heyday of the British Empire, which basically describes the natives of most (certainly most non anglophone) countries as peasants. Either hard working, plucky and resourceful peasants or feckless, idle criminal peasants dependant on the political relationship with England at the time).

If I were cynical I might say the wise needed people who were totally unaware of the severity of the situation becasue noone who was would be very keen..rather like when my car needed to be towed and the nice AA man assured me that women who had never been towed before were best at it, and I believed him just long enough for us to get going - I then realised it couldn't possible be true and had a very panicky 10 mile journey but at least I didn't end up in Mordor.