📖👀 Lothlorien/The Mirror of 🧝Galadriel

[m4r35n357]

Accidentally read two chapters without noticing Not too much First Age stuff here though.

Some of these are relevant to potential (minor) issues with the 1937 Eldanyare collection (possibly to be retconned from The Annals of Aman or the Grey Annals of ~1951).

Haldir has a brother, Rumil (same name as a certain Elf-sage of Tirion!).

Galadriel passes over the mountains before the fall of Nargothrond.

Khazad-dum is the Dwarf mansion in the Hithaeglir (not Nogrod, which needs to be Tumunzahar!)

The further I get into LotR, the harder this originally simple task becomes, information overload

 

[Olorgando]

... The further I get into LotR, the harder this originally simple task becomes, ...

"You cannot be serious" ... © John McEnroe, Wimbledon 1981

 

[m4r35n357]

Not daunted yet, I'm sure it thins out soon!

 

[Rivendell_librarian]

This post will be about Lothlórien.

A complete change of gear or mood from the previous action packed chapter, The Bridge of Khazad-dûm. It feels like the contrast between the drama of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and the pastoral beauty of Beethoven's Sixth Symphony. But apart from the descriptions of the beauty of the sylvan arcadia of Lothlórien (better seen when the mallorns are in flower?), there are other things going on here.

There is the curious diversion of the excursion to see Durin's Stone. I can't help think that Tolkien would have had an interest in archaeology, especially if runic inscriptions were involved. Did he ever get the chance to visit some sites? Gimli is keen that Frodo sees it (because of his connection to Bilbo?) and Sam follows on of course. Pippin asks Sam what he saw but Sam was "too deep in thought to answer". Was this because of grief for Gandalf? This is Tolkien doing some world building.

Aragorn had assumed command without consultation and in his keenness to evade orcs, he and the group leave the wounded Sam and the battered Frodo trailing behind. Would Gandalf have made this mistake - or Boromir for that matter? This reminds me of a moment in The Empire Strikes Back when Admiral Ozzel is replaced by Admiral Piett and Piett raises his chin to an underling tacitly saying "I'm in command now". Aragorn is right about the orc threat, but leaving the ringbearer behind!

Frodo's mithril-coat is revealed when he is tended and Gimli reckons it as more valuable than The Shire. Gollum is covertly tracking them. Boromir is reluctant to enter but he was right about the dangers of Moria. Is he right again? Aragorn makes an unsubtle dig at Boromir: "but only evil need fear it, or those who bring some evil with them". Not how to make friends or influence people! Was there some self fulfilling prophecy here?

Legolas recites a beautiful tragic poem about Nimrodel (who gave her name to a stream) and Amroth but this leads to a clash between Legolas and Gimli about awaking evil in Moria. Legolas then has a go at Pippin's reluctance to hide up a tree "dig a hole in the ground".

The Fellowship then encounters three elf guards: Haldir and his two brothers. There is more distrust of Gimli by these elves although Frodo speaks up for Gimli. After a night spent in their guard posts Haldir and his brother Rumil guide the Fellowship to the heart of Lothlorien. This involves using ropes to cross the Silverlode: the elves can balance on a single rope and Pippin proves the most adept of the hobbits at using two ropes.

There is then conflict as Haldir orders Gimli (only) to wear a blindfold. Aragorn resolves the matter by saying they will all be blindfolded though Legolas grumbles at this (one for all, and all for one). They arrive at beautiful Cerin Amroth, the heart of the now contracted ancient realm. Frodo and Sam especially are taken with the beauty of the place.

I have to say I think Gimli and Boromir come out better than I expected. Gimli's reluctance to be singled out to wear a blindfold is understandable and Legolas comes over as almost cruel to Pippin. I felt that Boromir was hard done by at the Council of Elrond and Aragorn's insult was unhelpful to say the least.

There is a theme of tensions in the Fellowship rising now Gandalf is not with them, especially between the two men and the dwarf and elf. But the hobbits are different - they are still "sticking together". Is the Ring affecting the group?

 

[Rivendell_librarian]

This post will be about The Mirror of Galadriel:

The chapter starts with some more descriptions of beautiful Lothlorien as the party reach the now city of the Galadhrim, Caras Galadhon (Sindarin: "city of the treea"). There seems to be a much larger population of Elves here than at Rivendell or Imladris S: "deep dale cleft") and a different beauty based on trees rather than water. The Elf city is well protected in a way similar to ancient hill forts.

Haldir leads first Frodo to meet Celeborn and Galadriel. Though apparently of equal stature (not just physically) it becomes apparent that Galadriel is more perceptive and has greater magical power which is used to protect their realm. Gimli is particularly smitten by Galadriel. It may well be that Gandalf chose this more direct route in order to discuss matters with Galadriel. News of his demise is met with grief and amazement by the Elves

There is more ill feeling directed at Gimli when the Elves learn that Durin's Bane has been stirred. Celeborn even suggests Gandalf was foolish to go via Moria. Galadriel steps in and defends both Gandalf and Gimli. Galadriel knows of the Fellowship's mission (from Elrond's scouts?) and states she would have preferred Gandalf over Saruman as head of the White Council. The Company slept on the ground and discussed Galadriel's piercing gaze.. Aragorn has another go at Boromir. Lothlorien seems a timeless place, similar to the Forest of Oberon and Titania..

After a time Galadriel takes Frodo and Sam to see her mirror of water in her garden near the edge of the city. Sam looks first and sees Frodo after being stung by Shelob and possible dark happenings in the Shire. Frodo seems to see Gandalf the White, Numenor, Osgiliath, Minas Tirith, the Grey Havens and finally Sauron's eye: events from the past, present and possible future. Galadriel describes the mental, magical struggle with Sauron to protect Lothlorien. Earendil, the evening star was so bright it cast a faint shadow of her and revealed her ring Nenya.. If the One Ring is destroyed, the power of the Elves will diminish and Lothlorien will fade but this is much to be preferred to submission to Sauron Frodo offers the Ring to Galadriel but like Gandalf she declines it

There is a biblical allusion here when Galadriel says to the Company "let not your heart be troubled" after releasing them from her gaze. A magical chapter.

 

[Muskrat]

Vignettes: Mirrormere, crossing the Nimrodel, waking on the flet, and Cerin Amroth. They add little to the plot, but convince the reader that Middle Earth is real. Did you get Sam’s joke about dropping off on the flet? I missed it on my first read.

 

[Rivendell_librarian]

Thanks for this Muskrat - Sam often gets a killer line. Another thing, it's becoming ever clearer that Sam is sticking to Frodo like a limpet to rock though I don't recall Tolkien commenting on this explicitly in the text e.g. Sam once again accompanies Frodo.

 

[Eljorahir]

One of my favorite Samwise lines, shortly after the blindfolds are removed:

'...this is more Elvish than anything I ever heard tell of. I feel as if I was inside a song, if you take my meaning.'

Edit:
For me, 'I feel as if I was inside a song...' can be interpreted at three different levels:
1. At the local level Sam is just stating his initial (and very insightful) impressions of Lothlorien.
2. Within the larger story Sam is, in fact, inside the ongoing Song of the Gods...the music of the Ainur.
3. Sam is 'breaking the fourth wall' and mentioning that he's a character in a song/story which is absolutely true here in the "real" world.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

'What you will see, if you leave the Mirror free to work, I cannot tell. For it shows things that were, things that are, and things that yet may be. But which it is that he sees, even the wisest cannot always tell.'

As I've mentioned before (probably ad nauseum) this chapter contains the main katabasis episode in the story , and is an important turning point for several reasons, one being Sam's tearful decision to continue the quest, despite what he sees going on in the Shire.

'Remember that the Mirror shows many things, and not all have yet come to pass. Some never come to be, unless those that behold the visions turn aside from their path to prevent them. The Mirror is dangerous as a guide of deeds.'

There's irony here, as Sam's "visions" are accurate: all the terrible things are happening, but too, Galadriel's final caution is valid: what could Sam have accomplished, if he'd "turned aside"? One thing can be stated definitely: Frodo's quest would have failed.

The real/unreal ambiguity of the visions here are paralleled-- or "mirrored" -- by the dead faces and "tricksey lights" of this episode's demonic parody in the Dead Marshes.

I want to say here, RL, that though I haven't had time to comment on them, your efforts on the Reading Project threads are much appreciated!

 

[Rivendell_librarian]

'
I want to say here, RL, that though I haven't had time to comment on them, your efforts on the Reading Project threads are much appreciated!

Thank you for your kind words. Your comments would be valued by me.

 

[Muskrat]

I have always loved that Oedipus trope— causing the very thing you atr trying to prevent. There is not much of it ib LotR, though I suppose Saruman may have caused his downfall by bringing Merry and Pippen to Fangorn. What did the Oracle say? Something like: if you cross that river with your army a great kingdom will fall?

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

"If Croesus crosses the Halys, he will destroy a great empire" is one formulation of the Pythia's reply to the question asked by the 6th century King of Lydia, on whether he should attack the Persian empire of Cyrus. Ambiguous, if not actively mendacious, considering the vast sums he'd donated to Delphi (his great wealth giving rise to the epithet "rich as Croesus", still heard today).

The prophecy, or warning, could apply to Sauron crossing the Anduin -- or in a way, to Isildur. But of course, river crossings as symbolic turning points appear throughout the story, beginning with Sam's reflections on crossing the Brandywine.

And the journey down the Great River begins in the next chapter.

 

[Eljorahir]

I found this entertaining…

I recently watched a podcast where a commenter mentioned the striking similarity between Aragorn’s words (about the mithril coat) and this old English nursery rhyme.

Aragorn:
“Here’s a pretty hobbit-skin
to wrap an elven-princeling in!”

English Nursery Rhyme:
“Brother's gone to buy a skin
To wrap the baby Bunting in.”

“Bye, Baby Bunting”
Published in Songs for the Nursery, 1805

Bye, baby Bunting,
Father's gone a-hunting,
Mother's gone a-milking,
Sister's gone a-silking,
Brother's gone to buy a skin
To wrap the baby Bunting in.

The syllabic structure of the lines matches perfectly in the version I quoted above. However, there are other versions.