📖👀 Chapter 4 (📔Book III): Treebeard

[Rivendell_librarian]

This is a change of pace and focus from the previous three chapters. That being said, Hammond and Scull estimate Treebeard's walking speed is around 6 mph - a pace which he seems to be able to keep up ad infinitum. There is a similarity in that, as this chapter gives us much information about Ents, the previous two chapters told us much about the Rohirrim and Orcs. But Ents are much more creatures of fantasy and with a fantastic back story including the sad but fascinating tale of the Entwives. We're in a part of Middle Earth not reached in The Hobbit. Tolkien has the dual purpose of describing the peoples, creatures and geography of this part of Middle Earth as well as moving the story forward.

There are quite a few parallels here. Treebeard recalls Tom Bombadil as an ancient creature of great power who wants to live the quiet life apart from the War of the Ring. The contrast between the lover of nature (Treebeard) and the lover of mechanical things (Saruman) helps to define Saruman further than what we have learnt before. The descriptions of Treebeard's home in Fangorn and the place of the Entmoot recall the description of places in Lorien. There is even a basin of water of some significance. This is another period of hospitality following action. Merry and Pippin decide to trust Treebeard but they also sense the Ents could be dangerous to know.

It does seem as though the arrival of these new hobbit creatures (they have a new line added to the Ent's poem describing the peoples of Middle Earth) acts as the catalyst which Treebeard has been looking for. Treebeard knows what Saruman is up to and has realised he is untrustworthy. Pippin and Merry are tactfully barred from the Entmoot, and are left in the care of a hasty Ent called Bregalad, who even once answered a question from an older Ent before the question was finished!

After three days the Ents decide to march on Isengard. It seems as if the trees of Fangorn are following. "Night lies over Isengard" says Treebeard to finish the chapter on an ominous note for Saruman.

Treebeard said that Gandalf was "the only wizard who cares about trees" which seems rather harsh on Radagast.

 

[Olorgando]

I found it interesting that in early concepts it was "Giant Treebeard" instead of Saruman who had captured Gandalf and prevented him from arriving in Hobbiton to accompany Frodo on his journey away from there. HoMe vol VI "The Return of the Shadow" pp 363 ff.
More of a relative of Old Man Willow of the Old Forest, though probably already thought of as being mobile. The Huorns might be a echo of this "unfriendly tree-like giant creature".
PJ's mishandling of the Ents in the film is one of the blackest marks against him.

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

Maybe the resident @Ent at Large can shed some bark on this chapter 😬

 

[Ent]

Maybe the resident @Ent at Large can shed some bark on this chapter

Indeed a good deal of light could be shed, though our own @Rivendell_librarian does well at his 'comparisons'. Some pondering could also be given to 'contrasts.'

For example, this passage holds many intrigues for us. and is worth a good deal of thought.
"But the Sun at any rate must peep in sometimes," said Merry. "It does not look or feel at all like Bilbo’s description of Mirkwood. That was all dark and black, and the home of dark black things. This is just dim, and frightfully tree-ish. You can’t imagine animals living here at all, or staying for long."

We can also take note of this passage, and 'consider' it with relation to a passage elsewhere, though the timing is slightly different:
"The wind’s changing,’ said Merry. ‘It’s turned east again. It feels cool up here."

We couple it to Gandalf's stetement to Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas he has "returned at the turning of the tide"..."the tide has turned."

That said, we know Treebeard says "There aren Ents and Ents, you know; or there are Ents and things that look like but ain't, as you might say." (We RARELY speak of these "things that look like Ents, but ain't." Yet they are entirely different from Ents, or Huorns. (Though some seem to take this statement to mean they are the Huorns, and all Huorns are therefore bad or to be watched out for. Though we're on speculative ground, I disagree with this interpretation personally.)

We know Treebeard knows Gandalf is NOT passed on... or at least he's already returned... though Merry and Pippin are as yet unaware... and it is a great credit to Treebeard he does not reveal this to them, to relieve their 'pain of loss.' Treebeard leaves it to Gandalf's plans and planning. He 'may not be hasty', but he makes quick decisions about meaningful things.

When it comes to 'bad Ents' and what Huorns are, I believe we have some terrible misunderstandings... which are extracted from this passage.

...‘The trees and the Ents,’ said Treebeard. ‘I do not understand all that goes on myself, so I cannot explain it to you. Some of us are still true Ents, and lively enough in our fashion, but many are growing sleepy, going tree-ish, as you might say. Most of the trees are just trees, of course; but many are half awake. Some are quite wide awake, and a few are, well, ah, well getting Entish. That is going on all the time.
...‘When that happens to a tree, you find that some have bad hearts. Nothing to do with their wood: I do not mean that. Why, I knew some good old willows down the Entwash, gone long ago, alas! They were quite hollow, indeed they were falling all to pieces, but as quiet and sweet-spoken as a young leaf. And then there are some trees in the valleys under the mountains, sound as a bell, and bad right through. That sort of thing seems to spread. There used to be some very dangerous parts in this country. There are still some very black patches.’
...‘Like the Old Forest away to the north, do you mean?’ asked Merry.
...‘Aye, aye, something like, but much worse. I do not doubt there is some shadow of the Great Darkness lying there still away north; and bad memories are handed down. But there are hollow dales in this land where the Darkness has never been lifted, and the trees are older than I am. Still, we do what we can. We keep off strangers and the foolhardy; and we train and we teach, we walk and we weed.

The last bolded part tells what the 'real Ents' do. Previously, we are told there are things that 'look like Ents but ain't.' These are the 'trees that have come awake.'

True Ents become Huorns... 'become treeISH.'
Trees that 'become Ents but ain't' have 'black hearts' though they LOOK like Ents.

When we recall that the Ents have come to be from Yavanna's remembrance, which called the "Spirits from Afar" (whatever they were, but as far as we know must have been a class of Maia), to inhabit them, we also recall Melkor took many followers with him from the Discord. It is these deceived and darkened Maiar inhabiting trees in mockery of real Ents, i believe, making the things that "Seem to be Ents but ain't.)

Since neither Melkor nor Sauron could 'create' anything... (nor couold Yavanna for that matter) - it's all about what they could persuade the Maiar to become, or inhabit.

We also recall Treebeard said there were very few true Ents left. Then "Some of my kin look just like trees now, and need something great to rouse them; and some of my trees are limb-lithe, and many can talk to me." Another realization actual trees are still being inhabited by decent 'spirits from afar' and awakening. The event of marching on Isengard no doubt was a significant event to 'arouse' some of the Ents becoming 'treeish.'

It's quite a population, and a very complex mixture.

Treebeard knows what Saruman is up to and has realised he is untrustworthy.

As to the part noted by our @Rivendell_librarian above, we recall Treebeard did not fully realize what Saruman was up to until later... perhaps even until he was unfolding "who Saruman was" to the hobbits when they asked him. He says:
...‘I think that I now understand what he is up to. He is plotting to become a Power. He has a mind of metal and wheels; and he does not care for growing things, except as far as they serve him for the moment. And now it is clear that he is a black traitor."

Note Tolkien casts all this in the 'present tense', as though Treebeard is just 'putting two and two together' as he talks with Merry and Pippin.
And as he progresses through this and the next 3 paragraphs, he becomes increasingly 'agitated,' in the 4th following paragraph leading with "I will stop it!' in a booming voice. He has reached a Decision.

So indeed the Hobbits are a tremendous catalyst against Saruman's plans.. simply by asking a question..!

These are just the beginning of thoughts...

Treebeard said that Gandalf was "the only wizard who cares about trees" which seems rather harsh on Radagast.

As to this above, we must not be too harsh on Radagast. His love and forte was for the fauna, not the Flora.

So it IS entirely possible he was not unkind to the Flora, knowing the Fauna needed them... but he did not care for Trees like or in the same way as Gandalf... it just wasn't obvious to Treebeard, as Gandalf's knowledge and wisdom regarding the trees and their place and role in events was.

Anyway, there are a few thoughts for a start...be thankful I've not rendered it for you in the Entish.

I still have in my 'writings begun and incomplete.' a treatment of the Ents and the Huorns... hopevfuly to be finished and posted some day. It will be rather lengthy I fear... but far better organized.

 

[Ent]

I suppose anyone reading my post above from beginning to end deserves a medal. Perhaps a new badge should be created for 'surviving an Ent-post.'

 

[Rivendell_librarian]

I suppse anyone reading my post above from beginning to end deserves a medal. Perhaps a new badge should be created for 'surving an Ent-post.'

I found it very much worth reading. I recall there is a theory that Radagast took over Isengard after the War of the Ring, so maybe Treebeard got to know his neighbour Radagast better.

 

[Olorgando]

I suppose anyone reading my post above from beginning to end deserves a medal. Perhaps a new badge should be created for 'surviving an Ent-post.'

Oh, well, anyone who has plowed through some of Matthew B's post should breeze through yours. Just over two pages on my monitor. I've certainly read articles in Wikipedia over ten times as long.
But when I hypothesize doing the same on a "smart" phone ... 🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶

 

[Eljorahir]

Of course Treebeard would not light his home at night by burning candles or having a fireplace. Open flames in an Ent’s home? No way!

“Treebeard lifted two great vessels and stood them on the table. They seemed to be filled with water; but he held his hands over them, and immediately they began to glow, one with a golden and the other with a rich green light; and the blending of the two lights lit the bay, as if the sun of summer was shining through a roof of young leaves. Looking back, the hobbits saw that the trees in the court had also begun to glow, faintly at first, but steadily quickening, until every leaf was edged with light: some green, some gold, some red as copper; while the tree-trunks looked like pillars moulded out of luminous stone.”

Well, maybe there are some exceptions to the “no open flames” rule:

“‘Curse him, root and branch! … It must stop!’ Treebeard raised himself from his bed with a jerk, stood up, and thumped his hand on the table. The vessels of light trembled and sent up two jets of flame. There was a flicker like green fire in his eyes…”

Wellinghall by Ted Naismith

Another observation:
The gold light and the green light from the vessels blending together sounds a bit like Laurelin and Telperion, the Two Trees of Valinor. Only, here we get green substituting for silver. I’m not sure if there’s anything deeper to this, but it seems like quite an appropriate substitution.