Greater impact on the events of the ⚔️War of the Ring?

[Ithrynluin]

Who had the greater impact on the way things happened in Middle-Earth - Merry or Pippin? Can we say either one of them had a more negative than positive impact?

Keep in mind that 'impact' can be both positive and negative. The poll asks a neutral question.

 

[Maeglin]

Please tell me what Pippin ever did that had a positive impact? Just about everything he did was negative. I guess maybe you could say that he had a positive impact because he was responsible for getting Gandalf killed, and then Gandalf came back to life as "The White," but that was purely by accident and coincidental. And even if Gandalf did come back even better, Pippin was still negative because the fellowship was without Gandalf for quite a while, and who knows if the Boromir would have died, the fellowship would have been broken, etc. if Gandalf were still with them?!
And then, I guess you could say again that Pippin looking into the Orthanc Stone was a positive thing because it attracted Sauron's gaze towards him and Minas Tirith and all of the captains of the West. But again, that was purely coincidental. Pippin did everything out of pure stupidity if I may say so myself.
So, in conclusion, Merry definitely had a much greater, postive impact on the story. He dealt the blow that allowed the death blow to the Witch-King, that's enough of a positive impact for him to beat anything else Pippin could have done (unless of course Pippin were to waltz into Barad-dur and chop Sauron's head right off, but that didn't happen so it doesn't matter).

 

[Sôval Phârë]

Don't forget that Pippin saves Faramir from being burned alive! One could also say that this action indirectly saves Eowyn as well, since it's through Faramir's love for her that she regains her will to live.

 

[grendel]

I would say it's probably a wash... as has already been pointed out, Merry's big achievement was aiding in the death of the Chief Nazgul; Pippin's was to save Faramir. They were both involved in getting the Ents roused. Beyond that, they were mostly a hindrance.

 

[Aglarband]

Merry had a larger impact if one had to be choosen over the other, however they both helped in many ways, most of which have been posted.

 

[Saucy]

Merry had a larger impact if one had to be choosen over the other, however they both helped in many ways, most of which have been posted.

Id say pippin, cause of the farmirir thing.

 

[Aglarband]

Id say pippin, cause of the farmirir thing.

But Faramir and Eowyn are done and don't do anything else in the books, if anything had Pippin let Faramir die Gandalf would have saved Theoden, thus saving Eowyn, Pippin made Gandalf choose who he was going to save, either Theoden or Faramir, I always thought it be cool if The White Rider went out and kicked some serious orc butt, but he had to go save Faramir.

 

[Rangerdave]

I would say Merry, not because of the whole Witch-King thing, that is too obvious.
I would also say, Pippin but the Faramir bit has already been brought up.

So I suppose I would have to say that it is a tie. Because if they both had not been swallowed by a irritated Willow tree, the Hobbits would have never met Tom. And without Tom, I would not have the annoying habit of adding dilly-dillo to the end of things

We not return to your regularly scheduled topic already-dilly-dillo in progress.

RD-dilly-dillo

 

[Confusticated]

Just thought I'd mention some earlier events.

Pippin bursting out about the nazgul to Gildor.

Merry had the more vital information for the conspiracy.