The Ultimate Discourse About Gildor

[Man-of-the-Wold]

Not so long ago, I chanced upon what is probably a perennial issue in the midst of a very long topic discussion. The issue was a relevant but tangential offshoot from the main topic (as if that never happens).

Well, I took too long composing my reply (imagine!), and the Barrow-Downs ejected me, and my brilliance was lost. But don’t be too upset; I have recalled much of it below. So, now I’m back—having a functional DSL modem again—and I’d like to elicit comments about my comments (which is what we do here), regarding the following topic from the Lord of the Rings, Book I:

Did Gildor Inglorion fail poor Frodo, Sam & Pippen by sending them on their way without providing escort or any more tangible aid, and is this therefore a flaw in the story, in that here a High Elf of Gildor’s caliber commits such a selfish error?

Admittedly, I was once in my distant youth somewhat put off by Gildor’s inaction, after all the ancient and dreaded Nazgûl were pursuing the Hobbits, who were desperately making their way to Rivendell, where Elrond certainly awaited them. Much of the thread, in which I was attempting to reply, was largely critical about this largely—as it might seem—inconsequential interlude in the story.

But I think that such conclusions fail to recognize the meaning of the encounter between the Hobbits and the High Elves, while still in the Hobbit’s Shire, and it trivializes the nature of the help that these Elves do bestow.

GILDOR’S SITUATION

First off, I assume that Gildor, though not direct kin to Finrod Felagund, is of a noble lineage within the House of Finarfin, and of such age that he likely fought beside Túrin Turambar. So, it is fair to say that he was not without means with respect to what amounts to power in Middle-Earth

Still, it is rationalized that Gildor had limited knowledge of what was really going on, and could hardly guess at the Ring. So, he couldn’t really appreciate the problem, but I think my observations above already shown that that doesn’t hold water, and even if he knew it was the One Ring, he probably would have done no differently, especially if one considers the danger of the Ring itself. What happened to Boromir could happen to anyone in Middle-Earth.

Also, as Gildor relates, the Elves have their own troubles, and his people are only lingering in the outskirts of Lindon ere they take passage from Círdan’s Grey Elves, but this can also appear as simply selfish disregard for others, and a kind of shallow resignation toward the problem of Sauron, for which the Noldor are especially culpable. It also grates against the examples of Glorfindel, Elrond, Galadriel and Legolas, who do what they can.

But this misses the mark. The Eldar are not leaving the world simply because they want to, but rather they and their power – in an active sense – are truly fading. The mortal lands are increasingly alien, and from long sorrow they’ve learnt how interaction with the affairs of mortals (be they Men or Hobbits) can lead to horrible disaster. Think Túrin. The Elves must sadly leave the problem of Sauron primarily to the mortal races, with whom even in the case of most descendents to the Edain, they can no longer relate. The time of the Eldar’s glory and struggle is profoundly passé.

This also explains Gildor’s deep reluctance to even give advice, because of the fear, even though he knows much, and could say much that was undeniably wise, that whatever he did say could prove disastrous, in that it might paralyze the Hobbits with fear, be misunderstood, or simply misleading given even Frodo’s knowledge.

This leads to my central tenet, which is that it is not so much a question of what Gildor “can” or “could” do, but rather what he “should” or “is allowed to” do. Just like Bombadil later on, Gildor is immediately struck by the fact that this is not a chance encounter. Like Bombadil, he realizes that it is someone’s plan, just not his. But in stark contrast, Gildor does not have Tom’s mastery of his immediate world. He thus is deeply at ease in trying to decide how best to respond to this mysterious turn of events.

Therefore, Gildor, does exactly what he’s supposed to do. He accurately perceives the part he is to play, which is that discretion is be better part of valor at that point.

REALISTICALLY, WHAT COULD HE HAVE DONE

First of all Gildor’s group includes elf-women, and even the male elves are probably not carrying serious arms. This is no band of elven warriors. So, they are really in no position to effectively provide security to the Hobbits against the Black Riders, but have merely startled one Ringwraith with song of Valamar.

Second, they are still in the Shire, which as Gandalf says has a power of its own, which is clearly working to the advantage the Hobbits, and may explain the Elves presence, as does the connection with Bilbo (an Elf-friend by grant from Thranduil) and the spot of meeting.

Third, even if Gildor and some of the Elves could take measures to protect the welfare of their women-folk and so forth, and joined up with the hobbits, such a move could be nearly impossible to conceal in the Shire and beyond, which would have only caused other problems, and have been easily tracked by the Ringwraiths. And even if Gildor & company could keep the Nine at bay, what’s to have prevented the Nine from then summoning more help, ere the good guys could all reach Imladris.

Gildor, correctly judges that stealth, low profile and apparent vulnerability are all to the Hobbits’ advantage, inside the Shire and beyond. And indeed, the Nine are probably much more experienced at countering the power of their old foes, the Noldor of Eriador, if prepared for it, than the long overlooked Hobbits, who by the end of the story prove themselves quite resourceful, and all the more so, because it is unexpected.

Finally, Gildor and his people are comparable to Tom and Goldberry in another way. No one seems to think that Tom Bombadil could have hooked up with the Hobbits and led them to Rivendell. No, he really can’t deal effectively with matters beyond a certain realm, where he is omnipotent and thus free, and cannot really stray too far from it, except the occasional discourse with Farmer Maggot or a mug at the Prancing Pony.

Similarly, Gildor and his people are in their own world, merry shadows with only memories of greatness, which is probably true of most of the Eldar remaining in Eriador, except for Elrond’s and Círdan’s immediate retainers, who still maintain the obligations of their allies and ancestors long dead. The elves light singing in jest about Bilbo and the Dwarves in The Hobbit may not be so uncharacteristic.

WHAT GILDOR DOES DO

First of all, he conveys on Frodo the status of Elf-friend, which is only confirmed by Elrond when he quite seriously places Frodo at the level of Beren, Túrin, Húrin and Hador. So, even as Frodo does some foolish things through the course of Book I, he also exhibits great strength, presence and wisdom, too, which comes to fruition thereafter.

From the time of meeting Gildor, Frodo’s acquires—with all of the understatement of being a Hobbit—something of the power and nobility of the Elder Days.

The greatest gift of Gildor’s though is the advice he gives Frodo. He rightly perceives Frodo’s intentions are not to endanger his friends. Gildor plants that seed that allows Frodo to accept the company of a few companions whom he can trust. I don’t think that that could have been justified otherwise, and the results would have been disastrous. Not coincidently, seeds are planted in Sam and Pippin.

I also suspect that the elves do play a role in throwing the riders off track, and are not idle in terms of confusing their movements through or around the Shire, perhaps with the assistance regrouped rangers, who initially were no match for a group of the Nine themselves. Remember, it is some time before the Nazgûl even approach Crickhollow.

Finally, there is no doubt that Gildor sets in motion news that precedes the Hobbits and alerts others, facilitating additional “chance” encounters: Maggot, Merry, Tom, Glorfindel, and Gandalf’s eventually diversionary run, but it also contributes to their most important meeting of all, with Elessar, who’s interaction with the Hobbits is a critical development, because he is directly affected by their plight.

Indeed, Gildor is simply the first of many friends unlooked for, to paraphrase Elrond. The most notable being the meeting with Faramir, which as with the nature of the Northern Ranger’s lifestyle harks back to the Elf-friends of old.

WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND

But this first one in Book I is not the only encounter with Gildor, chance or not. Indeed, destiny plays itself out when he and Bilbo are there for the last riding of the ringbearers.