Faramir's a pretty fascinating character. Shrewd, honest, wise, and a good judge of character...it's a shame he can't join the Company, isn't it? I like him a lot better than Boromir.
Found Frodo's mercy for Gollum EXTREMELY intriguing. Wow. After everything Gollum has put them through, and considering how untrustworthy he continues to prove himself despite Frodo's lenience, I'd have happily let Faramir and his men shoot the little bugger. Good thing I'm not with the Company, I guess. I can imagine poor Sam's frustration.
Have to wonder whether Frodo's mercy is borne more from the Ring's bad influence than thinking that Gandalf would have shown mercy.
And somehow I suspect that Gollum is sure to want revenge even more for being "betrayed" by Frodo into the hands of Faramir.
Replies: 16 comments
You are on to a rather important theme: the nature, role, and effect of the ring on various folks :) Good questions ;)
The respite in Ithilian, the country of the moon, is one of my favorite reads - a common sentiment among the followers here.
Posted by Christopher B. @ 2001 May 27 04:08 PM EST
I wonder, too, if Frodo's mercy for Gollum has a lot to do with Frodo now knowing first hand about the desperation and temptation of bearing the Ring. Perhaps Frodo sees a lot of himself, or the poitential for what he could become, in Gollum.
Posted by Allison @ 2001 May 27 04:28 PM EST
And that word would be "potential", not poitential :).
Posted by Allison @ 2001 May 27 04:35 PM EST
I think Allison makes an excellent point. I tend to think there is definitely a great element of pity and understanding in Frodo's mercy of Smeagol as a fellow ringbearer. And some gratitude as well, for guiding him safely past the marshes. Of course, Frodo recognizes that he still needs Gollum to guide him further to the "other way", but I don't think this is the driving force in his mercy.
Posted by Phil @ 2001 May 27 04:57 PM EST
"it's a shame he can't join the Company, isn't it?" - if you remember Boromir's speech at the council, Faramir was supposed to be the one who joined the company! The dream that led Boromir to Imladris was originally sent to Faramir. I think the phrasing was "several times to my brother, and once to myself", and Boromir insisted as the elder brother that he would take up the quest.
Posted by Rafe @ 2001 May 27 06:07 PM EST
i've always had this impression that we ought to see Frodo's mercy to Gollum as the essence to what Frodo is developing into. considering the great emotional strain Frodo has to bear by resisting the temptation of the Ring, it is amazing how he can go to such an extreme of virtue as this... Not really suprising though- the One Ring i always considered as a sort of a testing device for the spiritual strength of a person, and hence, one can only become, by facing its power, either ultimately corrupted and completely consumed, or something very close to a saint by the very resistance to it... It might seem far-fetched, but it IS the Ring that induces this mercy in Frodo, not though because it can act as a "good" object in itself, but because it can get the worst, or in some cases the best in people.
Other examples of sanctifying resistance to the Ring? Gandalf of course [the very act of throwing the Ring into the fire place requires a strong while as he says at the Council of Elrond i think], and Galadriel [with her sorrow of having refused the power she so much wished for] have resisted the Ring succesfully. But, where they resisted by sending it away, Frodo has done so while still carrying it, which can almost put him much above the Grey Pilgrim and the Lady of Lorien. Doesn't the idea of the strength within his frail frame sound beautiful?
i have digressed way out, but never mind ;]
Posted by yiorgos @ 2001 May 27 06:24 PM EST
The theme of mercy vs vengeance is one of the most important in LOTR. You are right, Debbie, to be focusing on it. I will say no more about that now!
One of the things that makes Gollum such a memorable character to me is the humor attached to him. As when Faramir says: "The fish of this pool are dearly bought" and Gollum drops the fish, and says: "Don't want fish." The very fact that he is still hanging on to the fish at all at this point is hilarious to me!
Posted by Paul Mendenhall @ 2001 May 27 07:42 PM EST
The other scene that always strikes me as funny in the hobbits' encounter with Faramir is their very first meeting (a few chapters back) when the men of Gondor are trying to figure out what Frodo and Sam are. One guesses they're elves and Faramir says, "Nay!... Elves are wonderous fair to look upon, or so 'tis said.". Sam's response, "Meaning we're not, I take you. Thank you kindly..." always makes me laugh.
Posted by Allison @ 2001 May 28 12:28 AM EST
OK I'm amused. The Prof. manages to keep sucking Debbie in with people who seem rather 'Dull' or not that interesting and within a chapter or two become 'fascinating'. Of course I find this doubly amusing considering that Faramir is one of my favourite characters in the books (HINT: More about Faramir to come) and I too didn't know what to make of him until the bit in the caves at Henneth Annun. The 'fate' that pulls 'Boromir's Brother' into the story may be very much an epic tradition but Tolkien sure knows how to make it resonate.
A note about Frodo's mercy. This bit of interaction between Frodo and Gollum is where we see Tolkien's Christian-ness in full voice. Certainly taking the chance to off Slinker/Stinker would be a prudent move but it would be very un-Christian. There is no over-riding need to kill Gollum and despite the fact that he is likely nothing but trouble, condoning or killing him would reflect badly on Frodo's soul...and this would have serious ramifications on his struggle with the ring. This is about as far as we get along the road of the Frodo/Christ allegory (and even mentioning it would make Tolkien scowl I'm certain).
Read On....
Posted by Paul @ 2001 May 29 12:11 PM EST
I think deep down Gollum is a likeable guy,and that is why Frodo showed mercy. Remember, Bilbo also could have killed him but didn't, and the elves of Mirkwood would take him on walks(until he got some of them killed). Even Gandalf felt sorry for him.
Posted by Michael Lukas @ 2001 May 31 11:49 PM EST
I think the underlying reason Frodo spared gollum is found in the scene where he finds Bilbo in the Hall of Fire in Rivendell. When Frodo showed Bilbo the ring, "a shadow seemed to have fallen between them, and through it he found himself eyeing a little wrinkled creature with a hungry face and bony groping hands. He felt a desire to strike him." In other words, he saw his dear Uncle Bilbo as just another Gollum, a fundamentally wholesome hobbit being thoroughly corrupted by a power beyond his control. This must have had a profound impact on his dealings with Gollum - the only thing separating Gollum from Bilbo is a longer possession of the Ring. If you can't strike Bilbo for it, how can you strike Gollum?
Posted by Michael Dennis @ 2001 Jun 01 12:20 AM EST
Recall Gandalf's comments, away back in 'The Shadow of the past', about how Bilbo's mercy to Gollum was important to lessening the Ring's hold over him, and that "Even Gollum may still have something to do".
Posted by Keith Fraser @ 2001 Jun 01 06:19 AM EST
Important difference with Gollum is he killed to get the Ring. His basic nature is revealled and amplified by Sauron "plaything".
Posted by Alan C @ 2001 Jun 04 09:02 AM EST
True, Gollum obtained the ring differently. But Bilbo's use also revealed something of his nature - he used it to "steal" in helping his friends in The Hobbit, and he used it to sneak around and hide from the Sackville-Bagginses. His use of the ring is certainly not as dishonorable as Gollum's, and this works to his salvation. And yet - the ring is ALTOGETHER evil. It will ultimately destroy anyone who possesses it, regardless of their intentions. In this way, Bilbo and Gollum are exactly alike - they are the victims of a power they do not understand.
Posted by Michael Dennis @ 2001 Jun 09 10:17 PM EST
MD you are so right. Bilbo rationalizes his use. Over time, each rationalization becomes easier. Eventually you are doing exactly what the Ring wants, and thinking it is your own idea and the right thing to do.
Posted by dave @ 2001 Jun 10 08:58 AM EST
MD, that one about comparing Bilbo with Gollum is great!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Honestly I think that that is one of the best proves I have ever heard about LOTR, honestly!
Posted by Turin @ 2001 Jun 15 05:08 PM EST
