LotR -- Book 5 - Chapter 09 - The Last Debate

[Estelyn Telcontar]

This chapter begins with a “weather report” – a fine day after the battle! The readers join Legolas and Gimli for their entrance to the city – a rare departure from the hobbit point-of-view. Their friendship shows to fine advantage, though their differences are still marked. Each sees the city with his people’s eyes, and both offer their cooperation for its rebuilding. They also see men differently – what do you think of their respective opinions?

Legolas’ ability to see more than meets the eye shows several times in this chapter, beginning with his first meeting with Imrahil. Later we notice that he saw Éowyn’s feelings for Aragorn when they left for the Paths of the Dead; apparently, Gimli didn’t. We also read of his feelings upon seeing the seagulls, several times; Galadriel’s words are fulfilled – what are your feelings upon reading this? Merry and Gimli protest that the world would be duller and that the Elves are still needed by other races.

Tolkien uses one of his typical techniques of telling the story after the event here; we didn’t know what happened on the way to Pelargir, since suspense was vital to surprise us with the coming of the ships. However, for all those who want to know more, he lets Legolas and Gimli tell the hobbits details. How is the Elf’s part of the story different than the Dwarf’s?

We have a poem, sung by Legolas. As far as I can tell, it’s free poetry, since it has neither rhyme nor alliteration, but perhaps some of our literature experts can tell us more about it.

Besides Imrahil, who does have an important role to play at this part of the narrative, another very minor character is named – Angbor, Lord of Lamedon, called “the fearless” by Aragorn. Why do you think he is especially brave, and is that important to the events at Pelargir and afterwards?

We get additional glimpses of Aragorn’s character as well – Gimli and Legolas speak of his ability to lead by the sheer force of his strong will – and by the love of his followers. Here too Legolas sees deeper:

In that hour I looked on Aragorn and thought how great and terrible a Lord he might have become in the strength of his will, had he taken the Ring to himself. Not for naught does Mordor fear him. But nobler is his spirit than the understanding of Sauron…

An interesting insight for the many “What if someone else had taken the Ring?” discussions!

We have another example of the important role of nature, in this case the wind, aiding the ships’ progress, enabling them to reach the city on time.

The second part of the chapter takes the readers along to the decision-making meeting of the Captains and Gandalf. I find it very interesting to see how Gandalf takes Denethor’s words, not rejecting them, but finding out how much actual truth there is in them, and then interpreting them differently than the Steward had meant them. Here we see Gandalf as the one who explains the possibilities to the others, and their respect for him and his judgement causes them to agree, though his words are not ‘prudent’, as he says.

One passage of his speech strikes me as being very similar to what he told Frodo, way back in the Shire, about making the best of the times and tasks given to us:

Yet it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule.

There we have another reference to ‘weather’ as a vital plot device, almost a ‘character’!

It’s very interesting to see the replies of the others and the reasons they give for agreeing. What do you think of those respective reasons?

The planning is not reckless, as Minas Tirith is not left undefended. What is your opinion of the military strategy decided upon? With the acknowledgement of their hopeless situation, humanly speaking, the chapter closes.