I'm sure everybody was sad, like I was, the very first time they read/watched LOTR and witness the Fellowship of the Ring break apart. At the end of the first book really isn't the only time that the Fellowship breaks though. Throughout the books, the Fellowship continues to fragment into smaller and smaller groups. The first instance of this was the death of Gandalf in Moria. The next and probably the most important break was at the fall of Boromir when Frodo and Sam split off to head directly towards Mordor. Merry and Pippin are also removed from the Fellowship at that time when they are captured by orcs.
Although Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli eventually rendezvous with Merry and Pippin in Isengard, they aren't with them for that much longer for the rest of the books. The last time that most of the Fellowship is together before the destruction of the ring would be when Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli meet the hobbits after the ents seige Isengard. After that, they head towards Edoras. Gandalf and Pippin go on ahead on Shadowfax while the rest travel more slowly. The next break in the Fellowship is when Merry is left behind in Edoras while Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli travel to the Path of the Dead.
Sam and Frodo get separated temporarily at Shelob's Lair, and are only reunited once Sam rescues Frodo from the orcs. Gandalf and Pippin move on to Gondor, and Gandalf really isn't with Pippin that much, so most of Pippin's experiences in Gondor are by himself. The only characters that don't really have their own independent journeys at some time or another between the Council of Elrond and the destruction of the Ring are Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. This is an interesting choice because those three, along with Gandalf, are the most capable to adventure independently. Tolkien doesn't decide to give these stronger and more experienced characters any epic solo adventures in LOTR. Instead he gives this to the hobbits, who are the most unexpected people to be able to survive in such a harsh environment by themselves.
Honestly, solid post 10/10. I think your point about Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli being the most capable of adventuring alone, and yet being the only one's who dont is a really great point that I hadn't really thought about too much. It really shows how Tolkien used the unfamilar to develop his characters. Like thinking about it, any of those 3 would not have gotten the same sort of development had they been alone. Instead thay are loners who must learn to work together, meanwhile you have the hobbits who are use to freindly community and never having to stand alone in a dangerous situation. And yet in each instance, all these characters overcome the challanges present to them. Tolkien does a good job using this to show that everyone has different strenghts and weaknesses and that in order to grow, everyone needs something different.
ReplyDelete