"The morning came after the day of battle, and it was fair with light clouds
and the wind turning westward. Legolas and Gimli were early abroad, and they
begged leave to go up into the City; for they were eager to see Merry and
Pippin.
'It is good to learn that they are still alive,' said Gimli; 'for
they cost us great pains in our march over Rohan, and I would not have such
pains all wasted.'"
Gimli is obviously not nearly so grumpy as he sounds. It's a
beautiful day, Gondor has won a great victory and, despite the bleakness of the
future, they're all bathing in the glow of reunion. Still, Gimli's quote is
interesting.
1) How has Gimli cast himself in regard to his attitude towards the hobbits? Is
he a cantankerous older brother? Is he a fellow soldier? How does this compare
to his attitude towards Elves or Humans? How many Witch-Kings does Merry have
to kill before Gimli stops hitting him up for pipeweed?
"Together the Elf and the Dwarf entered Minas Tirith, and folk that saw
them pass marvelled to see such companions; for Legolas was fair of face beyond
the measure of Men, and he sang an elven-song in a clear voice as he walked in
the morning; but Gimli stalked beside him, stroking his beard and staring about
him.
'There is some good stone-work here,' he said as he looked at the
walls; 'but also some that is less good, and the streets could be better
contrived. When Aragorn comes into his own, I shall offer him the service of
stonewrights of the Mountain, and we will make this a town to be proud of.'
'They need more gardens,' said Legolas. 'The houses are dead, and
there is too little here that grows and is glad. If Aragorn comes into his own,
the people of the Wood shall bring him birds that sing and trees that do not
die.'"
Tolkien, the man who wrote reams of Elvish history and penned the
story of the Dwarves back to Durin the Deathless, seems to be summerizing the
differences between the races in this short passage. Gimli glowers, strokes his
beard and examines the stonework. Legolas sings, looks beautiful and ponders
the idea of immortal arboreal decoration.
2) Why this scene? Why is Gimli acting so Dwarvish and Legolas so Elvish? Is
this a reaction to their being inside the last bastion of Men? Is this a result
of their not-so-subconcious realization that their races are fading before Men?
Could they be mulling over how their races will be remembered by Men? Could
they be merely making small talk?
3) Both Legolas and Gimli mention Aragorn becoming King. Are they being
optimistic? Do they really see a good chance of him taking a crown or are
Dwarves and Elves especially resistant to
despair?
