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?
I think Gimli sees himself as an older, more experienced soldier looking after
young recruits. Perhaps this is sort of an "older brother" role in itself. As
for pipeweed, I wouldn't be at all surprised if, after the war is over and
Merry becomes Master of Buckland, he doesn't send Gimli the occasional barrel
of Longbottom Leaf, possibly at Gimli's request.
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?
It almost sounds like they're planning a housewarming for Aragorn, certainly a
sign of hope. Gimli and Legolas have, for the last few chapters, been presented
either as members of the Fellowship or Aragorn's companions and followers. I
think it's good to see that despite their very real bond with Hobbits, the
future king and a certain wizard, they have not lost their Elvishness and
Dwarvishness.
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?
Neither Legolas nor Gimli seem inclined to despair easily. They pursued Merry
and Pippin and their captors across Rohan although the possibility of rescue
seemed hopeless, Gimli followed Aragorn through the Paths of the Dead and came
out again, and all of them survived the fall of Gandalf to see him return. It
would surprise me to see them give up on Aragorn now. They (and we)have been
told that the future holds darkness on one side and only hope on the other.
What point is there in looking towards the darkness when they have survived so
much already? Instead they plan gardens and stonework to keep their spirits
up.
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"Despair or folly?" said Gandalf. "It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not."
