Where else would Frodo learn about pacifism, if not from Tom?
Oh, let's see. After meeting Tom, Frodo is betrayed by the Ring twice (Bree and
Weathertop), is stabbed by and nearly fades from a Morgul-blade, is tutored by
Gandalf and Elrond for 2 months, stabs a cave troll, is nearly killed by an
orc, is tutored by the High-elves of Lorien for a month, is assaulted by a
knight of Gondor turned evil by the Ring, meets the Ring-corrupted hobbit
Gollum, encounters the ghosts of the Dead Marshes, defends himself against a
posse of Rangers, walks for weeks under the shadow of Mordor and Morgul, is
betrayed and nearly killed by a giant spider, captured and tormented by orcs,
and begins to die of thirst while bearing the unbearably heavy and evil Ring in
Mordor itself -- and then casts away his weapons and declares he'll fight no
more.
Is his view of the necessity of moral superiority at that point the product of
2 days at the feet of wise old Tom Bombadil 5 months earlier? or perhaps the
product of his entire adventure, especially under the influence of the Ring in
the latter weeks, when he draws close to Mordor after crossing the River? Does
one actually learn pacifism, or is one compelled to it by conviction born of
experience?
I'll have to go read Tolkien's letter that describes Tom as a pacifist. It may
change my mind. In the meantime I'm inclined to agree with P-M that it is a
fantasy characterization, while I believe (cynicism aside) that Frodo is a
genuine, non-fantastic, pacifist due to the spiritual ordeal of his quest,
which has very little to do with
Tom.
"Wake up and smell the coffee."
squire online:
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The Valaquenta discussion
