I can't say this on Facebook because my family will call me paranoid

[plasticsturgeon]

So I just read on the Mary Sue that Kili is going to have a romance with some white elf chick. I guess Tolkien dwarves are meant to be lower-class but proudly artisan-y men, as evidenced by their burly masculinity, colorful hairstyles, artistic innovation, physical dexterity, and bad table manners. I don't know enough about British Isles internal

Comments

[dracunculus]

Yeah, I think the reason Gandalf didn't pick Sam is pretty much all about class and breeding. Frodo is the "rightful" inheritor of the ring because he is Bilbo's heir, and therefore heir to everything Bilbo has so rightfully stolen. And Frodo has the proper breeding to assume such a noble burden: Baggins sturdiness and trustworthiness combined with the Took spark. Gandalf clearly pays some attention to hobbit bloodlines and puts a fair bit of stock in idea of blood running true ("fool of a Took!"). The Gamgees, naturally, don't have an entry in whatever the hobbit version of Burke's Peerage is.

Sam suggests the trading idea himself, actually, but not until Frodo is far enough gone that he reacts poorly to the suggestion.

[plasticsturgeon]

That's why I thought Gandalf should've done it early on--you can't suggest yourself for that kind of thing--it always sounds bad.

[plasticsturgeon]

Another thing we were talking about last night--why didn't they have the Rivendell guys seal up the Ring in a little metal case so no one could be tempted to put it on?

[neddy_s]

LOL because they're not as clever as you.

[plasticsturgeon]

But they're too burly and physical and craft-y! Stereotypical Jews are bankers or intellectuals (or immigrants, I guess, hi Lovecraft!).

[dracunculus]

I don't think you have to take that as authoritative, even though Tolkien said it himself. He also said it was unintended and that he hated allegory. I think it's possible for an author to be not-perfectly-perceptive about their own work, especially when they're discussing things they didn't consciously put in.

[plasticsturgeon]

Yeah.