Posted: April 18, 2000 at 10:30:15: by DGG
: Hi all,: New here but I wanted to just comment on a few things regarding the Elf-Dwarf subject. Touchy subject apparently from what I have read but a good debate none the less. : From my twenty years of reading Tolkiens works I have to say I have never even thought to question the fact that there was anything but emnity between Dwarves and Elves. It is highlighted so many times in Tolkiens works. Not so much in The Sil when nobody really trusted anybody but getting into The Hobbit and LOTR was where it is very apparent. : There are so many points to choose from. Gandalf's comments about "All of the problems of Elves and Dwarves", Treebeard's obvious suprise at the relationship between Gimli and Legolas, Thranduil's treatment of Thorin and company where there was definate sign's in his comments of a racial nature against the Dwarves, Gimli at first being the only one the Elves wanted to blindfold in Lorien. I also remember a comment by Haldir when they were finally released about all could walk freely, EVEN the dwarf. : Saying that I believe a lot of this was similar to what we get today where for example, a white person may be distrustful of a black person even though they may have never met one and visa versa. Its all about education even in stories such as this. A lot of this trouble was probably down to the way Elves and Dwarves heard stories of old and how not to trust a dwarf or elf and so on and on. : My one main reason for feeling this though is the way the Gimli-Legolas relationship is portrayed. The book gives a strong impression that the relationship is unusual. I think ultimatly the relationship is also one of triumph which shows that the two races can be friendly towards each other. : Anyway's, well met all. Exactly. No matter what anyone says, the books clearly give you that impression. My first exposure to elves and dwarves as a child was from the Hobbit, so I had no preconceived ideas either...
The elves clearly thought themselves superior, Thingol's fatal comments are evidence of that. end of subject. :
| 
