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The White CouncilWas Elrond being arrogant?Tolkien and Inklings Discussion |
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The White CouncilWas Elrond being arrogant?Tolkien and Inklings Discussion |
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Posted by Dave C-Q on September 13, 1999 at 11:59:55 OK. So Aragorn is the only heir of Elendil. His father and mother had rushed to marry and have a kid, because they feared that things were coming to a head, that evil was stirring in the land again in a big way. They realized that the likelihood of Arathorn buying the farm early in life was becoming greater. They were right. If they hadn't married and concieved Aragorn, Elendil's line would have been wiped out. So Aragorn grows up. He falls in love. Evil is busy being evil and dangerous. Things are looking grim. A Necromancer takes shape in Sauron's old fortress. I would be inclined to say, "hey, wow, great! Perfect timing! Get busy kids! Who knows when you'll both kick the ol' bucket, right?" But what does Elrond do? Encourage the continuation of the lineage? Nope, he cops an attitude. "Not my daughter, buddy." He tells Aragorn that only a king will get in his daughter's robes. But the possibility that Aragorn will be the one to reunite the kingdoms has already partially been foretold - one of his names is Ellesar, "Hope." So it's not like this is something new for Aragorn, something he hadn't thought of before, something he wouldn't have tried to do. But Elrond still puts that condition on him... and the fate of all Eriador and Gondor. Why? Wouldn't Aragorn still have done everything he did even if Elrond didn't have that sword hanging over his head? And in that case, wasn't Elrond just being arrogant and petty and needlessly reckless? Or, in the words of Limp Bizkit, did Aragorn just do it all for the nookie? (Hmmm... Side query: Is Aragorn a ninety-year-old virgin?) (I know I was phrasing things here provocatively, but I just wanted to lay it all on the line. If you want it in other, less severe terms, then how about: Would Aragorn still have devoted his life to defeating Sauron if Elrond didn't put the (in)famous condition on him? If he would have in any case, then what was Elrond's motivation?) Let the debate commence! (Unless of course, everyone else has already discussed this and no one finds it interesting... ;) Dave C-Q
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