April 2, 2004

Arwen's Sword and the Hobbit
David

To all readers:

After posting my question about "The Hobbit" I came up with the ultimate answer...write and film scenes that would serve both purposes. Then edit them separately and release two different DVD versions: "JRR Tolkien's 'The Hobbit'" and "'The Hobbit, a Prelude to Peter Jackson's 'The Lord of the Rings.'" That way everyone is happy and we get TWO cool movies!

Elendur:

About your question about Arwen's sword... according to one of the documentaries or commentaries from the Extended Fellowship DVD (I can't remember exactly where), one of the designers/prop guys related that the inscriptions on Arwen's sword (and Elrond's in the prologue) make it clear that it was originally Idril's. They felt this was appropriate, given Arwen's relationship to Idril (Great-granddaughter) and Arwen's love of a Man, similar to Idril's love of a Man (Tuor).

Of course this raises the obvious question...did Gil-Galad tease Elrond by saying things like, "Hey Elrond...I've got this really cool spear, and you show up to the fight with your grandmother's sword?!?!"? To which Elrond would respond, "Well...JRR didn't really intend for you to be Fingolfin's grandson, that was simply a passing idea that Christopher misinterpreted as his final decision. As Orodreth's son, why is your claim as 'King of the Noldor' stronger than mine?" Is this bickering the real reason Elrond founded Imladris some distance from Gil-Galad's home?  Which brings me to another interesting question about Gil-Galad….Okay, there are three rings for the Elves. Galadriel is given the White Ring, and Gil-Galad gets the Red and the Blue. He gives Cirdan the Red Ring. What is Cirdan, a shipbuilder, going to do with the Red Ring? Why didn’t the Warrior/King Gil-Galad want the Red Ring to help him light fires in his people’s hearts to strengthen his kingdom and win victory over Sauron’s followers. It’s no wonder Cirdan gave away his ring at the first opportunity!

I think Gil-Galad’s relationships to Cirdan and Elrond show him to be a very troubled individual. He’s apparently jealous of Cirdan’s humble service to the Eldar for thousands of years. He gives Cirdan a ring Cirdan has no use for, while keeping the ring Cirdan might actually need. He’s got a huge chip on his shoulder toward Elrond because Elrond’s father is the morning star, killed the first flying dragon, and all. His use of a huge spear in battle obviously is compensation for short-comings he sees in his love life…he never does have any children. He allows people to believe he is Fingolfin’s grandson so they accept him as King, when really he is Fingolfin’s grand-nephew. He fills Elrond with lots of "Men are bad…and you are tainted by Men’s blood" talk so Elrond, who is actually descended from both Fingolfin and Thingol, never challenges Gil-Galad for leadership of the Eldar remaining in Middle Earth. And then…Celebrian, goes and marries Elrond!!! It’s no wonder that Gil-Galad practically throws himself at Sauron looking to end his hapless, tragic life. As his spirit leaves his body on its journey to the Halls of Mandos, Gil-Galad sees Isildur cut the Ring from Sauron’s hand and become the hero of the Last Alliance. Knowing that Isildur is a descendant of Elrond’s brother, Gil-Galad’s final words were, "One more victory for the House of Earendel. That figures!" To this day, Gil-Galad can be seen on the far Western Shores of Valinor, skipping stones on the waters of the Outer Sea, hoping that one day, one of the stones will skip up into the sky, and smack Earendel on the backside