Wk6 Bk5 Ch8: Merry borne into Minas Tirith

[Stormrider]

From: AnnieLT (Original Message) Sent: 4/24/2003 6:10 PM

The picture was lost--it was entitled "Reunion in Minas Tirith" by Paula Berry

Wk6, Bk5, Ch8, DISCUSSION: Should Merry have been borne in Honor into the city?

Merry stumbles into the citadel from the field and slumps on the stairs where he is found by Pippin. The two are reunited. Pippin sends a message with Bergil for the Wizard. "It was not long before Gandalf himself came in search of them. He stooped over Merry and caressed his brow; then he lifted him carefully. "He should have been borne in honor into this city . . . He has well repaid my trust; for if Elrond had not yielded to me, neither of you would have set out; and then far more grievous would the evils of this day have been."

Why does Gandalf feel that Merry should have been borne in honor into the city? Why was the hobbit overlooked and not brought into the city as Gandalf thought he should.? How has Merry repaid the Wizard’s trust? Even though he does not say, do you think Gandalf feels the same about Pippin?

If the hobbits had not set out as part of the Fellowship, what might or might not have happened on this day? How more grievous would the evils of this day have been?

Would you agree that Merry and Pippin played a role in the transition from the end of one age into the next?

[Stormrider]

From: Colleen Sent: 4/25/2003 2:08 PM
I shudder to think what would have happened if not for Merry and Pippen. Frodo could not have asked for more loyal friends.

Without Merry and Pippen...
-Frodo would not have been able to move to Crickhollow as quickly
-Frodo could not have gone though the Old Forest (and therefore meet Tom Bombadil)
-Frodo may not have escaped at the Breaking of the Fellowship (the orcs were only looking for two hobbits)
-Aragorn, Legoas & Gimli may have followed Frodo and Sam
-Aragorn, Legolas & Gimli may not have met Eomer in time
-The Ents would not have been roused
-They could not have acted as 'decoys' for Sam and Frodo
-Faramir would have been burned
-Eowyn may not have defeated the Witchking
-(to avoid spoilers) the end would have been different.

Merry and Pippen are the ones we can relate to in the story. They have no great vitue or power, except in the loyalty and stoutheartedness. They are people in the right place at the right time to put events into motion -- though they don't know it. It makes me very happy that Elrond yielded to Gandalf's council when the Fellowship was formed.

Colleen

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From: Desi-Baggins Sent: 4/25/2003 7:58 PM
At first I knew Merry made mention of his arm being numb but I didn't think he was that hurt because he wasn't borne in honor into the city. Then I get to the part where Pippin finds him and I thought "Oh No!" So I guess I feel that Merry deserved to be brought into the city with Theoden and Eowyn. I think just being part of the Fellowship (which includes everything Colleen pointed out) gives him that honor!

Desi

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From: Alaere_Dûnhilien Sent: 4/26/2003 8:27 AM
I agree, that in their own way, they have played an extensive part in the transition from 3rd to 4rth Age. All the things that Colleen mentions, are very true: withouth our two playful young Hobbits, the outcome would have been very different. I think Gandalf feels both of them have repaid his trust: Merry by helping Éowyn in defeating the Witch-King (amongst others, but I think this is the most important), Pippin by warning him that Faramir was about to be burned.

Why was he overlooked? I guess that just happened in the heat of the moment: they were already worrying about Éowyn, grieving over Théoden, and Merry was still able to walk, so I think they supposed he wasn't that badly injured, and therefor needed less looking after. Plus: he is rather small, even though he had just done great deeds. I don't believe they intended to forget about him, or thought he wasn't that important. It were just the circumstances, and maybe also the modesty that seems to be characteristic for Hobbits: he hadn't said anything about his part on the battlefield, nor that he didn't have any feeling in his arm. Probably, he did not want them to worry about him while they already had much things on their minds.

Alaere

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From: Stoga the Ranger Sent: 5/27/2003 9:06 PM
my opinion on why merry was not "borne into the city with honor"........ he's "just a hobbit".... in the eye's of the men of gondor and the rohirrim and whatever/wherever else hobbits were pretty much the creatures of tales and folklore....... add that to the fact that nobody saw merry strike the fatal blow and he wasn't braggin' about it.....pro'lly those individuals carrying out theoden and eowyn wouldn't have believed him anyway....thinking him uncapable of such a feat.......so they would never think to include merry in any honor bearing venture....

stoga

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From: Ruscosenda Sent: 5/29/2003 9:46 AM
I don't think anyone can dispute that Merry should have been "borne into the city with honor." As to why he wasn't there may be several reasons:

1) The battle was still going on around them, so they could only spare a few knights.
2) He was not a member of the royal family like Theoden and Eowyn.
3) The knights were grieving over the death of Theoden and Eowyn and did not take notice of him.
4) No one except Eowyn knew of Merry's bravery against the Witch King.
5) The Black Breath had a progressive effect. At first, Merry had a numb arm., but was able to walk into the city. However, at time progressed the effects of the Black Breath became worse.

-- Rusco