Thank heavens for friends.
Chapter Five is titled “A Conspiracy Unmasked.” S. wasn’t
sure what the word “conspiracy” meant, so her dad explained it was when people
plotted and made plans together. “Like when you whisper to me, ‘let’s go tickle
Mom!’” That made me laugh.
Despite the benign description, S. was afraid the title had
ominous overtones, and given the way the danger has been ramping up, I could
see why. She was happy to discover that the conspiracy was a good one, made up
of Merry, Pippin, and Sam, Frodo’s dear friends. It turns out that they’ve been
eavesdropping and watching after Frodo carefully for some time, trying to put a
few things together. Merry has been piecing information together, in fact, for
years, ever since he happened to see Bilbo use the ring to disappear (trying to
avoid the Sackville-Bagginses. Heh.)
With this device, Tolkien adroitly avoids the need for Frodo
to retell the story of the ring and mostly avoids even have to say “Frodo told
them everything.” It moves the story along more smoothly but it also provides
this wonderful chapter in which he celebrates friendship, one of the deepest
running undercurrents of all the books. Frodo is blessed beyond measure to find
that his friends have cared enough to notice what’s going on in his world (up
until now, I think it felt like a very private dilemma) and even more blessed
to realize they mean what they say about coming with him as he flies “from
deadly peril into deadly peril.” Thankfully, Frodo is quick and grateful to
accept their help. Another reason to like him.
The final part of the chapter recounts their decision to
leave at daybreak and head for the Old
Forest, a landscape that
Fatty Bolger (the fourth friend, and the one being left behind to impersonate
Frodo and pass a message on to Gandalf if he comes) is only too glad to not
have to face.
"Conspiracy" does have a very ominous tone to it, doesn't it? Maybe Tolkien was even trying to misdirect his readers a bit there, make them dread something bad coming when this chapter actually reveals something good. Frodo has great friends. I always was curious about Fatty; we learn so little about him. It would be interesting to have a story just following his exploits while his friends were off on their journey.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, this is a book about fellowship, and Frodo has many more friends just beyond his eight companions on his quest. They seem to turn up everywhere, just at the right time to give some much-needed aid. Of course, Merry and Pippin are really in over their heads and have no idea how much, but they have their own part to play in the journey that plays upon their unique strengths, some of which they don't yet realize they have. Definitely an important beginning for them!
Fan fiction about Fatty Bolger! Go for it! ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, what a very good point about the fellowship being larger than just the officially named one. I've been surprised to realize, reading for the first time in so long, just how slow a start it is for Merry and Pippin. There are definitely differences in their personalities, but they really don't do much here at the start. Bigger things coming for sure!