Re: The friendship of Legolas and Gimli
 

Hehe...I'm sure that the mods will think this subject will probably be closed, but I hope not 'cuz I did a search on it. Forgive me if it is a repeat, though.

I think that the friendship of Legolas and Gimli was rather sudden. I mean, they are enemies the entire trip until they enter Lothlorien and all of sudden they are friends. Strange? So I actually have two questions:

1. Does anybody else think the friendship is sudden and strange?

2. Any speculations about why it is sudden and strange?

Cheers!

I'd never thought about the relationship there being sudden. I suppose that it could be interpretted that way.
The best definition would be that in Lothorien Gimli found a sudden "appreciation/acceptance" of the Elvish race. The wall of emnity between the two members of fellowship would probably have fallen when Gimli sees Galadriel.

I think Gimli was just being stubborn(duh) but after awhile, especially after the acceptance and toleration of Galadriel, he did not hold the same prejeduces against the elves. Also, I think if Gimli had continiued to hold grudges, I think he thought that Legolas had a tie and might tell Galadriel. A silly paranoia on his part. On the other hand, I don't think Legolas ever hated or grudged elves, he(like his kin) felt supperior and therefor better than everyone else in the fellowship. Aragorn was an old friend; Boromir...I guess he grew to respect him; Gandalf, old friend or aquaintance; Gimli, it took some time, and Gimli had to make the first adjustment; and the hobbits where probably oblivious to it all.

Thanks for the helpful replies. I never thought about it that way before...

Good question... I think that it wasn't exactly Lothlorien that did it, but Gandalf. The "death" of such a close friend and leader definitely brought all of the Fellowship closer.

I don't think of the relationship as being sudden, it just wasn't focused on in the books as much. But I agree the friendship must have been brought to its fullest when Gimli experienced for himself the beauty of the Elves.

And nothing brings you closer to a guy than fighting orcs with him! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Well, if you think about it, you don't actually follow the fellowship on each and every day, though it does seem like it. There could have been a gradual thing where Gimli and Legolas became friends over the time they were travelling together or whatnot.

.....or it could just be that Lothlorien thing that everyone is saying. [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

I would like to add that Legolas probably felt more kind towards Gimli after the Lady Galadriel allowed him into the lands whereas no dwarf had set foot there for a long time. I think Legolas probably felt that if Galadriel was so willing to accept the dwarf he also should show kindness. I agree with all the other views about Gimli however I would like to add that Legolas warmed up a bit as well and it wasn't all Gimli who caused the quarreling with the elf. Also I don't think they ever were enemies. I just think they were both a little arrogant and over time it turned into teasing not hatred.

Good points, guys. It doesn't seem as sudden and unrealistic as it did before... [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

The one thing that I wonder about is how Legolas and Gimli go traveling together and how it is immplied that they end up going to Mirkwood and seeing Legolas's people. I just wonder what Thranduil's reaction was when his son told him his best friend was a drawf, especially when Thranduil doesn't care for drawves much. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Perhaps the fact that Gimli was one of the nine that helped save the entire world from destruction and darkness caused the old woodland king to rethink his position. Plus, I'm sure all Gimli had to do was flash his three hairs of Galadriel to gain instant fame! Galadriel's acceptance probably paved the way for Gimli most of all.

i think the relationship between them is funny

Yes, I suppose that saving the world from Darkness would make even a dwarf appealing to an elf...

I've always looked at the friendship between Legolas and Gimli as an example of understanding overcoming prejudice. In the beginning Legolas and Gimli suffered from stereotypical or pre-judged ideas about what the other one must be like, being a dwarf/elf. Once they began travelling together, they likely learned things about each other that allowed them to move beyond the stereotypes.

The friendship of Legolas and Gimli is a foil to contrast the relationship of the Ents and the Entwives.

The Ents and Entwives were not able to put aside their differences, and eventually split up and lost all contact.

Legalos and Gimli eventaully did put aside their differences and became best of friends.

I think that Legolas and Gimli's friendship is took alittle bit of time to happen. When the Fellowship was in Lorien, Gimli, most likely after he saw Galaderiel, felt some appreciation for the Elves but still didn't really consider Legolas to be a friend per-say.However when Gimli and Legolas where, I don't want to say forced,together with Aragron, I think the two of them got a bit more friendly when they found out that they had some things that were simlar(like chasing down Orcs to rescue Merry and Pippin for one). the "counting game" at Helms Deep is one example of Legolas and Gimli finally making remarks about ech other for fun.

i think that the friendship between legolas and gimili was due to the fact that they both loved aragorn and also that they also both loved the hobbits(merry and pippin in particular) and cared for their lives.

and both of them loved to kill orcs as i think both their kingdoms had sufferd very much due to orcs(mirkwood and lonely mountain)