Well, O Yellow-Booted one, it seems like I have a second chance to be the first reply on this thread. Perhaps many were baffled and belittled by your skilled grouping and analysis of several characters - I know I was. Bully.
My first reaction was to froth at the mouth, and splutter things like "No, no! Ferny, Morgoth, Saruman and Ted are
not the same!" But when I thought about it, they are vastly similar. I think that differences arise when you examine the motives, that is
why did they become such bullies? Out of all of them, I believe Sauron is the only one who has little or no motive for his wicked behaviour, his bullying and attempted coercion. He is aptly named Gorthaur the Cruel, and his character is very consistent throughout the ages. But of course, there are bullies exactly like this in real life. Those who make use of their superior position or skills for their own sadistic pleasure. This is I think more noticeable in children, before bullies inevitably learn that this kind of behaviour later in life carries repercussion.
Ted I do not credit with any large degree of bullying. I think that he needs to feel his own worth, to be appreciated. Of course his sense is warped, and as Farmer Cotton points out, his role under Sharkey is of much less power than he otherwise would have had (but he is too foolish to see this). He also becomes corrupted by technology, and loves his machines.
The actions you see as being synonymous with bullying, that is:
Quote:
|
the use of superior resorces (coercion) to intimidate others and force one's will upon them or their evironments.
|
can be applied to a lot of characters on the 'other side' as well. Aragorn, Gandalf, Elrond, Galadriel - all these people use their resources to further their own ends. It's just that their ends are more noble. And also that none of them have slaves, or unwilling servants. Galadriel has loyal subjects, Elrond has contemporaries, and Aragorn and Gandalf do not really command anybody, instead using their personalities to appeal to others. I wonder if Saruman had slaves as Sauron did, or were all of his servants willing? Willing for all the wrong reasons, probably. So, I think that you might find the definition of bullying could be a very fine line. Gandalf is almost bullying Théoden - the chief difference being that in the end, it is for Théoden's own good.