Regarding the cloaks:
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"Are these magic cloaks?" asked Pippin, looking at them with wonder.
"I do not know what you mean by that," answered the leader of the Elves. "They are fair garments, and the web is good, for it was made in this land. They are elvish robes certainly, if that is what you mean. Leaf and branch, water and stone: they have the hue and beauty of all these things under the twilight of Lorien that we love; for we put the thought of all that we love into all that we make. Yet they are garments, not armor, and they will not turn shaft or blade. But they should serve you well; they are light to wear, and are warm enough or cool enough at need. And you will find them a great aid in keeping out of sight of unfriendly eyes, whether you walk among the stones or among the trees..."
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Regarding the ropes:
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They are made of hithlain... had we known that this craft delighted you, we could have taught you much."
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From Letter 131:
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(the elves') magic is Art, delivered from many of its human limitations: more effortless, more quick, more complete (product, and vision in unflawed correspondence). And its object is Art not Power, sub-creation not domination and tyrannous re-forming of creation.
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If the word "magic" is used in the sense of having Power, then no, the rope is not magic, because elves are not into power-magic. But if the word magic is used in the sense of harmony with nature and perfection of artistic expression, then yes, the rope is artistic, in harmony with Lorien which the elves love, and it works with nature.
Everything that the rope "does" (shimmers in the darkness, for instance) can be attributed to its artistic perfection and inherent qualities, except for that one thing: that the rope "came, when I called." Called who or what? So far no one has brought up the possibility that Galadriel was involved in that, or even Gandalf or Arwen or another skilled in Osanwe, or even that it was some other kind of divine intervention.
Look at the sequence:
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He stroked the rope's end, and shook it gently. "It goes hard parting with anything I brought out of the Elf-country. Made by Galadriel herself, too, maybe. Galadriel, " he murmured, nodding his head mournfully. He looked up and gave one last pull to the rope as if in farewell.
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"Have it your own way, Mr. Frodo," he said at last, "but I think the rope came off itself-- when I called."
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Called the rope? Or called Galadriel? Tolkien doesn't clarify. But on the one hand, it does not seem past the art of the elves to create such a rope. And on the other hand, it does not seem past reasoning to me that Galadriel (or some other far-seeing mind-- Celeborn, Elrond, Arwen, Gandalf, whoever) would have been watching over Sam and Frodo, using osanwe, and when Sam called Galadriel's name, asking for divine intervention.
For instance, in the end, it is probably Manwe who sends the eagles at Gandalf's request. (Olorin, Gandalf, had been attatched to Manwe; Letter 200. Also see Unfinished Tales p. 55 regarding the Eagles.)
Iluvatar, and the Valar, are obviously watching.
(Edit [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Lostgaeriel, how did I miss that you already had half these quotes posted?? I could have done half the typing. Drat. Uh, to summarize half of the above: See Lostgaeriel's post. "What she said."
(Lostgaeriel -> she? I'm guessing, no offense...?)
[ October 29, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]