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Lalwendë · 06-12-2006, 06:41 AM

I must reply to Anguirel's Boris Johnson column.

Samwise could be seen as emblematic of the poor and oppressed in Middle-earth. He would have been totally illiterate were it not for Bilbo's kindness in teaching him. There are no schools in The Shire, and we must assume that working class Hobbits must get what education that they can, if they can even get that. Why are there no schools? We must presume that education was viewed as a dangerous thing for a humble working class Hobbit, that might upset the apple cart. As it is, Sam only receives a cottage education, and Bilbo, though kind enough to teach him to read, fills his head with all srts of impractical nonsense.

We have our 'news'papers today filled with all sorts of pap about celebrities and non-celebrities (Big Brother contestants, 'stars' of Hollyoaks etc); it could be seen that the media are keeping our heads filled with all this drivel to divert our attention from what is wrong with society. Likewise, Elves were the celebs of Middle-earth, what with their rare appearances, their emaciated bodies and their bling. I can see that Bilbo was just doing the job that the media do today, by diverting Sam from using his new skill in reading to realise that society was keeping him oppressed, by filling his head with nonsense.

Even poor Sam's name is an oppressive millstone imposed by the caste system of the Shire. He is labelled a halfwit for the rest of his life. Far from his eventual change of surname being pretentious, it is actually an act of affirmation when he changes the family name to Gardner. The job implied by the name has been looked down upon by the aristocracy and middle classes of The Shire, but now the Hobbit who has been Mayor reclaims the word and makes it a noble name of repute. This is much like oppressed groups of the late 20th century reclaiming the words that had been used to deride them, and using them with pride.

But how does Sam even end up going on this mission? I would like to know whether Gandalf was exploiting him and using his natural curiosity as an excuse to rope him in as a glorified baggage carrier for Frodo. Did the wizard think it might be useful to have someone along to fetch and carry for the young master? Maybe he thought he could exploit that sense of respect which had been beaten into the Hobbit working classes, that Sam might use that respect to 'take a bullet' for the young Master?

Or was Gandalf the catalyst for change in The Shire? Did he enable Sam to rise from his station and to learn about the world, lessons that Sam would put into practice upon his return and his part in the creation of The New Shire?

I will leave you to think about where I am being tongue in cheek...

06-12-2006, 06:41 AM	#10
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	I must reply to Anguirel's Boris Johnson column. Samwise could be seen as emblematic of the poor and oppressed in Middle-earth. He would have been totally illiterate were it not for Bilbo's kindness in teaching him. There are no schools in The Shire, and we must assume that working class Hobbits must get what education that they can, if they can even get that. Why are there no schools? We must presume that education was viewed as a dangerous thing for a humble working class Hobbit, that might upset the apple cart. As it is, Sam only receives a cottage education, and Bilbo, though kind enough to teach him to read, fills his head with all srts of impractical nonsense. We have our 'news'papers today filled with all sorts of pap about celebrities and non-celebrities (Big Brother contestants, 'stars' of Hollyoaks etc); it could be seen that the media are keeping our heads filled with all this drivel to divert our attention from what is wrong with society. Likewise, Elves were the celebs of Middle-earth, what with their rare appearances, their emaciated bodies and their bling. I can see that Bilbo was just doing the job that the media do today, by diverting Sam from using his new skill in reading to realise that society was keeping him oppressed, by filling his head with nonsense. Even poor Sam's name is an oppressive millstone imposed by the caste system of the Shire. He is labelled a halfwit for the rest of his life. Far from his eventual change of surname being pretentious, it is actually an act of affirmation when he changes the family name to Gardner. The job implied by the name has been looked down upon by the aristocracy and middle classes of The Shire, but now the Hobbit who has been Mayor reclaims the word and makes it a noble name of repute. This is much like oppressed groups of the late 20th century reclaiming the words that had been used to deride them, and using them with pride. But how does Sam even end up going on this mission? I would like to know whether Gandalf was exploiting him and using his natural curiosity as an excuse to rope him in as a glorified baggage carrier for Frodo. Did the wizard think it might be useful to have someone along to fetch and carry for the young master? Maybe he thought he could exploit that sense of respect which had been beaten into the Hobbit working classes, that Sam might use that respect to 'take a bullet' for the young Master? Or was Gandalf the catalyst for change in The Shire? Did he enable Sam to rise from his station and to learn about the world, lessons that Sam would put into practice upon his return and his part in the creation of The New Shire? I will leave you to think about where I am being tongue in cheek... __________________ Gordon's alive!