Quote:
Originally Posted by Mithalwen
There is a touch of the Uriah Heeps about Grima but of course his humility is faux.
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Not quite sure what you mean, are you talking about Grima's need to have a master to please? And being that he is disgruntled as not being Theoden's 'favourite' counselor, he turns to Saruman?
Hmm...I wonder if it has something to do with Tolkien talking about the balance between the 'high and noble' characters, and the 'simple/vulgar' ones? The high and mighty accomplish the physically difficult tasks, that the low and vulgar simply don't have the power to do. These would be characters like Gandalf, Aragorn, and Boromir. Yet it is the 'simple and vulgar' ones who do the dirty jobs, or the emotionally draining (as well as physically) jobs, like Frodo carrying the Ring to Mount Doom. The high and mighty could never do what Frodo did, as they may have some sense of humility, but they still think too highly of themselves to destroy the Ring. Gandalf doesn't want to be tempted by Frodo!
Yet, Frodo, being simple, humble (and hobbits in general) can complete those types of tasks that the 'high and mighty' can't.
Of course it can work for evil too, Saruman being the 'high' character (albeit a fallen one) and Grima being his low servant (albeit also fallen). Then does pride (the dominant characteristic of the 'high and mighty') need a humble (the simple and vulgar) counterpart?