The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Is Legolas afraid to get his nails dirty?

skip spence · 08-24-2008, 04:24 AM

I've started to reread the trilogy in English for the first time in a while and one thing I noticed is that Legolas never seems to break a sweat. When there is hard work to be done Boromir always proclaims how lucky the company is to have strong men like himself around and he is quite right. In the snow of Caradhras it is he and Aragorn who clear a way through the snow and carry the hobbits across it. Later, at the rapids of Sarn Gebir, the two strong men alone carry the three boats up to the portage-way.

What, couldn't Legolas lend a hand now and then? Perhaps Gandalf is spared from a lot of back-breaking labour posing as an old man while Gimli lacks the height required for the above tasks, but what excuse does Legolas have? Is he worried about his hair-do? Or does he simply lack the strenght and endurance for hard labour?

And a more general question: Are men of the high race more physically imposing than Elves, particulary the Moriquendi? The examples of Turin and Tuor seem to imply this, although they undoubtedly were exceptional individuals.

What do you think?

08-24-2008, 04:24 AM	#1
skip spence shadow of a doubt Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the streets Posts: 1,125	Is Legolas afraid to get his nails dirty? I've started to reread the trilogy in English for the first time in a while and one thing I noticed is that Legolas never seems to break a sweat. When there is hard work to be done Boromir always proclaims how lucky the company is to have strong men like himself around and he is quite right. In the snow of Caradhras it is he and Aragorn who clear a way through the snow and carry the hobbits across it. Later, at the rapids of Sarn Gebir, the two strong men alone carry the three boats up to the portage-way. What, couldn't Legolas lend a hand now and then? Perhaps Gandalf is spared from a lot of back-breaking labour posing as an old man while Gimli lacks the height required for the above tasks, but what excuse does Legolas have? Is he worried about his hair-do? Or does he simply lack the strenght and endurance for hard labour? And a more general question: Are men of the high race more physically imposing than Elves, particulary the Moriquendi? The examples of Turin and Tuor seem to imply this, although they undoubtedly were exceptional individuals. What do you think? __________________ "You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way" ~ Bob Dylan Last edited by skip spence; 08-24-2008 at 01:14 PM. Reason: typos