Hobbits as Eru's race chosen to bear the Ring

[Birdland]

OK.

"...I regard Arwen and Aragorn as the most important of the Appendices; it is part of the essential story, and is only placed so, because it could not be worked into the main narrative without destroying its structure: which is planned to be 'hobbito-centric', that is, primarily a study of the ennoblement (or sanctification) of the humble."

J.R.R. Tolkien in a letter to Michael Straight, New Republic editor - January 1956

Sharku - I’m torn, since you have posted this incredibly detailed reponse in one thread, but asked that the discussion be continued in another. So here I am.

I included the above quote from Tolkien’s letters because the last sentence seems to sum up the major theme of the book: “…a study of the ennoblement (or sanctification) of the humble.” If I may address some of your own comments,found here: here

It is of special importance here to note that when Tolkien speaks of the hobbits being “made” in special ways, he is talking in literary terms. This is also undoubtedly one of the most important argument to consider when refuting the “chosen people” theory.

First off, let’s remember that Tolkien “made” every creation in his books: Men, Elves, Eru, Hobbits and all. Any argument or speculation about any character in Tolkien’s work can be refuted by simply stating “He did it ’cause Tolkien made him do it.” But if we only went with this reasoning, there would be no reason for this website. It would also be an insult to the author. Tolkien chose to make one of his humble Hobbit creations the hero of his tale for a reason. He also chose to imply in the book, on several occasions, that this Hero was chosen to fulfill a certain destiny by Tolkien’s other creation: Eru.

As I have stated before: Frodo did not just drop out of the sky. In order for Frodo to fulfill the destiny that Eru has chosen for him, his very existence would have to be so unobtrusive and unimportant that his very race was regarded with little but contempt, not only by Sauron, but the rest of the world in general. Now that takes some “planning“.

Also, there is nothing in fact that makes hobbits more “chosen” or special than the other Children of Eru; certainly not in their skills or appearance, and not so in their circumstances, which are not supernatural in any way.

Why is it assumed by you that a “race” would have to demonstrate some types of supernatural powers in order to be granted a special status by a Higher Power? It could be argued that the Hobbits very lack of “skills” or “supernatural” abilities would be the reason that they are “chosen“. Indeed, isn’t that the whole point that Tolkien was trying to make?

Gandalf, being the buddy of Manwe, can be assumed to have some deep knowledge and insight on the ways of the world.

I beg to differ on this point: In Unfinished Tales Tolkien is quoted as writing: “For it is said indeed that being embodied the Istari had need to learn much anew by slow experience, and though they knew whence they came the memory of the Blessed Realm was to them a vision from afar of, for which…they yearned exceedingly.” (The Istari, p. 390) So Tolkien suggests that The Istari were not all-knowing and infallible, and certainly did not have “total insight in the ways of the world”.

In Unfinished Tales, Gandalf is regarded as being on of the “lesser” Istari, weaker, smaller, older, and unassuming. He even questions whether he is up to the task that the Valar have sent him on. (Only Círdan recognizes that there may be more to Gandalf than meets the eye.) Doesn’t Gandalf’s story, in a way, reflect the very story of the Halfling race? And Gandalf does not strengthen his case by taking up with the Halflings, the only one of The Wise to do so. Saruman holds him in contempt for it. Even Radagast sneers at him for it! And yet Gandalf feels called to continue this association down through the centuries. To me, that suggest that Hobbits were very much a part of Gandalf’s “mission”, though even he doesn’t seem to understand why until the Ring shows up.

Also note that while Gollum is able to remember sucking eggs with his grandmother, he apparently does not recognize Bilbo as being of the same race as himself, which makes it highly likely that the hobbits evolved quite much in just the few centuries that separate Gollum’s and Bilbo’s birth. Would that mean that a part of the hobbit folk was “chosen” and the other part only “half-chosen” (but still chosen enough to find the Ring)? Of course not.

Why not? I only say that Eru deigned that a race called Hobbits would have some important role in the the battle against Sauron, In no way doe that eliminate the fact that Hobbits would change or evolve.

Also it would mean that Tolkien would have had Eru intervening gravely into the affairs of the Third Age both on his own and without the apparent knowledge of the Valar. The Legendarium tells us that Eru did intervene very rarely and only in cataclysmic dimensions. This definitely was not one, more than two thousand years before the Ring would have eventually been destroyed. Added to this, I do not suppose that the Music of the Ainur would extend in such great detail to such a time concerning Men (for hobbits are no other), who are, by definition in the mythology, free from the structure of the Music. Only dealing with Elves, such as Beren, Túrin, and Bilbo had, can entangle mortals in the tighter webs of the Music and of Fate.

Tolkien refers to The Lord of the Rings as being “hobbit-centric”. The Silmarillon is definitely “Elven-centric”. The fate of the Simarils it tied up with the fate of the Elves. The fate of the One ring is tied up with the fate of all the races of Middle Earth. Sounds pretty cataclysmic to me.

I think our concepts of what it means for a god to interfene differs greatly, You seem to regard intervention as some “Deus ex Machina” moment. I myself regard it more in light of the old saying that the fluttering of a butterfly’s wings in South America can cause a hurricane in New England. Both suggest intervention by a higher power, but my approach is a tad more “holistic“. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Who is to say that if it was Eru’s intention that a Hobbit be the cause of the final overthrow of Sauron, that he may not have been planning for this moment clear back to the very beginnings?. Tolkien stresses that Eru’s people, the Valar, do not have a complete knowledge of the Music of Eru. Doesn’t that suggest to you that the Halfling folk may have been covered in there someplace, (for at least a couple of bars, anyway.)

My speculation that Hobbits may have come into being by Design is based on the fact that Tolkien stresses so much through the book that Hobbits are forgotten and unknown, a perfect “secret weapon. As Child wrote to me: “Why would he (Tolkien) do this unless it had some significance?”

Then, there is the “fact” that, out of all the people of Middle-Earth who do tend to think Hobbits have some worth, two of them turn out to be the most powerful figures in that world, and the most closely connected with The One. Gandalf and Tom Bombadil. Gandalf even suggest that he “knows more about their origins than Hobbits do themselves.“ Why, out of all the Istari, would Gandalf show such an interest in such a lowly people for so many centuries, even risking scorn and rididule for this interest? I feel that there is more to it than that Gandalf is a “nice old man“.

Yes, speculation is fun. My speculation that Tolkien’s deity may have “chosen” a Hobbit to overthrow the Dark Lord is, and therefore arranged for Hobbits themselves to appear in Middle-Earth is only that - speculation. But I feel it is based on many subtle suggestions that Tolkien made in his master work. Granted, I may be coloring it with my own views and belief systems, but isn’t that what you, Burrahobbit, and Mhoram are doing as well? You may not see it, but others - even others who have studied the text as thoroughly as yourself - do.

[ November 10, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]