A Most Unusual Dwarf

[bilbo_baggins]

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

It is important to remember that there is a range of behavior for all the different races in Arda. There is a general ethos that sets the tone for the nature of a race, but I think that Tolkien intended us to understand that everyone would enact a wide range of behavior much like people in the real world.

Of course, taken how others of Gimli's race have set precedents, Gimli is an obvious softy. Way out there on the extreme end of dwarven behaviour given how he acts in regards to Legolas in RoTK and Galadriel in FoTR. Would a hardened Dwarf-lord act like this? Or is Gimli only showing that inner side we don't see too often in Dwarves? Perhaps they just need to be loved...

But overall Gimli is a lot different from any other Dwarven character you can find, only closely mimicked by the touching deathbed scene of Thorin. Maybe if Tolkien had 'finished' his Silm, we would have had a better picture of dwarves.

Originally Posted by drigel

...and the stakes are such that if he fails, then all dwarves would fall one by one, along with the rest of the free peoples. A highly monumental task that didnt include finding and procuring gold / wealth for himself, his family, or his lord.

Yes, but in character development wouldn't such a monumental task lead to a degenerative character development? Even if he is a Dwarf, having such a grave responsibility makes people (maybe dwarves too) a bit more serious and cautious. It certainly doesn't soften his heart and help to make friends with an Elf and four Hobbits.

That is all I can draw out of my mind right now.

bilbo