Your Favorite Character(s): A Different Approach

[Gil-Galad]

Well when i first joined the site, Gil-Galad was my fave, i first learned of him by playing a LOTR-Map on Starcraft, and i read more into him and he quickly became my fave and the name stuck to me.

Gil-Galad in the game was extremely strong, when i read more into him he was a brave leader that knows what must be done and he did it, even if his own life was at risk.

There isn't much written about him but i feel that we was a great king and warrior and enstilled valor in his men and showed wisdom with his dealings.

[alatar]

This is kind of a tricky thread to which to reply, as if I talk up my favorite character and say that I see myself in said character, am I not then talking myself up?

"Ya, I like Eru a lot. It created the universe and all. I'm like that, you know, created the internet, velcro, sabre-toothed kangaroos, etc. Also feel that I'm omnipotent, omnipresent..."

Anyway, that being said, I like Gandalf.

He's a powerful father figure not just to me but to the characters in the books. Gandalf is wise and learned - his knowledge is subtle and deep, but he's no specialist. At need he's a man of action, and sometimes comes up with creative solutions to pressing problems (see 'burning pine cones'). His hands may be strong, but it's in his brain/mind that the real power lies. He inspires, warming cold hearts and gets those stuck in ruts back on their road. Rarely idle, he wants to be helpful and true to his stewardship. And at need will sacrifice himself for his friends - why else call them friends if you don't really care?

He could turn Denethor II, Sam and possibly even Elrond into toads, but that's not his way. The Grey Pilgrim sits both on the White Council and on a bar stool at the Prancing Pony, at ease with the great and the small. At times he may think some of the common folk are fools (i.e. Pippin) but he still treats them with respect. All of Middle Earth, even those who sneer at him and make him wait like some old fool (Denethor II), are his charges and he wants to help. Gandalf states that he even has compassion for Sauron's slaves.

Gandalf seeks help where he can find it, but only at direst need; gives advice where it may do some good. Sure, he gets frustrated, but he too needs some testing to keep him honest. Where does he find some needed rest? In simple things, like a pipe or a glass of wine. Can't say that I see him needing some poofy chalice from which to sip, or a tower from which to crow.

In LotR (the books), one of his better scenes is where he and Shadowfax await the Witch-King inside the Gate. No boasting, sword-waving or nervous laughter. He sits, still as a stone. Evil comes and he will fight it when it gets near. He will stand in the gap.

Can't say that I'm like him in any way, but I still admire the character.

[Rikae]

My favorite character, since the first time I read the books at age 8, was Aragorn. It seems I liked him for different reasons than those other readers give, though. I was drawn to the idea that this man wandered in the wilderness for the span of a normal human lifetime; the isolation, the idea of the pain of being separated from the one he loves and most likely believed he would never be with, and the fact that the people he spent his life defending spat on him, insulted him – I found all this deeply moving. I wasn’t raised Christian, but later I connected this ...the archetypes of wandering in the wilderness, sacrifice & humility... to Christ. I also found the whole idea of this rough-looking, even frightening figure being in truth a great king & hero very emotionally satisfying (probably because I liked to think I was better than I appeared to be, and would someday be recognized for it).

I also always had a great deal of affection & sympathy for (of all people) Smeagol. He’s such a tragic figure. It seems Frodo’s friendship nearly brings him back from the darkness he lived in so long, but then when he believes he was betrayed, the last glimmer of hope disappears. He seems like a character with very little control over his actions, yet still some good in him and he must have been tormented watching himself lie, steal and kill for the ring. When he remembers his life as one of the river folk (in The Hobbit & LOTR), how can anyone fail to pity him? It is very powerful, very moving to me that he is the one to destroy the ring in the end, and that he is destroyed with it.

[shieldmaiden4xsword]

Eowyn. She was strong, beautiful, brave.....

well....she fell in love. I can relate to that unrequited love thing. Several times i had a crush on someone who told me they were already engaged. that was crushing......also it was what they stood for, not what they were.

I'm glad she finally fell in love with Faramir.....and loved him for who he was, not what he stood for. *blushes*

And.....i don't like feeling useless, that there's nothing i can do. it's awful. and to stay behind bars.....yeah. i have had that feeling many times. Like there's nothing i could do to escape. It's scary.

And that she was like a lily, still fair to see but touched with some frost, soon to fade. A lot of girls I know are like flowers, but they too have been touched with frost. Soon they will wither.......it's soooo sad........

I am also like Sam. I look out for my friends and I am pretty honest.

I'm just going to say "The Hobbits." I love them all.

Frodo - consciously willing, it takes him awhile to follow through on his decisions, but once he decides, he's dogged to do as he promised. The most wrenching moment for me with Frodo is in Mordor when he lays on the ground, face up, eyes open. Sam asks, "Can you manage, Mr. Frodo?" and he responds, "Yes, I can manage, Sam. I must." My heart just flops out of my chest and I groan at the dedicated effort.

Sam - Yup, he's loyal, steadfast, all that - but he's also so down to earth. He never takes himself seriously. He knows he's common and he likes being common. And from that comes enormous strength. He doesn't have to prove anything to anybody - he just does what has to be done.

Merry - Go get 'em! That's Merry. He wants to go. He wants to do and be involved, but the tragedy is - he's held back. You're too little, you can't do that. "I won't be left behind! I won't be left behind!" he vows and lo and behold, the way is opened for him to move forward.

Pippen - I love this little guy - so precocious! And the opposite of Merry. Just as Merry is held back, Pippen is shoved forward, put on Gandalf's horse and hauled off to Gondor! Nevertheless, he overcomes his fears and makes a difference where he's placed. A quality I try to remember.

Bilbo - let me not forget Bilbo - the only character in all the story who actually possessed the ring and finally gave it up of his own free will - now that took strength. Would that I had that kind of strength with chocolate - my own personal bane.

Childish, childlike - the Hobbits move from their own Garden of Eden, out into the world and become great among the wise.

[Morsul the Dark]

well Freud would have fun with my life my childhood affects everythng from my favorite car (hearse pm me for explanation) t my favorit LOTR charactr, Treebeard

Treebard: when I was a child my favorite book was a disney verson of the tortoise and the hare Donald drove a corvett Goofy drove a big piece of junk...Goofy had a phrase he alwayes repeated durng the book, "slow and steady steady and slw that's the way we always go!" that has been my mtto sinc was a child obviously Treebeard is the personification of that phrase. Now also thre is the fact he has a passion and a knowledge of great deeds and songs to of my favorit thngs (I've written some ballads in my day). Also Treebeard doesn't rush as I don'tI bet he'd be a hoot to play chess with!