The importance of Tolkien's minor characters

[Dininziliel]

Essex, I am still rooting among the truffles in The Letters of JRR Tolkien and recently came across the following--it speaks to your wondering about the appeal minor characters as "plot devices"

There are of course certain things and themes that move me specially. The inter-relations between the 'noble' and the 'simple' (or common, vulgar) for instance. The ennoblement of the ignoble I find specially moving.

This is both a nice & ingenious thing to do. It also reflects & illustrates some truths about the world & the plan behind it. For me, another part of the appeal is in thinking that I, too, may one day be considered an ennobled "plot device" in the moving of things in this, the 7th Age. [Hi, Child!]