The Meaning of Pity and Mercy...what is the RIGHT thing to do? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lush · 06-21-2002, 03:28 PM

I think that to show mercy is one of the greatest things a human (or Hobbit) can do. And like all great things, it's not exactly as easy as buttering a piece of toast. I can't tell you what I would do in Frodo's place. But what I can tell is that for me, killing Gollum (and remember, Kuruharan, Gollum is no Orc, he is a creature very much separate from their whole race, and I think Tolkien made that clear; no one would show mercy to an Orc, because they wouldn't be in a position to do so) would be like killing a part of myself.
And while Gandalf is a product of fiction, his wisdom is certainly applicable to the world we live in today.

06-21-2002, 03:28 PM	#13
Lush Fair and Cold Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the big onion Posts: 1,770	I think that to show mercy is one of the greatest things a human (or Hobbit) can do. And like all great things, it's not exactly as easy as buttering a piece of toast. I can't tell you what I would do in Frodo's place. But what I can tell is that for me, killing Gollum (and remember, Kuruharan, Gollum is no Orc, he is a creature very much separate from their whole race, and I think Tolkien made that clear; no one would show mercy to an Orc, because they wouldn't be in a position to do so) would be like killing a part of myself. And while Gandalf is a product of fiction, his wisdom is certainly applicable to the world we live in today. __________________ ~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~