Galadriel's intentions. - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

ninlaith · 03-30-2005, 04:16 AM

That is an extremely good question. I only wish I had the best answer suitable. but i suppose I only have a mock up. I think Galadriel's intentions were of the best kind. However, i believe her motive was to try to 'break" the will of each of them; such as she did to Boromir. She awoke in Boromir, as you say, "a sleeping giant" so perhaps she was testing to see if this giant was withi each of them. If they each had this sleeping giant the quest would inevitably fail. I believe she wanted to test each of them before they went any further in their quest.All the bribing was just to sweeten the deal. She made the temptation even worse with her promises which, evidently, shook the faiths of each of the members of the fellowship. So, all in all, her planned worked and proved to be successful in some cases.

Thinlómien · 03-30-2005, 07:21 AM

Maybe she tested them and their will, could it be broken through? Could the enemy break thorugh their mind? Do they have strong enough will to be in the fellowship? Are they dangerous to the others? That was maybe what she wanted to find out...?

littlemanpoet · 03-30-2005, 10:12 AM

I think she showed each one his own heart, and each one was tempted by what had been laid bare.

Feanor of the Peredhil · 03-30-2005, 01:53 PM

I viewed it much as I view the times when my mother gives me choices. Or not actually *gives* them to me, but shows them to me. Example: Well, either you can take the easy way out and nobody is going to give you a hard time for it, because after all it's your choice, or you can challenge yourself, stick to your word, meet your full potential, and be a success. Your choice.

For all that I've joked about every problem the Fellowship encounters being Galadriel's fault (PM me for explanation, if needed), I picture her as rather benevolent and kind. Although Galadriel couldn't actually give the Fellowship what it seemed she was offering, they could, possibly, give it to themselves. She was testing their hearts and their trueness to the cause of good.

Fea

Halbarad · 03-30-2005, 10:43 PM

Boromir was correct in saying that Galadriel offered that which she did not have the power to give. All they had to do to get what they desired was

Quote:

to turn aside from the road and leave the Quest

. I think her reasons for doing this were to temper the individuals, to make them realise why they were really there. Better to do it while they're in a safe place, for they get to think about the choice and make a decision without doing it at a time or in a place where it could jeopardise the Quest. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and if she could get the link to crack early, so much the better.

Lhunardawen · 03-31-2005, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmp

I think she showed each one his own heart, and each one was tempted by what had been laid bare.

Galadriel was trying to show each of them their humanity. They are not infallible; despite oaths taken and friendships formed and the thinking that they are (insert positive trait here) enough to rise up to the task, they are still "humans" with desires and needs and weaknesses, which they would have to endure more and more as they advance in their Quest. I would say Galadriel was trying to show them the things that they could possibly value more than fulfilling their "duties" and leave them to assess themselves, whether or not they would give in to their desires.

Apparently, as their conversation later on reveals, Galadriel's testing has had an effect on each of them. For the first time in the Quest, they thought twice about their participation. "Why am I here in the first place? Is this the right thing for me to do? Can I really handle this? Would I give up the chance of a more peaceful life? What was I thinking when I chose to be part of the Fellowship?" And I believe it is in that time that they completely understood that each of them has a sense of ownership in the Fellowship. They are not merely there so that the tale of the Nine would be fulfilled. Though they cannot see it, they have a meaningful purpose for being in that group. And because of this, they would have to say no to what Galadriel has offered them. Maybe this is also why Galadriel tested them: to help them realize how important each of them are to the Fellowship.

littlemanpoet · 03-31-2005, 11:57 AM

Makes me wonder.... What potential did Boromir not fulfill?

Neferchoirwen · 04-01-2005, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halbarad

Boromir was correct in saying that Galadriel offered that which she did not have the power to give. All they had to do to get what they desired was . I think her reasons for doing this were to temper the individuals, to make them realise why they were really there. Better to do it while they're in a safe place, for they get to think about the choice and make a decision without doing it at a time or in a place where it could jeopardise the Quest. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and if she could get the link to crack early, so much the better.

It's more like she was sort of giving them a sort of orientation for what they are about to go through, as well as giving them a sense of purpose in this crossroads of decision making. They are there, after all, at the point of no return.

What Galadriel did in giving them things was to remind them in the course of their journey/quest is that there is a reason as to why they are in it. The same thing for the actual gifts that she gave them. They came from all over, and each had a story to it (except maybe Galadriel's hair, but means a lot to a dwarf, doesn't it?) and they were all given as gifts to individual people at a time such as this.

littlemanpoet · 04-03-2005, 06:52 PM

Pure speculation, but what do you suppose Merry and Pippin were both so close-mouthed about?

Lathriel · 04-03-2005, 08:02 PM

As I was reading this thread I also got an idea. What if Galadriel looked in their thoughts in order to make them realize what they actually wanted to do. She put before them the things that they didn't want to see or didn't want to think about. For example Sam really wanted to go home but he didn't want to leave Frodo. He didn't think about going home because that would make him feel extremely guilty.
Thus she also awakened Borormir's longning for the ring. He probabaly already wanted the ring but he kept those thoughts deep within himself because he didn't want to be seen as weak or as a danger to the company.

03-30-2005, 04:16 AM	#1
ninlaith Wight Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: in my hobbit hole Posts: 204	That is an extremely good question. I only wish I had the best answer suitable. but i suppose I only have a mock up. I think Galadriel's intentions were of the best kind. However, i believe her motive was to try to 'break" the will of each of them; such as she did to Boromir. She awoke in Boromir, as you say, "a sleeping giant" so perhaps she was testing to see if this giant was withi each of them. If they each had this sleeping giant the quest would inevitably fail. I believe she wanted to test each of them before they went any further in their quest.All the bribing was just to sweeten the deal. She made the temptation even worse with her promises which, evidently, shook the faiths of each of the members of the fellowship. So, all in all, her planned worked and proved to be successful in some cases. __________________ "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve!"-Bilbo Baggins

03-30-2005, 07:21 AM	#2
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	Maybe she tested them and their will, could it be broken through? Could the enemy break thorugh their mind? Do they have strong enough will to be in the fellowship? Are they dangerous to the others? That was maybe what she wanted to find out...? __________________ Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris

03-30-2005, 01:53 PM	#4
Feanor of the Peredhil La Belle Dame sans Merci Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: perpetual uncertainty Posts: 5,517	I viewed it much as I view the times when my mother gives me choices. Or not actually gives them to me, but shows them to me. Example: Well, either you can take the easy way out and nobody is going to give you a hard time for it, because after all it's your choice, or you can challenge yourself, stick to your word, meet your full potential, and be a success. Your choice. For all that I've joked about every problem the Fellowship encounters being Galadriel's fault (PM me for explanation, if needed), I picture her as rather benevolent and kind. Although Galadriel couldn't actually give the Fellowship what it seemed she was offering, they could, possibly, give it to themselves. She was testing their hearts and their trueness to the cause of good. Fea __________________ peace

04-03-2005, 06:52 PM	#9
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Merry and Pippin Pure speculation, but what do you suppose Merry and Pippin were both so close-mouthed about?

04-03-2005, 08:02 PM	#10
Lathriel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wandering through Middle-Earth (Sadly in Alberta and not ME) Posts: 612	As I was reading this thread I also got an idea. What if Galadriel looked in their thoughts in order to make them realize what they actually wanted to do. She put before them the things that they didn't want to see or didn't want to think about. For example Sam really wanted to go home but he didn't want to leave Frodo. He didn't think about going home because that would make him feel extremely guilty. Thus she also awakened Borormir's longning for the ring. He probabaly already wanted the ring but he kept those thoughts deep within himself because he didn't want to be seen as weak or as a danger to the company. __________________ Back again

03-30-2005, 10:12 AM	#3
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	I think she showed each one his own heart, and each one was tempted by what had been laid bare.

03-31-2005, 11:57 AM	#7
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Makes me wonder.... What potential did Boromir not fulfill?