How do you perceive Tom Bombadil? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

William Cloud Hicklin · 11-05-2015, 12:01 PM

Well, better the devil you know and all that. The Road was patrolled by Black Riders and watched by their spies; it was reasonable (and in fact correct) to assume that the Forest would be unwatched, whatever local risks it might contain. And of course Merry, who would know the most about it of the five, was cheerfully unworried.

Moreover, if there had been complete intelligence on the Forest then it would have boiled down to "easy to get lost, stay away from that willow tree, and the singing nutbar who lives there is a helpful, hospitable sort."

11-05-2015, 12:01 PM	#27
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,332	Well, better the devil you know and all that. The Road was patrolled by Black Riders and watched by their spies; it was reasonable (and in fact correct) to assume that the Forest would be unwatched, whatever local risks it might contain. And of course Merry, who would know the most about it of the five, was cheerfully unworried. Moreover, if there had been complete intelligence on the Forest then it would have boiled down to "easy to get lost, stay away from that willow tree, and the singing nutbar who lives there is a helpful, hospitable sort." __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it. Last edited by William Cloud Hicklin; 11-05-2015 at 12:04 PM.