Merry or Pippin - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

10-06-2006, 12:34 PM

I can never decide who is the best of these two hobbits. Merry or Pippin.

Child of the 7th Age · 10-06-2006, 12:49 PM

I suppose that depends on what you mean by "best"...

Do you mean most effective in helping in the Ring quest or some personal qualities, or something else entirely?

ninja91 · 10-06-2006, 06:58 PM

Such a broad question begs for a broad answer: Merry.

tar-ancalime · 10-07-2006, 12:28 AM

Definitely Merry.

Boromir_bg · 01-02-2007, 01:43 AM

The fool of a Tuk of course

Selmo · 01-03-2007, 07:23 AM

I have always considered Merry to be the better, most mature and thoughtful of the two

In the early chapters, Merry is the planner. It's Merry who makes the house at Crickhollow available, it's Merry who arranges for Fatty Bolger to stay in the house to give the impression that Frodo stays there and it's Merry who organises transport for the party and provisions for the journey. He gives thought to the little things too, like having three baths ready so that Frodo, Sam and Pippin don't have to wait their turn to get cleaned up.
As shown by his comments after he and Pippin escape from Saruman's orcs, Merry spent time in Rivendell studying maps while Pippin just enjoyed himself.
After Merry and Pippin are separated, Pippin offers his sword to Denethor on impulse; Merry gives his fealty to Theoden only after some thought, because he has come to love the old King.
In the closing chapters, Pippin plays the impetuous Lieutenent to Merry's thoughtful General. Pippin rushes off to gather troops from Tookborough while Merry takes command at Bywater, planning his campaign with Farmer Cotton.

We should not be surprised that Merry shows the most maturity of the four Hobbits of the Fellowship. Sam, before the War, had little responsibility other than looking after the garden at Bag End. Frodo, with his inherited wealth, had nothing to do except study Elvish, write poetry and dream. Pippin was too young (under 33) to take on the burden of being heir to the Thain. Merry, however, was of age and would have been expected to take part in the running of Buckland. He was being trained in organisational and leadership skills in a way the others were not.
__________________

The Might · 01-03-2007, 09:38 AM

Merry definitely did more to influence the War of the Ring...
In the movie you might be decieved since you see Pippin light the beacons, but in the books it's clearly Merry that does more...
Pippin seems to see it like that as well because as he is sitting in front of the Black Gate with the Host of the West he says to himself:

Quote:

'If only I could smite that foul Messenger with it, then almost I should draw level with old Merry. Well, I'll smite some of this beastly brood before the end. I wish I could see cool sunlight and green grass again!'

Pippin did indeed play an important part in saving Faramir, but this was not so important for the outcome of the War of the Ring, since Faramir would no longer play an active part in the events. It was indeed his foolishness that brought a great deal of luck to the Fellowship since he could see a part of Sauron's plan in the palantir.

Still, Merry was clearly more important as he was the one who made it possible for Eowyn to kill the WK. Had this not happened, the events that took place afterwards might have been very different.

MatthewM · 01-04-2007, 10:26 AM

I was always more of a Pippin fan, but recently I've liked Merry just as much. If you are going to talk character development wise, you would have to say Pippin is the greater. He is transformed from a know-little Hobbit to a soldier of Gondor, coming back to the Shire no longer the youth he was. He went into the journey a "boy" if you would, making many mistakes and follies along the way, but returned as a "man".

Merry was thoughtful and clever all along. He usually knew what to do, and what he wanted to do. He rarely (if ever) made a mistake. So if you're talking solid character wise and overall contributor to the Quest, then perhaps you'd say Merry. There's plenty Merry did, but Pippin also helped the Quest greatly even though he was the one who didn't mean to. In looking through the Palantir, Pippin gave the Company the desperate answers they needed. Not to mention he saved Faramir. Can you compare that to aiding in slaying the Witch-King? I don't know, in the overall mission of the Quest, probably not.

Rhod the Red · 01-30-2007, 10:52 PM

I like Pippin the most. Though Gandalf is my favourite charachter

mhagain · 01-31-2007, 01:34 PM

Pippin would be better to go for a few beers with, although I'd rely more on Merry to ensure I got home safe.

shieldmaiden4xsword · 01-31-2007, 03:25 PM

I can't really compare them. They're different, they have different gifts, and they were both important to the quest.

Although I kinda like Pippin better.

10-06-2006, 12:34 PM	#1
OrcLeaderalpha Guest Posts: n/a	Merry or Pippin I can never decide who is the best of these two hobbits. Merry or Pippin.

10-06-2006, 12:49 PM	#2
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,135	I suppose that depends on what you mean by "best"... Do you mean most effective in helping in the Ring quest or some personal qualities, or something else entirely? __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.

10-07-2006, 12:28 AM	#4
tar-ancalime Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: abaft the beam Posts: 303	Definitely Merry. __________________ Having fun wolfing it to the bitter end, I see, gaur-ancalime (lmp, ww13)

01-02-2007, 01:43 AM	#5
Boromir_bg Pile O'Bones Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 16	The fool of a Tuk of course __________________ The Pride of Gondor!

01-04-2007, 10:26 AM	#8
MatthewM Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 627	I was always more of a Pippin fan, but recently I've liked Merry just as much. If you are going to talk character development wise, you would have to say Pippin is the greater. He is transformed from a know-little Hobbit to a soldier of Gondor, coming back to the Shire no longer the youth he was. He went into the journey a "boy" if you would, making many mistakes and follies along the way, but returned as a "man". Merry was thoughtful and clever all along. He usually knew what to do, and what he wanted to do. He rarely (if ever) made a mistake. So if you're talking solid character wise and overall contributor to the Quest, then perhaps you'd say Merry. There's plenty Merry did, but Pippin also helped the Quest greatly even though he was the one who didn't mean to. In looking through the Palantir, Pippin gave the Company the desperate answers they needed. Not to mention he saved Faramir. Can you compare that to aiding in slaying the Witch-King? I don't know, in the overall mission of the Quest, probably not. __________________ "Loud and clear it sounds in the valleys of the hills...and then let all the foes of Gondor flee!" -Boromir, The Fellowship of the Ring

01-03-2007, 07:23 AM	#6
Selmo Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The Shire (Staffordshire), United Kingdom Posts: 273	I have always considered Merry to be the better, most mature and thoughtful of the two In the early chapters, Merry is the planner. It's Merry who makes the house at Crickhollow available, it's Merry who arranges for Fatty Bolger to stay in the house to give the impression that Frodo stays there and it's Merry who organises transport for the party and provisions for the journey. He gives thought to the little things too, like having three baths ready so that Frodo, Sam and Pippin don't have to wait their turn to get cleaned up. As shown by his comments after he and Pippin escape from Saruman's orcs, Merry spent time in Rivendell studying maps while Pippin just enjoyed himself. After Merry and Pippin are separated, Pippin offers his sword to Denethor on impulse; Merry gives his fealty to Theoden only after some thought, because he has come to love the old King. In the closing chapters, Pippin plays the impetuous Lieutenent to Merry's thoughtful General. Pippin rushes off to gather troops from Tookborough while Merry takes command at Bywater, planning his campaign with Farmer Cotton. We should not be surprised that Merry shows the most maturity of the four Hobbits of the Fellowship. Sam, before the War, had little responsibility other than looking after the garden at Bag End. Frodo, with his inherited wealth, had nothing to do except study Elvish, write poetry and dream. Pippin was too young (under 33) to take on the burden of being heir to the Thain. Merry, however, was of age and would have been expected to take part in the running of Buckland. He was being trained in organisational and leadership skills in a way the others were not. __________________

01-30-2007, 10:52 PM	#9
Rhod the Red Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: May 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 257	I like Pippin the most. Though Gandalf is my favourite charachter __________________ Head of the Fifth Order of the Istari Tenure: Fourth Age(Year 1) - Present Currently operating in Melbourne, Australia

01-31-2007, 01:34 PM	#10
mhagain Wight Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The best seat in the Golden Perch Posts: 219	Pippin would be better to go for a few beers with, although I'd rely more on Merry to ensure I got home safe.

01-31-2007, 03:25 PM	#11
shieldmaiden4xsword Wight Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: where people stick out their tongues at their youth pastor.... Posts: 220	I can't really compare them. They're different, they have different gifts, and they were both important to the quest. Although I kinda like Pippin better. __________________ Sometimes the peril is not in what is around us, what enemies or trials that may come, but what is in our own hearts.