Short sermon by Gandalf the Grey

[esieffe]

From The Lord of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Gandalf and Frodo, talking about execution in the mines of Moria.

Frodo laments that Bilbo did not kill Gallum.

Gandalf answers with a speech that lies at the moral and religious center of the entire epic:

“What a pity that Bilbo did not stab that vile creature [Frodo declares] when he had a chance!”

“Pity? [Gandalf replies] It was Pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need. And he has been well rewarded, Frodo. Be sure that [Bilbo] took so little hurt from the evil, and escaped in the end, because he began his ownership of the Ring so. With Pity.”

“I am sorry” said Frodo. “But I am frightened; and I do not feel any pity for Gollum.”

“You have not seen him,” Gandalf broke in.

“No, and I don’t want to,” said Frodo. “. . . Now at any rate he is as bad as an Orc, and just an enemy. He deserves death.”

“Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. I have not much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies, but there is a chance of it. And he is bound up with the fate of the Ring. My heart tells me that he has some part to play yet, or good or Ill, before the end; and when that comes, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many – yours not least.”

 

[Blood_Angel]

Tolkien illustrates mercy beautifully here.

As it’s Bilbo’s and Frodo’s mercy which accounts for Gollum being out Mount Doom later and destroying the ring.

 

[CruceSignati]

This is one of my favorite parts. Thank you for posting it here.

 

[ClearWater]

“The Hobbit” was what got me into reading in 5th grade. I dressed up as “Frodo” one year for Halloween!

 

[colliric]

I thought the moment when Bilbo stays his sword was portrayed brilliantly in the first of the Peter Jackson films, especially when I saw it in 3D HFR.

Basically Bilbo cannot bring himself to kill Gollum, after all he DID already steal the ring from him and TRICKED him with the final riddle. Bilbo clearly feels he has already wronged Gollum by cheating on him, and killing him would make it even worse.

 

[Blood_Angel]

I thought the moment when Bilbo stays his sword was portrayed brilliantly in the first of the Peter Jackson films, especially when I saw it in 3D HFR.

Basically Bilbo cannot bring himself to kill Gollum, after all he DID already steal the ring from him and TRICKED him with the final riddle. Bilbo clearly feels he has already wronged Gollum by cheating on him, and killing him would make it even worse.

I found it interesting how Bilbo lied about the ring to Gandalf and the Dwarves, the ring seemed to claim ownership of him even then, similar to how Gollum lied about the ring being a birthday present.

Did anyone notice in Desolation of Smaug how they’re making the ring have a bigger effect on Bilbo? During the spider scenes in Mirkwood, after Bilbo drops the ring a harmless creature crawls out of the ground near the ring and Bilbo ends up stabbing it to death and then seems shocked at what he’d done.

 

[esieffe]

“The Hobbit” was what got me into reading in 5th grade. I dressed up as “Frodo” one year for Halloween!

In the third grade it was “The adventures of Sammy Jay” that started me on books. My family began to have problems with my older sister who became suicidal when I was in Middle School. She had a copy of the Lord of the Rings, and when I finished it, I cried because it had been such an escape for me, and it was over. So I re-read it and re-read it…

Surly Tolkien was divinely inspired when he wrote this passage! What a respect for the sanctity of life! I try to follow this example of compassion. Compassion and mercy are what separates us from barbarians. Without them, there would be utter chaos and ruin.

 

[ClearWater]

In the third grade it was “The adventures of Sammy Jay” that started me on books. My family began to have problems with my older sister who became suicidal when I was in Middle School. She had a copy of the Lord of the Rings, and when I finished it, I cried because it had been such an escape for me, and it was over. So I re-read it and re-read it…

Surly Tolkien was divinely inspired when he wrote this passage! What a respect for the sanctity of life! I try to follow this example of compassion. Compassion and mercy are what separates us from barbarians. Without them, there would be utter chaos and ruin.

Once, my family went out to the movies. We went only rarely, and I remember once staying home to read “The Hobbit”, instead. In retrospect, I wish I would have gone to the movie, read the book later!

I didn’t cry when I finished “The Hobbit”, but I felt sad that adventure was over.

Anyway, I liked fantasy, same reasons, also because it was an escape, I think, from reality, which could be so harsh, at times.

I also remember one teacher reading us, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” C.S. Lewis, in…not sure…what grade. We’d put our heads down on the desks, either fall asleep or listen. I remember being fascinated by that, as well.