Saturday, 2 January 2016

lord of the rings - What was the benefit of the belts given by Galadriel to 3 Fellowship members?

From a literary perspective, I would suggest that the non-magical belts were an intentional contrast to highlight the power and specific significance of the magical devices.



The entire Fellowship received cloaks, which were useful in helping them hide. Beyond that, each of those who was doing the most difficult work in the quest received a gift that aided that work.



Frodo received the phial, which was a light in the darkness to help in the fight against Shelob.



Aragorn received the sheath, and the unsheathing of Anduril is a powerful act - Aragorn is one who is fated, and cannot be beaten in battle. He also received (not as a gift, but as a return of something rightly his) the green stone of his Kingship.



Sam received the dust and the seed of a mallorn tree to help with his lifework, the restoration of the Shire.



Both Frodo's and Sam's gifts were related to what they saw in Galadriel's mirror, and Galadriel said she saw their visions with them. Aragorn's fate she already foresaw, since she was fated to be his grandmother-in-law. The others did not receive such visions in Galadriel's presence, and so she could not have a particular gift for them.



In literary terms, the highest members of the Fellowship received gifts from the Elven queen: Gandalf (rescue & rebirth); Aragorn (tools of kingship); Frodo (a light in the darkness); Sam (a gift that would help restore the Shire, where he would rule for his whole life.



Legolas, as an elf, received a gift from Elf to Elf.



Merry and Pippin received their gifts from the Ents (greater height) and from the Kings of Men (stewardship), and this translated into their "lordly" roles in their lives in the Shire after their return.

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