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Who Is Like the Wise Elf? - Page 2

© Michael Martinez

Celeborn also perceives the doubt and confusion in Aragorn, when it is time for the Fellowship to depart from Lorien, and therefore Celeborn gives Aragorn some extra time to think by providing the Company of the Ring with boats. The boats allow Aragorn to defer his choices for at least a few more days. But Celeborn, like Elrond before him, engages in a bit of foresight. When the Fellowship leaves Rivendell, Elrond and Gimli exchange truisms about oaths and abiding by them. Their words foreshadow events to come. In a similar, though briefer exchange, Boromir elicits a warning from Celeborn concerning Boromir's mistrust of old wives tales. Those old wives, Celeborn points out, often remember things that were once important to know. Although Fangorn Forest is the subject of Boromir's scoffing, it is an old wife in Minas Tirith, Ioreth, who later on recalls rhymes of lore which inspire Gandalf to bring Aragorn into Minas Tirith to heal Merry, Eowyn, and Faramir (and, ultimately, many of the city's sick people -- thus endearing Aragorn to the population and proving that he is the rightful king). Celeborn thus exhibits a perception unlike Galadriel's, yet proves he is one of the Wise. But his wisdom lies in his shrewd ability to judge people's needs and address those needs. Galadriel's wisdom is more a wisdom born of long and sad experience. She has learned the bitter lessons history has to teach, and she is wiser for such experience. Galadriel and Celeborn complement each other, but neither is strikingly superior to the other. Celeborn is, in fact, quite decisive, whereas Galadriel is deliberative and cautious. The contrasts between Galadriel and Celeborn underscore just how difficult it is for the reader to understand and identify all of Tolkien's Wise, or Elven-wise, "lords of the Eldar from over Sea". Not all of the Wise are from over Sea (Elrond was born in Middle-earth, for example). It is curious that Tolkien should distinguish the Wise as "lords of the Eldar". Are all the Wise members of the nobility? If so, what is it that makes them Wise? They may possess great learning, which among mortal men is more likely to be acquired by wealthy families than poor families. But Elves live long enough that even their poorest families must eventually accumulate a great deal of lore. Wisdom is the product of education, experience, and reason. One need not acquire a formal education in order to become wise (and an educational system cannot guarantee results in any event). The Elves in general were very wise, possessing a great deal of experience. Tolkien successfully distinguishes between Elves by limiting their experiences and filtering their values through cultural motifs. Hence, Legolas thinks of the Elves of Eregion as strange and foreign to his own woodland folk. The Elves of Lothlorien are even less worldly than Legolas, except for Galadriel and Celeborn. Haldir the march-warden knows about Hobbits but hasn't seen any for many years. And he is one of the few scouts who are occasionally sent out to have dealings with other peoples. Legolas is not surprised to know about Hobbits, but then, he has already met Bilbo and dealt with Gollum. And Gildor Inglorion and his folk pass through the Shire frequently, so they are quite comfortable with Hobbits.

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