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Celeborn Unplugged - Page 3

© Michael Martinez

My point is that readers often get too focused on the main point of the story. Tolkien introduced a personal conflict for Gandalf so that he could be conveniently removed from the action. Gandalf's loss in Moria is really no different a literary device from his urgent business away south in The Hobbit. He is too powerful a character for the author to keep him with the Fellowship, so he has to go. But getting rid of Gandalf undermines his credibility. Hence, someone who (so far) has not seemed weak and foolish has to restore Gandalf's credibility. Now, we can all agree that Galadriel restores Gandalf's reputation by refuting a challenge to Gandalf's decisions. But she cannot answer just anyone's challenge. She must answer a respectable challenge. Someone must risk his own credibility in order to put Galadriel in a position to defend Gandalf. The expression of doubt would not sound right coming from Aragorn or any member of the Fellowship. Nor would it be appropriate for one of the lesser Elves in the room to speak up and say, "Gee, Gandalf sure pulled a boner dis time, boss!" The reader's concerns about Gandalf's wisdom and the appropriateness of his choices must come from someone with authority. And Celeborn has the proper authority. By sacrificing Celeborn's credibility (temporarily), Tolkien offers the reader a way out of a literary conundrum. No one has to criticize poor old Gandalf for making what seems like a stupid decision. After all, the Fellowship could have just crossed over the High Pass above Rivendell, which was protected by the Beornings, and traveled south through Orc-threatened lands in the Vales of Anduin, right? Or they could have snuck through the Gap of Rohan when all the Orcs were napping in the sunlight. The weakest part of the story is Tolkien's assertion (through Gandalf) that the only way to get out of Eriador (and Hollin) with the Ring is to go through Moria to Lorien. Gandalf, of course, wanted to reach Lorien. He knew he would get help there. So going through the Gap of Rohan really makes no sense, in retrospect. It's good that Gandalf didn't waste time arguing with Boromir over the value of taking the Ring to Gondor. In fact, one appreciates Gandalf's wisdom a little bit more when one considers the fact that Gandalf put that argument on a backburner. Of course, another complaint against Celeborn rears its ugly head from time to time. People view his retraction of his welcome to Gimli (and all who go with Gimli -- that is, the entire Fellowship) as a sign of stupidity. One must wonder about the reasoning behind such a judgement, though. After all, Celeborn admits that he (and, presumably, Galadriel) had long suspected some powerful and terrible thing dwelt in Moria. Now his greatest fear has been confirmed, and he finds his little realm is not only threatened by Dol Guldur, but also by the power in Moria. And it's not just any power, it's a Balrog.

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