25 March 1419 (SR): 'for eyes to see that can'
This post is to celebrate March 25th of the year 1419 of the third age (by Shire reckoning).
As a long-time addict to the Lord of the Rings book and a recent one to Peter Jackson's film trilogy, I keep discovering unexpected links between the book and the films. One of my favorites is a section of text from the chapter 'Many Meetings' in 'The Fellowship of the Ring' that resonates with a breathtaking shot at the end of the third film.
In the book, Frodo has just woken up in the house of Elrond, where he has lain ill after having been stabbed by the Lord of the Nazgûl at Weathertop. Here is the text from the book:
Gandalf moved his chair to the bedside, and took a good look at Frodo. The colour had come back in his face, and the eyes were clear, and fully awake and aware. He was smiling, and there seemed to be little wrong with him. But to the wizard's eye there was a faint change, just a hint as it were of transparency, about him, and especially about the left hand that lay outside upon the coverlet.
'Still that must be expected', said Gandalf to himself. 'He is not half through yet, and to what he will come in the end not even Elrond can foretell. Not to evil, I think. He may become like a glass filled with a clear light for eyes to see that can.'
And Gandalf was very prescient. Here are some screen-caps of Frodo when he is waking up 'in the end' in the Houses of Healing, when the Ring is no more. 'A glass filled with a clear light for eyes to see that can'.
One of the reasons why I love the films so much is that they give an extra dimension to the book text, and Gandalf's reaction at this emotional moment is a perfect example. The book doesn't tell us anything about the first encounter between Frodo and Gandalf after Frodo's awakening ('The Return of the King': 'The Field of Cormallen'), and all readers must regret that we are kept in the dark. The scene is described form Sam's perspective as he wakes up a few hours after Frodo. About Gandalf's reaction we read:
'A great shadow has departed', said Gandalf, and then he laughed, and the sound was like music, or like water in a parched land, ....'
In the film we do see the first post-Ring encounter between Frodo and Gandalf. Gandalf's feelings appear to be much more complex than we read in the book. As he stands at the foot of Frodo's bed, his face first shows pity and regret, perhaps even guilt, for all Frodo has had to endure. And only gradually does he start laughing: 'and the sound was like music'. I really love this extra glimpse into Gandalf's feelings!
'.... a fountain of mirth enough to set a kingdom laughing .....'
As a long-time addict to the Lord of the Rings book and a recent one to Peter Jackson's film trilogy, I keep discovering unexpected links between the book and the films. One of my favorites is a section of text from the chapter 'Many Meetings' in 'The Fellowship of the Ring' that resonates with a breathtaking shot at the end of the third film.
In the book, Frodo has just woken up in the house of Elrond, where he has lain ill after having been stabbed by the Lord of the Nazgûl at Weathertop. Here is the text from the book:
Gandalf moved his chair to the bedside, and took a good look at Frodo. The colour had come back in his face, and the eyes were clear, and fully awake and aware. He was smiling, and there seemed to be little wrong with him. But to the wizard's eye there was a faint change, just a hint as it were of transparency, about him, and especially about the left hand that lay outside upon the coverlet.
'Still that must be expected', said Gandalf to himself. 'He is not half through yet, and to what he will come in the end not even Elrond can foretell. Not to evil, I think. He may become like a glass filled with a clear light for eyes to see that can.'
And Gandalf was very prescient. Here are some screen-caps of Frodo when he is waking up 'in the end' in the Houses of Healing, when the Ring is no more. 'A glass filled with a clear light for eyes to see that can'.
One of the reasons why I love the films so much is that they give an extra dimension to the book text, and Gandalf's reaction at this emotional moment is a perfect example. The book doesn't tell us anything about the first encounter between Frodo and Gandalf after Frodo's awakening ('The Return of the King': 'The Field of Cormallen'), and all readers must regret that we are kept in the dark. The scene is described form Sam's perspective as he wakes up a few hours after Frodo. About Gandalf's reaction we read:
'A great shadow has departed', said Gandalf, and then he laughed, and the sound was like music, or like water in a parched land, ....'
In the film we do see the first post-Ring encounter between Frodo and Gandalf. Gandalf's feelings appear to be much more complex than we read in the book. As he stands at the foot of Frodo's bed, his face first shows pity and regret, perhaps even guilt, for all Frodo has had to endure. And only gradually does he start laughing: 'and the sound was like music'. I really love this extra glimpse into Gandalf's feelings!
'.... a fountain of mirth enough to set a kingdom laughing .....'