The Scouring of the Shire (with Apostolic Majesty)

This is a contribution to Tolkien Day for January 3, 2022. Enjoy all of Tolkien Day!
• Tolkien Day
Guest: Apostolic Majesty / apostolicmajesty

[@captainsmith3972]

Re-reading the books recently, this chapter in particular hit home in light of our current time. Tolkien's words could apply to any authoritarian regime, but reading the descriptions of all the new rules that completely uprooted the hobbits' way of life it was impossible to not think of the obvious parallels. I took heart from how the hobbits won in the end, and have the same optimism that what we have seen in the last two years is not sustainable and will fall. But how long it will take and how much suffering will be endured before then I don't know.

[@ncjhood]

Hope always remains in a world where there is another Power besides that of the darkness.

[@Vingul]

@@ncjhood "Hope springs eternal" is my favourite phrase in the English language.

[@ingold1470]

@@ncjhood Is Blackadder/GoT style cynicism about the past in pop-culture and Foucault-derived lunacy in high culture promoted to convince people of the opposite? That whoever wins the political manoeuvring dictates morality & culture and that's all there is in the world. In their world Sharkey would have used the Voice to brainwash all the hobbits and they would have run our heroes out of town, industrialised, and then waged a Dutch-revolt esque war against the agents of Aragorn.

[@drarsen33]

Saruman is my favorite character. Rather tragic figure and great warning. He was most powerful of wizards and most intelligent one. But with it came great pride which was his downfall especially since he felt that he was second fiddle. He analyzed situation and came to (correct) conclusion that forces of west will not be able to stop Sauron so he tried to master enemies weapons and went down the dark path. It is made clear that he didnt intend to serve Sauron and he lied to Nazgul and had sent them away, but still you cant use power of evil without it twisting you.

[@cannibalholocaust3015]

Saruman (now virtually powerless) when cornered in Bag End is offered Mercy by Frodo. Sam wants to knife him but Frodo insists he must be spared. “He was great once, of a noble kind that we should not dare to raise our hands against. He is fallen, and his cure is beyond us; but I would still spare him, in the hope that he may find it.’

[@cannibalholocaust3015]

Saruman is absolutely incensed. “Saruman rose to his feet, and stared at Frodo. There was a strange look in his eyes of mingled wonder and respect and hatred. ‘You have grown, Halfling,’ he said. ‘Yes, you have grown very much. You are wise, and cruel. You have robbed my revenge of sweetness, and now I must go hence in bitterness, in debt to your mercy. I hate it and you! Well, I go and I will trouble you no more”

[@drarsen33]

@@cannibalholocaust3015 I know. I read the books and listened to video. He was too proud to accept that he lost

[@theladyfingers___]

No jokes about that audiobook. AM's reading is superb.

[@TheTookar]

The scouring of the Shire to me is reminiscent of Odysseus’ return to Ithika. Even the culmination of Merry and Pipin has some allusion to Telemachus’ character development.

[@CheckUnderYou]

This

[@LudovicusCarolus]

When I first read LOTR as a teenager I was exhausted by the end, and didn't fully appreciate this chapter. Now many years later it has become my favourite. Thanks for the stream!

[@Vingul]

Merry and Pippin's time to shine, independent of their duties to their respective kingdoms... Love that jolly old pair of hobbits.

[@bartolo498]

I read LotR for the first time with already 20 and had seen the Bakshi animated film some years earlier. I remember being generally shocked/surprised at that chapter as it was quite unexpected! (Again, there is a mild and humourous parallel in The Hobbit when Bilbo returns just in time to the auctioning of his property!)

[@RampantDaydream]

The great party tree gets chopped, and Sam plants a Mallorn tree seed from Lothlorien in its place. Something very poetic about that.

[@juliusflavius3573]

Good stream. 👍

[@ncjhood]

Thanks for watching! It is much appreciated.

[@danielbutchers998]

This is why it needs a series not films as most if not all the bits left out could be included

[@Hero_Of_Old]

In this day and age it can't happen unfortunately. Just look at what Amazon is doing.

[@jd9971]

This was sublime.

[@alternativeavenues7664]

My stars, it’s been too long since I last read these wonderful books.

[@samwisegamgee4659]

Brilliant!

[@ncjhood]

I am honoured you think so Master Samwise, hero of the Shire!

[@cannibalholocaust3015]

Tolkien mentioned in his letters a hypothetical scenario with Gandalf taking the ring and becoming RingLord. He said Gandalf would’ve been worse than Sauron due to the self righteous moralistic nature his rule would entail.

[@Hero_Of_Old]

The Red Book has a very good video on this

[@Hero_Of_Old]

This will be happening all over Europe soon sadly...

[@Gandalf-The-Gay]

Intriguing... but highly disturbing.