By
Tyellas
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Disclaimer: All quotes provided in this essay are provided in the context of a review of The Fellowship of the Ring book. All information provided by Tolkien's writings is referenced.
Fans
of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings often walked out of Peter Jackson's
adaptation of The Two Towers saying, "What was all that with Haldir? I
mean, it was good…and noble…but it wasn't like that in the books, that's
for sure." There are a lot of differences between Movie Haldir and Book
Haldir. This essay is an overview of Book Haldir, the character as originally
written by J.R.R. Tolkien.
As
you'll see, Haldir was a substantial character in the books, and many Haldir
fans were very glad to see this elf in Peter Jackson's Fellowship of the
Ring film.
Who is Haldir?
Haldir
is an elf who appears in the Fellowship of the Ring (FOTR) book by
J.R.R. Tolkien. He is both guard of the borders of Lothlórien and guide to the
Fellowship within Lothlórien. Haldir is the Fellowship's guide because he
speaks Westron, the common tongue, and can communicate with all of them. In the
book's narrative, his role is to help both the Fellowship and the reader
understand Lothlórien.
Haldir's
rank among the elves of Lothlórien is interesting. He is that rarity among
Tolkien's elves; the help. Most of Tolkien's elf characters in The Lord
of the Rings and The Silmarillion are nobles in some way or another.
It is rare to see any of the elves in service to these nobles. In several
instances, Haldir notes that his actions are in service to Galadriel and
Celeborn, the rulers of Lothlórien, and that his authority is limited. Tolkien
never notes Haldir as a captain or lord or designates him as a marchwarden or
guardian. He's just there.
Haldir
is a peripheral character. In the FOTR book, we see him in only two
chapters. He does not appear in The Two Towers nor in Return of the
King. Because of this, we do not get much history for Haldir. Haldir is
"of the sylvan folk," a Wood-Elf. This is similar to Legolas' background,
but Mirkwood (where Legolas is from) and Lothlórien are separate enough that
they have different dialects.
Tolkien
does not say how old Haldir is or who Haldir's parents might be, nor does he
provide any specifics about his heritage. Haldir's two brothers, Orophin and
Rumil, serve with him on the marches. However, they speak little Westron, so
that Haldir remains the main communicator when we see him.
What
is Haldir's character like in the book? He seems devoted to duty, following
Lothlórien's laws, as shown in this excerpt where he is speaking to the
Fellowship.
"I do not doubt you," said Haldir. "Yet this is our law. I am not the master of the law, and cannot set it aside. I have done much in letting you set foot over Celebrant." Gimli was obstinate…"You cannot go back," said Haldir sternly. "Now you have come thus far, you must be brought before the Lord and the Lady. They shall judge you, to hold you or give you leave, as they will."
However,
Haldir is good-natured when duty allows, as he shows with his kindness to Sam
and Frodo on Cerin Amroth. It seems a bit unusual that Haldir returns from the
northern marches of Lothlórien (two days journey) to Caras Galadhon just to
escort the Fellowship to their boats. Then again, it is also unusual that any of
the Elves of Lothlórien speak Westron. Perhaps Haldir is unusually intelligent
or adventurous.
Tolkien
does not describe Haldir's appearance or hair color. However, at one point,
Haldir and the Fellowship come across another elf of Lothlórien whose hair
"glinted like gold in the sun." So it is at least probable that Haldir was
given golden hair in the FOTR film.
Haldir's Name
Haldir
is a name in Tolkien's elvish language of Sindarin. Sindarin was the most
widely spoken elvish language.
The name "Haldir" means "tall one." In Sindarin, hal- means "tall." The suffix "dir" means "one who does or is." For example, Lindir = singer. Mithrandir - mith (grey) randir (wanderer, one who wanders.) Hence, the meaning of the name "Haldir." (Source for Sindarin wordlist: http://hem.passagen.se/noldo/sindarin.html)
At times, Tolkien would give a Sindarin name to an Elf character, and later or earlier in Middle-Earth's history, also give that name to a mortal character. He did this with the name Haldir, giving it to a mortal man who appeared in The Silmarillion and in the story "Narn i Hîn Húrin" in Unfinished Tales.
What Haldir Did (And Did Not Do) in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings
Those
who are Haldir fans because of the Lord of the Rings movies are missing
out on a great deal if they do not also read the FOTR book. Haldir has a
great deal of dialogue and interaction with the Fellowship, far more than is
shown in the movie. A taste of this and an overview of his role in FOTR
follows. All quotes are from the FOTR chapter "Lothlórien."
As
a border-guard, Haldir and his brothers meet the Fellowship at the edge of Lothlórien,
beyond the Silverlode but before the Naith. He introduces himself as follows:
"We seldom use any tongue but our own; for we dwell now in the heart of the forest, and do not willingly have dealings with other folk…But there are some of us still who go abroad for the gathering of news and the watching of our enemies, and they speak the languages of other lands. I am one. Haldir is my name. My brothers, Rumil and Orophin, speak little of your tongue."
Haldir
speaks to Legolas and Aragorn as the representatives of the Fellowship, and it
is agreed that, though the situation is unusual, they may pass into Lothlórien
the next day, with Haldir's guidance. "The four hobbits shall climb up
here and stay with us - we do not fear them! There is another talan in the
next tree. There the others must take refuge. You, Legolas, must answer to us
for them. Call us, if anything is amiss! And have an eye on that dwarf!" Orcs
follow the Fellowship into Lórien in the dead of night, and Haldir and his
brothers draw them away from where the Fellowship rests.
The
next morning, Haldir tells the group they must go to the Lord and Lady of Lothlórien.
After the Fellowship crosses a tightrope bridge into the Naith of Lórien, there
is a debate about Gimli's presence due to ancient enmity between elves and
dwarves. Haldir says Gimli should walk blindfolded, presumably so he does not
learn about Lothlórien's locations. The debate is resolved when Aragorn says
that all the Fellowship shall proceed blindfolded.
Once
this is done, Haldir talks with the hobbits as they walk, providing the
perspective of the Elves of Lórien on the state of Middle-Earth. "I do not
believe that the world about us will ever be as it was of old…Alas for Lothlórien
that I love! It would be a poor life in a land where no mallorn grew. But if
there are mallorn-trees beyond the Great Sea, none have reported it."
At
noon the next day a message comes from Galadriel that the Fellowship is to walk
free. Haldir frees Gimli first. "(Haldir) removed the bandage first from
Gimli's eyes. 'Your pardon!; he said, bowing low. 'Look on us now with
friendly eyes! Look and be glad, for you are the first dwarf to behold the trees
of the Naith of Lórien since Durin's Day!'" They are at the hill of
Cerin Amroth in the heart of Lothlórien, and they spend some time enjoying its
beauty. Haldir encourages Frodo and Sam to climb the hill of Cerin Amroth and
ascend a flet, a platform inside a tree. Further dialogue takes place.
They
then proceed to the audience of Celeborn and Galadriel in the city of Caras
Galadhon. Haldir is quiet during this audience. Put on the spot by Celeborn,
Legolas covers for Haldir. "'We have not spoken to Haldir of our deeds or
our purpose,' said Legolas." Afterwards, Haldir bids the Fellowship farewell and returns to the northern
borders.
Haldir
returns in the next chapter, "Farewell to Lórien", to help escort the
Fellowship out of Lothlórien. This
is his last appearance in the Lord of the Rings books.
It
is important to note that in Tolkien's books, Haldir does not appear in
The Two Towers, nor is his long-term fate mentioned at all. Tolkien
filled in the fates after the War of the Ring for many characters, but not for
Haldir.
What
might Haldir's fate have been in the LOTR books? It is mentioned in Return
of the King (Appendix A, Tale of Years) that Celeborn brought forces to
Southern Mirkwood to fight against Sauron's soldiers. Haldir might have gone
with these troops to fight in this battle. If he survived the war, it is very
likely, given his earlier wistful comments about the Sea, that he left Lothlórien
and went to the Undying Lands.
About Lothlórien
Haldir
fans are often curious about Lothlórien, the realm he guards. Tolkien wrote
some interesting things about Lothlórien. Unfortunately, the information does
not help us determine Haldir's age or his elvish background.
It
is through Haldir's descriptions that both the readers and the Fellowship
learn about Lothlórien. Lothlórien was a small forest realm, ruled jointly by
Celeborn and Galadriel. It has been a refuge of Elves in Middle-Earth since the
Third Age of Middle-Earth began. In
the books, Lothlórien was inhabited by several different kinds of elves;
sylvan, Sindar, and Noldor. (History of Galadriel and Celeborn, Unfinished
Tales) Lothlórien was the most southern of the elf-realms. It was
geographically isolated from other areas inhabited by elves. There was
communication between Lothlórien and Rivendell. Arwen spent time there; Aragorn
visited; the sons of Elrond, Elladan and Elrohir, rode there with messages.
(Tale of Years and the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen, ROTK appendices).
Lothlórien
was warded by the power of Galadriel's Ring, Nenya. The effects and passage of
time were different. After their sojourn in Lothlórien, the hobbits in the
Fellowship were surprised that nearly a month had passed. Arts of the Elves were
preserved in this land, such as the making of lembas, and things that seemed
magic but that followed the will of their creators and owners, such as elvish
cloaks and ropes. (Farewell to Lórien, FOTR)
Lothlórien
was the only place in Middle-Earth where mallorn-trees still grew. Mallorn-trees
were brought over to Middle-Earth from Númenor, and to Númenor from Valinor.
(A Description of Númenor, Unfinished Tales ).
Tolkien's
backstory about Lothlórien's settlement dates back to the Second Age of
Middle-Earth, when the area was inhabited by Wood-Elves and called Lórinand.
Tolkien's book Unfinished Tales has more of the varied narrative
options he explored for this time and place. Tolkien's books also include maps
with this area.
Lothlórien,
like many realms and countries, was based on some philosophical ideals. An
abbreviated version of the area's name, Lórien, evokes a peaceful realm in
the Undying Lands. Tolkien said that Galadriel "had endeavoured to make Lórien
a refuge and an island of peace and beauty, a memorial of ancient days, but was
now filled with regret and misgiving, knowing that the golden dream was
hastening to a grey awakening. It may be noted that Treebeard interpreted Lothlórien
as 'Dreamflower.'" (History of Galadriel and Celeborn, footnote 5, Unfinished
Tales).
After
the War of the Ring was concluded, Galadriel's Ring lost its power, and Lothlórien
began to fade. By the time Aragorn died, Lothlórien had been abandoned by the
Elves, who had moved on to other fates. (Tale of Years, ROTK)
Bibliography
The
Fellowship of the Ring (FOTR), J.R.R. Tolkien, Ballantine Books, 1954.
The
Return of the King
(ROTK), J.R.R. Tolkien, Ballantine Books, 1955.
The
Silmarillion,
J.R.R. Tolkien edited by Christopher Tolkien, Ballantine Books, 1977.
Unfinished
Tales of Numénor and Middle-Earth , J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien. Houghton Mifflin Co,
1980. Source for: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," "A
Description of Numenor," and "Narn i Hîn Húrin."
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