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the fellowship of the ring: chapter four, “a short cut to mushrooms”

After their night spent with Gildor and his company of elves, Frodo considers the dangers he’s sure to face when he leaves the Shire. Gildor had reiterated Gandalf’s advice, to bring with him any friends that he trusts. But Frodo wonders if he shouldn’t go alone, leaving his friends in the safety of the Shire. Pippin doesn’t even know that Frodo isn’t really moving out to Buckland, let alone that the Black Riders they’ve seen are after him specifically. Really, Frodo shouldn’t even be taking Sam with him.

Sam is quick to reassure Frodo that he has no intention of letting him go alone, and though he quotes Gandalf telling him the same, he reveals that the wizard’s admonishings are far from the only reason he’s here with Frodo now. It’s not even about experiencing the things he’s always heard about in Bilbo’s stories; after all, he’s already met elves now, as he’s long desired to. He simply believes there is something that he’s meant to do on this journey, reminiscent of Gandalf’s stated belief in “The Shadow of the Past” that Gollum will later serve some sort of important purpose. Sam intends to stick around and play his part, whatever that may be.

We have previously seen plenty of evidence of Sam’s wisdom, but this conversation seems to be Frodo’s first time really seeing it; notably, it’s this exchange, rather than the advice of Gildor or even Gandalf, that convinces Frodo that he needn’t complete his quest by himself. The remainder of this chapter proves that he couldn’t if he tried, as Farmer Maggot provides critical assistance in avoiding Black Riders on their way to Buckland. Though this internal conflict will come up again, for now Frodo is convinced of the necessity of companionship.

This chapter also throws our heroes one of their first obstacles in the form of the Road itself. Frodo wants to cut straight through the Marish to try to avoid Riders as well as to cut some miles off of their journey. Pippin, who is more familiar with the area, points out that the way will be much more difficult and likely won’t save them any time, maybe even costing them more. Frodo ultimately has his way, but Pippin proves to be correct: the path through the Marish is a hard one, filled with brambles that significantly slow them down. Before they have time to consider turning back, though, they glimpse through the trees a Rider who surely would have caught them had they followed the road. There will continue to be many branching paths on the Road ahead, and no character can know for sure what the consequences may be for choosing one way or the other. This uncertainty will provide much of the tension throughout these novels.



favorite quote

Short cuts make long delays, but inns make longer ones.

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