Gimli and Legolas Theoretical Discussion
stroking his beard and staring about him
”92. The word ‘staring’ in Merriam-Webster Dictionary means ‘to look at someone or something for a long time often with your eyes
wide open’. From the description, instead of using ‘look’ Tolkien choose ‘staring’ that sound more intimate. After that, both Gimli and Legolas are making promises, just like a
couple who promise to each other. “....And there are caves, Merry, caves of wonder Shall we visit them, Legolas, do
you think? ‘…I have given you my word to return hither with you, if a day of peace and
freedom comes again...” 23. In the occasion, Gimli are talking to Merry and Legolas, however, he only offered
Legolas to visit the caves; and Legolas’ answer indicates that they have promised each other
to visit the caves. It is stated in the book that they promise to visit each other’s dwellings, to the caves, and to the forest. Later in chapter 6, they repaid their promises;
“Come, Gimli said Legolas. Now by Fangorns leave I will visit the deep places of the Entwood and see such trees as are nowhere else to be found in
Middle-earth. You shall come with me and keep your word; and thus we will journey on together to our own lands in Mirkwood
and beyond” 161. There is an interesting thing about the promises they make. In the story, it is implied that
Elf dislikes caves as much as Dwarf dislikes forest. In the first novel of The Lord of the Rings, there’s a line that indicates Legolas dislike caves, “’I do not wish to go to Moria
the name of a Dwarf’s cave, said Legolas” Tolkien; The Fellowship of the Rings 191.
Then, the second book stated how Gimli dislikes the forest, “But I do not like the look of this Fangorn
name of a forest: and we were warned against it. I wish the chase had led anywhere else
” Tolkien; Two Towers 57. The fact that both of them dislike each other’s dwellings but still make a promise to visit the place they dislike, is a prove that
both of them are willing to do anything for the one they loved.
Their intimacy shows non-normative relation of the same sex that bring them into a punishment to leave Middle-earth, though deep down, they do not want to leave;
“’…Alas for the gulls. No peace shall I have again under beech or under elm. Say not so said Gimli. There are countless things still to see in Middle-earth,
and great works to do. But if all the fair folk take to the Havens, it will be a duller world for those who are doomed to stay’” p.93.
Alike Gandlaf, Legolas is an Elf that in the adapted movie of The Lord of the Rings by Peter Jackson describes as the wisest, “three were given to the Elves, immortal, wisest,
and fairest of all beings ”. He already gets the gut that if he does not line up with the
expected norm - heteronormative norm - he must take the consequences. Thus, Legolas plans to sail to the sea and go to Valinor. Yet, Gimli holds him, and his answer shows
that he actually wants to stay in Middle-earth; but then he realizes, when the fair folk Legolas leaves, Middle-earth will not be the same again because he will not be able to
see Legolas ever again. Later, Gimli the dwarf, aware of Legolas decision, and said to others that they might not meet each other though he still wants to meet his friends, “We
will send word when we may, and some of us may yet meet at times; but I fear that we shall not all be gathered together ever again
” 161. The Treebeard added, “It is sad that we should meet only thus at the ending….I do not think we shall meet again”161. Not
only a saying that they shall not meet again with their friends; but Treebeard also talks about the ending, similar to Aragorn, “Here then at last comes the ending of the
Fellowship of the Ring ”. It shows how society pushes them to leave by saying not to meet
each other again and an e nd that means the ending of the ‘non-heternormative’ in Middle-
earth. Legolas and Gimli are leaving Middle-
earth to Valinor, “Then Legolas built a grey ship in Ithilien, and sailed down Anduin and so over Sea; and with him, it is said,
went Gimli the Dwarf “247. Not only that they get punished with difficult life, they
should also be willing to leave the place where all of their friends gathered with happy life and never seen any of them again. Gimli chooses to sacrifice for the sake of his
togetherness with Legolas; “We have heard tell that Legolas took Gimli Glóins son with him because of their
great friendship, greater than any that has been between Elf and Dwarf. If this is true, then it is strange indeed: that a Dwarf should be willing to leave Middle-
earth for any love…” p.234. The word strange there means that in reality, Gimli still wants to stay in Middle-earth as
explained in the previous paragraph. Yet, down in his heart, he also desire to be together with Legolas that he does not refuse to sacrifice everything on behalf of his loved one. In
addition, the quotation showing how great Legolas and Gimli’s love are. Nevertheless, following the desire to be together with someone with the same gender in a
heternormative socity will resulted into punishment and marginalization.