This week (Sept 7th) we read "The Scouring of the Shire". The Hobbits return to the Shire to find... a gate. And it is locked. And none will let them in, even though they all (gatekeepers and travelers) are hobbits. There is talk of "the boss" and "the chief" and "Sharkey" and "the chief's men." This is not the Shire we left in Fellowship of the Ring.
When Frodo and company finally convince the other hobbits to open the gate, they tell them of all the new rules that have been put in place. There is no pipeweed to have, all food must be sent for separation (the hobbits have suspected for some time, though, that it is being hoarded), the pubs have been boarded up, and much of the Shire has been demolished to make new "gloomy" and "ugly" houses. There is also a list of rules that are strictly enforced.
We only learn one of the rules, though many are hinted at. The hobbits are put up in a guard house for the night (also, of course, against rules), and we are told "Pippin broke Rule 4 by putting most of the next day's allowance of wood on the fire." The other hobbits start to get antsy, but Frodo calms them all down, and they begin to develop a plan to overthrow the mysterious tyrant. Further, Pippin makes a point of tearing down the rules wherever he finds them. The hobbits are at first terrified at this defiance, but slowly it begins to inspire them.
But the hobbits are betrayed, and as they ride through the Shire trying to inspire the residents to join their rebellion, they are set upon by several hobbits dressed in uniform. We are told they look "both important and rather scared." The company laughs at them. Not a bold laugh, or a laugh meant to intimidate, but a laugh of amusement. They have seen war beyond what anyone here has experienced - they have no need to follow their rules or listen to their commands. Eventually, one of the uniformed hobbits, Robin, admit he doesn't like working for Sharkey, but that he isn't allowed to quit. Sam responds: "If I hear 'not allowed to' much oftener, I'm going to get angry."
Frodo and company are, indeed, important. They have completed great feats, and are honored through Middle Earth. Merry and Pippin are still dressed in the vestments of Rohan and Gondor. However, they forget it often. It has become ingrained within them that they have no need to advertise it. They would be just as valiant in their plain clothing.
The uniformed hobbits, on the other hand, draw strength from their uniform - they need to look important in order to feel important. And they need to feel important, or else they would feel the oppression their fellows feel. We sense a profound sadness when Robin admits he'd rather not be there. Before admitting that, he was hiding that desire even from himself.
The agency of all the hobbits has been suppressed. Their only joy is in following rules, even if they are ridiculous rules. And if they are punished for breaking the rules (there are many snitches), they are forced to live a life of boredom, just hoping to not be punished. That's an awful way to live.
But rules are meant to be broken, right? Sort of. Breaking a rule just because it is a rule is rather immature - that doesn't lead to any particular betterment of one's life. Rules are there for "the people." They are there to guide the people and to show them the best way for things to be done. "Best," at least, according to the leader. But, sooner or later, one must break put from underneath the leader to become one's own master. Or, in this case, a hero must come with the boon from their own quest, to share with the community. When other hobbits broke the rules, they were powerless against the consequences. But Frodo and Sam have been to Mordor and back. A couple of bullies don't intimidate them.
Sometimes we are the hero, bringing our knowledge and skills from the outside. But sometimes we are the oppressed, and we need a hero to come and show us a new way. Breaking rules not just to break them, but breaking them for a higher purpose. I recently started a new job, and the way I write lessons plans is not according to the template they expect teachers to use. But, fortunately, they liked and understood my structure, and were OK with me doing it my way. I wasn't refusing to use their template because I didn't feel like it - I had a real alternative.
Here is a harrowing article about being a modern sex slave. I share it mostly because she says, at the end, that she has PTSD from the experience, and that one of the hardest pieces of becoming free is that no one is responsible for you but you. For us who are lucky enough to avoid this fate, the idea that no one is responsible for you but you is inspiring - I can do what I want! But imagine growing up where all your choices were made for you. The idea of needing to make all those decisions for oneself must be overwhelming. It is similar to prisoners who become institutionalized. Especially at the rate technology is changing. Imagine needing to learn all of that at once!
But the article also involves one person, "Jane," choosing to write the article, even if it puts herself at risk, in an attempt to save those still stuck. If Jane only freed herself, she'd be a fortunate woman for whom we'd wish all the luck in the world. But, by returning to her past, acknowledging there are others who still do not have the freedom that she has, she becomes a hero. Jane's boon is to share that freedom is possible, even if it is initially terrifying.
Such as it is with our hobbits. They incur the wrath of the Chief and his men, and there is a battle in the Shire (despite Frodo's best attempts to avoid bloodshed). But, with Pippin and Merry to inspire them, the other hobbits do not lose heart, as they might have otherwise.
When they arrive at Bag End, they find "Sharkey" waiting for them. It is Saruman! Saruman has no great plan - he just wanted to destroy the Shire, as Isengard had been wrecked, He thought it unfair that his home should be destroyed, with all its defenses, but that the Shire should survive the War of the Ring untouched. It was purely out of meanness.
But what are our heroes fighting for? It isn't that Pippin, Merry, Frodo & Sam don't like rules or gates or leaders. If anything, they understand their need more than ever. But the rules come from within, and the gates are not locked (or swung open) indiscriminately. Being free from a tyrant means you get to make your own rules. In fact, you must make your own rules if you are to avoid becoming the tyrant yourself. Otherwise, you are irresponsible, and while some may find you fun and enjoyable company, you are not a mature companion. Tom Sawyer would be fun to hang out with for a few days, but Huckleberry Finn is the one between them with real depth. Pleasure is passing.
Living free means not needing to look important, nor looking scared, as the uniformed hobbits did. If you have conquered your Quest, your monster, your enemy, you know you are accomplished, and you know you are able to face any challenges in the future. You know it without needing to advertise it. We can imagine all the hobbits, having overthrown Saruman, feel more important than they ever looked.
So now the Shire has been saved. All the wars are over. We have one chapter left, which will wrap up our text. Now that peace has been restored we can finally see, as Faramir put it, "That which [war] defends."
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