This week we read "Minas Tirith," the first chapter in Return of the King and one of my favorites. Pippin (and through him, us), arrives in Minas Tirith, a city we've heard an awful lot about. We finally gets to see it firsthand. It's clearly past its prime (we're told the city is less populated than it had been and has the medieval equivalent of empty storefronts abound), but it is still a proud place.
Pride, like most things, can become a liability in excess. Denethor is certainly full of it. He learns Pippin was with Boromir when he died and questions him about all manner of detail. We understand he wants to know about his son, but Gandalf points out there are more urgent issues to address. He says:
'Do you think that
I do not understand your purpose in questioning
for an hour one
who knows the least, while I sit by?’
‘If you understand it, then be content,’ returned Denethor. ‘Pride
would
be folly that disdained help and counsel at need; but you deal
out such gifts according to your own designs. Yet the Lord of Gondor
is not to be made the tool of other men’s purposes, however worthy.
Denethor is so prideful he will not do what needs to be done if he thinks someone else is commanding him even if he agrees the cause is worthy. He even acknowledges pride of this sort is folly, and yet he will 'disdai help and counsel at need'.
Later we meet Beregond, a guard in the city. He is assigned to escort Pippin around when he isn't on duty. Pippin is, of course, the first Hobbit ever in Minas Tirith (so much that he has to explain they refer to themselves as hobbits, not the more generic "halfling"). People are eager to meet him.
So Pippin
went with Beregond and was made known to the
men of the Third
Company. And it seemed that Beregond got as much
honour from
it as his guest, for Pippin was very welcome.
Beregond doesn't seem bothered sharing the honors. Indeed, he's not even the source!
Lastly we meet Bergil, Beregond's young son (He's something like 10-12). Beregond's watch has begun and so he sends Pippin to find his son to spend time with him. When Pippin meets him he doesn't believe he's not an adult and challenges him to a fight. Pippin reveals he was sent by Beregond and Bergil crumbles,
"Then why did you not say so at once?" said Bergil,
and suddenly a look of dismay came over his face. "Do not tell me he
has changed his mind, and will send me away with the maidens!"
Pippin assures him this is not the case, and the two then become fast friends.
So we meet 3 different forms of pride. Beregond's is obviously the golden mean. It isn't always the ethical way to go between two choices, but it is here. Let's briefly discuss the problem with the other two.
Denethor's pride is one that demands autonomy. He will not be controlled by another. His desire to command overrides his desire to win.
We can all relate, I think. We like control. Who hasn't said no because - and I don't care how old you are - your parent suggested something. I've certainly heard about a show or book "too much" and refused to engage out of principle. It's a dumb principle, but a principle it remains.
This sort of pride can drive us to loneliness. We push others away in our desire to be free, and we lose community. Then, maybe, we mistake loneliness for authentic freedom. We must be alone - otherwise perhaps our lives might not be our own. "Marriage is a ball and chain," or seeing a child as a burden and all that. Autonomy is good (it's essential to ethically living), but community is the purpose of ethics. It's not enough just to be good - it has to benefit others.
Bergil's pride demands recognition. He tries to fight Pippin immediately. He also recognizes the place of his father - we can imagine the fights they've had which led to this submission. I don't mean physical fights (no need to get Oedipal), just regular parent/child struggles. Given he is in the submissive role, he wants recognition whenever he can get it. It doesn't matter if he loses another fight - he's already submitting to one person. He just has to win one to get the recognition he craves.
The desire for recognition is within us all. It is not enough to do a job well done - we also must have it known. There are lots of ways for recognition to manifest - followers, money, friends, honors, subordinates - but we should be wary if that becomes the end-goal. The point should be to get your money, followers, honors etc to do something. They should not just be so many rocks in a collection.
It is good to feel pride in one's life - Especially in June! but make sure that pride is one you can share and celebrate with others instead of one derived from shutting others out or dominating them.
Denethor could have been more accepting of Gandalf's help. His isolation will drive him to despair. He can't conceive of a way in which he defeats Mordor - thus he consider it impossible.
Bergil could have been less aggressive about his unease with his place in the world (though most children, I think, are more like Bergil than not. It's part of growing up). What happens to him, though? I'm not sure. Bergil's not a character we've paid much attention to in the past. Let's make an effort to do so when he comes back in a few chapters. I'm curious to see what happens. I really don't know...
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