This is another chapter that really shows off the depth of worldbuilding that Tolkien has done. Much of it isn’t obvious, because showing off his work really just isn’t a thing on Tolkien’s agenda, but it’s there.
First, the Phial of Galadriel that Frodo receives. It can shine with the light of the star of Eärendil - in other words, Frodo gets to carry around a little bit of the light of the Silmarils themselves. That’s really something special.
And then there’s Gimli. “Few have ever made of me a request so bold and yet so courteous,” Galadriel says. Because, dear readers, Gimli was in fact not the first to request of Galadriel a strand of her hair. Back during the days when Valinor was lit by the light of the Trees, before Men awoke, Galadriel’s kinsman Fëanor, greatest craftsman who has ever been or ever will be, asked for a lock of it. And he repeated his request three times, ultimately begging her for a single strand. Fëanor, though super talented, was also super talented at being an asshole, and Galadriel always refused him. She was famous for her hair, which was said to shine with the light of Laurelin the Golden, which may in fact have inspired Fëanor to create the Silmarils in the first place and capture the light of both Trees. None of this is even alluded to in the text of LotR: it’s something that one only finds in the Sil.
So to sum up, Galadriel willingly gave to a Dwarf what she had thrice refused the greatest of all the Children of Ilúvatar. Goes to show the extent of her regard for him, and just how big a deal his devotion to her is.
For the gifts in general, we’ve got a theme going. Frodo gets a light. Aragorn gets a sheath for Andúril. Boromir, Merry, and Pippin get belts. Sam gets his box of earth. Gimli gets his hairs. And Legolas gets a bow. So what’s the theme here? They weren’t given anything martial. No swords, no armor. Legolas is the exception here, but he is also (per Word of Tolkien himself) the member of the Fellowship who accomplished the least. He’s certainly the least interesting as far as I’m concerned. As was explained at the Council, and at numerous other points, this isn’t a quest that will be won by strength of arms. It’s more about courage than anything else, and that’s how Galadriel and Celeborn’s gifts are made to help. Just look at what was given to the Ring-bearer, the most important member of the Fellowship and the one who carries the burden: a light to shine against the dark.
Monday we take a boat ride down The Great River, much to Sam’s delight.
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