I think one of the things I really liked about the way the deaths were handled - and about the costs of all the battles in general - is that it's retroactive foreshadowing for LOTR? Thorin's line is wiped out in a heartbeat, not unworthily by any means - God, Thorin! - but quick and hard. If they can be snuffed out like that, what hope is there for Dain except to hide inside the mountain? Thranduil's army is decimated - what help can he send to anyone only 60/70 years later? He sent his son to Rivendell, and by this ending to the Fellowship, and that's sacrifice enough. The fight at Dol Guldur is why Elrond is so gloomy about their prospects: the entire White Council faced down Sauron, and the best they could do was to drive him back to Mordor, when they had their Rings and he didn't. If Galadriel couldn't take him, can anyone? For me, that's an extra dimension to the ending: it makes the later situation even worse.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2014-12-19 06:39 pm (UTC)