#thank you meg for sending me the right hex code LOL

[frodo-with-glasses]

Discord Discussion Highlights: Lobelia

meg is me:

Something about how lotr has happy endings even though they aren't the same as we were hoping

Tolkien cares about the ponies Tolkien cares about Lobelia Tolkien cares

M.aggie:

Oh yes

Tolkien takes special care of Frodo, and other hobbits doesn't he?

RebirthoftheMustelid:

I love Lobelia's redemption at the end. Something about showing the difference between true evil and just everyday curmudgeonry. It's like no, this old woman is not evil. Even if her son became evil, even if she and Bilbo didn't get along, this old woman is not evil. She is just like anyone else, and when evil did come, she got trampled by it even worse than some who were arguably "better" people. Poor Lobelia. I hope her last few years were kind to her.

meg is me:

Frodo doesn't need any more enemies in his life and I'm so happy lobelia became his friend

RebirthoftheMustelid:

Absolutely. Just because she's a cranky old lady doesn't mean she's an enemy, or evil or cruel or any of that.

meg is me:

Basically the only thing that made her "evil" was that she wanted Bilbo dead 😂

Sort of

Lol she wanted his nice house

Windmill to the Stars:

I don't think Lobelia was a like a good person, I think she was kind of mean, greedy, petty, etc. But she was just a lady going about her business . . .

RebirthoftheMustelid:

True. She was unpleasant, yes. Sharp-tongued, greedy, sometimes genuinely nasty. But one moment of kindness after everything broke her. And I think that says a lot

Me:

I just got back from grocery shopping to see this outpouring of love for Lobelia and I couldn’t be happier 💚💚💚

heckinmusicdork:

lady glasses After all this time, I think you've finally made a believer out of me! Yeah sure she may have been Unpleasant for most of her life, but this was a turning point for her, I'm certain of it. It's never too late for someone to change ❤️

Me:

Mercy is extended to everyone. Sometimes it’s easier to forgive the evil than the annoying, but Tolkien offers mercy to them both.

I think the line “she had never in her life been popular” sums up everything about Lobelia. I imagine she’d experienced so much hurt and rejection over the years that she’d eventually shut down and stopped trying, just looking out for herself and no one else. Was some of her pain self-inflicted? Possibly. But there’s a hobbit under all that anger and hurt, and she doesn’t deserve love any less than anyone else.

Bonus:

meg is me:

Au where the ring comes to lobelia like hey I can get you that nice smial you've been wanting

M.aggie:

My preciousssss housssseeee ~ Lobelia Sackville-Baggins

M.aggie is @sweetmaggie, RebirthoftheMustelid is @weezlbot, Windmill to the Stars is @windmilltothestars, heckinmusicdork is @heckin-music-dork, and meg is me does not have tumblr :-3