Like Ben, I have fond memories of this chapter. I found this chapter to be enjoyable now as I did then. After the heroes struggle for so many chapters, I found myself strangely satisfied by Gollum finding some conies for the hobbits, and then hissing about how cooking them ruins perfectly good raw meat. When Sam offers to cook fish and chips for Gollum, Gollum's response--telling Sam to keep his nasty chips and just give Gollum the fish--is a real winner in terms of characterizing Sam and Gollum--and simultaneously lightening the mood with some much needed comic relief.
Of course Sam wasn't supposed to light the fire. But that's why we read books, right? To watch characters we care about do stupid things -- and all the while we are saying in our heads . . . don't do that! They do it anyway, then have to fix the problem they created.
Well, the problem that presents itself from the fire is far more interesting than any chase scene with orcs. Instead, they have to convince a human--a smart human--that their cause is good. This particular man, Faramir, immediately comes across and shrewd and ambiguous. Is he a force of good? Is he someone that Frodo can reveal his quest to?
Right now, it is not clear. Of course, the answers to those questions come in later chapters, but this chapter sets up a confrontation that is more compelling than any scenes where Pippin and Merry would held captive by the Orcs. Although it seems Ben and Jacob disagree and find a few flaws with this chapter, this is still one of my favorite chapters (and sets up one of my favorite subplots) in the whole book.
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