A Fool For Good - A Study on Peregrin "Pippin" Took

If we are completely honest The Lord of The Rings is about the Hobbits. The story starts and ends with them and most of the story is from their POVs. Even though they are regarded as simple creatures, there is a great deal of depth and understanding that the four (five counting Bilbo) possess. There's Bilbo's character arc from a country bumpkin to a famed adventurer, Frodo's sacrifice, Sam's bravery and Merry's cleverness. 

And then there's Pippin, the youngest of the group (still a child by Hobbit standards), the clumsy, awkward one, who lives in everyone's shadow, who's always saying the wrong thing, doing the wrong thing, never really knowing his place; and certainly getting into enough trouble to earn him him his nickname, "Fool of a Took," by Gandalf. What does this confused and often misunderstood character bring to the story?

 

When we are first introduced to Pippin in The Fellowship of the Ring, he's a mischievous troublemaker and thief; who seems to be constantly on Gandalf's bad side. However, Pippin at this time is most definitely a follower of his cousin Merry whose crazy ideas don't always end well. In the midst of one of their ill timed capers (stealing from Farmer Maggot), Merry and Pippin land right onto the path that Frodo and Sam are traveling. Very quickly, Pippin's once happy world becomes cold, dark and frightening as his life becomes unexpectedly bound to the One Ring that Frodo has chosen to carry.

Throughout Fellowship, Pippin is the much needed comic relief for both his traveling companions and the audience. While he exhibits unexpected bravery from time to time, his propensity for trouble always comes to the forefront. Pippin's problem is that he just doesn't think (as is the case with most teenagers); there is no malicious intent in Pippin's actions, it's curiosity without boundaries, indulgent behavior, and intense naivete. When Pippin's curiosity gets the better of him in the Mines of Moria, the disastrous results are take an immense toll on the whole Fellowship.

Pippin grows up quite a bit by the end of the first book/film. Reality has token a toll on him and he is beginning to understand how his childish actions have brought about devastating consequences. It doesn't mean that all hope is lost. 

The Two Towers is where you see Pippin's character development come full force and really begin to shine. Throughout some of the worst treatment at the hands of the Orcs, Pippin remained calm and under control. He left behind clues of his and Merry's whereabouts (that Aragorn picked up on), managed to escape into Fangorn Forest and into the miraculous care of Treebeard and the Ents. While Merry grew annoyed with the Ents, Pippin remained ever kind and understanding; entranced by Treebeard's stories.

If time with the Ents taught Pippin anything, it was to simply listen. Listen and remember. Due to the history of the Ents that Treebeard so laboriously poured out, it's Pippin who manages to turn Treebeard around so he can see for himself Sarumon's destruction of Isengard. To have him remember what they once were and what they had now lost. Enraged by Sarumon's annihilation of the forests and trees, Treebeard and the Ents take back what is rightfully theirs. And some small thanks can be given to Pippin.

Just when we think that Pippin may have finally grown beyond his foolish ways, we are brought back to reality. After a horrific encounter with a dark and deadly magical force, Gandalf flees with Pippin to Gondor to keep him safe and hopefully out of trouble. Pippin's time in Gondor truly molds him into an unlikely warrior and hero. Gandalf, for all his aggravations towards Pippin, has always seen the best in him and has only ever wanted Pippin to see it for himself. However, to do so Pippin must be removed from everything that is familiar to him, even his own cousin. 

He is then positioned between a father who hates his son and Faramir, the son who is desperate for his father's love. Faramir especially takes a liking to Pippin and befriends him instantly (a decision which will ultimately save his life). While in Gondor, Pippin tries to stay on the course of doing what's right, but when he is told to do something wrong, break the rules, have the potential of getting arrested, jailed or even killed, Pippin excels greatly. And more than once Pippin proves his purpose not only to Gandalf, but to himself.

So what does Pippin bring to the story? The reflection of ourselves.

Lost but looking for answers.

Unsure but seeking hope. 

Childish but growing through experience.

Afraid but finding courage.

Foolish but understanding wisdom and grace through our mistakes. 

Sure we all may want to be Aragorn, but in reality most of us are Pippin. I think Pippin is an apt representation of the ordinary person who wants to do good, but makes quite a few mistakes and blunders along the way. We all have goals and dreams and the drive to obtain them, but with no guidance or vision then we are just running around in the dark.

The most endearing aspect to Pippin is that for all his ups and downs, he never once complained. He's certainly well aware of his mistakes and sets out to make right what he has done wrong. We live in a world where people don't want to take responsibility for their actions or try to justify their mistakes. Pippin grows and learns from his mistakes determined to better and more often then not he does. Pippin's character arc may not be as profound as Frodo and Sam's, but Gandalf chose him to accomplish a task that would change the course of all of Middle-Earth by uniting two kingdoms. 

While Gandalf may have his moments with this "Fool of Took," it only means that he is preparing him to be an absolute good.