Tolkien was a meticulous and logical writer, and his reasons for crafting the story the way he did become clear upon analysis. Let’s explore this alternate-universe theory to see where it leads us.
What contributions did Merry and Pippin make during the War of the Ring? Quite a bit. Merry: 1) He encouraged the Ents to attack Isengard, which dismantled Saruman’s power and ultimately aided the Rohirrim in their fight for Gondor. 2) He rode with the Rohirrim and played a crucial role in defeating the Witch-king of Angmar; without his sword from the Barrow-downs, Éowyn might not have succeeded. 3) He led the Battle of Bywater, defeating Saruman’s ruffians and saving the Shire.
Pippin: 1) Like Merry, he spurred the Ents to assault Isengard, contributing to Saruman’s downfall and indirectly helping Gondor. 2) He looked into the palantír, preventing Gandalf from revealing his presence to Sauron. 3) He rescued Faramir from execution, ensuring the line of Stewards continued and allowing Aragorn to be recognized as king. 4) He rallied his influential family to join the Battle of Bywater, actively fighting alongside them.
Without the efforts of these two young hobbits, even if the Ring had been destroyed, Rohan and Gondor would have faced devastation, making any victory over Sauron feel hollow. Imagine the fallout if Saruman had destroyed Rohan; without the Rohirrim, Minas Tirith would likely have fallen. And what if there had been no Steward to pass power to Aragorn? Civil strife in Gondor, as history suggests, would have been catastrophic.
Now, what about the journey through Mordor? It’s possible that Merry and Pippin could have lifted Frodo’s spirits during that bleak time, though this might be overly optimistic. The weight of the Ring and the oppressive gaze of the Eye in the desolation of Mordor would have been daunting for anyone. They might have starved; Sam and Frodo were on the brink of that themselves. Furthermore, with four hobbits, Gollum might have hesitated to approach, which would have deprived Frodo of his crucial guide. Without Gollum’s help, the quest could have easily failed. More companions might have also drawn unwanted attention, increasing the risk of capture. Thus, while Merry and Pippin are admirable characters, their presence might not have significantly aided Sam and Frodo.
Ultimately, Tolkien designed his world in a way that allowed Merry and Pippin to make a more profound impact by staying in Rohan and Gondor. Their contributions were vital to the survival of the kingdoms of the West.
