When Treebeard the Ent first comes across Merry and Pippin after they have escaped from the horde of orcs taking them to Saruman in the tower of Isengard, he doesn’t quite know what to make of them.
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In Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of the movies they are lost in Fangorn Forest, and afraid, and as they climb what they believe to be a tall oak, Treebeard comes alive and steps straight on top of the orc that is pursuing them, squashing him instantly. He then grabs a hold of the two halflings and after scrutinizing them for a moment, declares that they are “Little Orcs!”. They protest “We’re not orcs, we’re hobbits!”, to which Treebeard considers once again and then responds “Never heard of a hobbit before. Sounds like orc mischief to me”. The ancient Ent starts to squeeze the hobbits in his anger as he recalls the orcs and their treachery, chopping down trees and burning them, having no care or regard for nature.
This scene has led many fans to wonder why Treebeard didn’t just squash the hobbits immediately, if he was so convinced that they were orcs trying to pull the wool over his eyes, like he squashed the nasty creature who tried to kill Merry just moments before. It seems strange that Treebeard, one of the most ancient creatures of Middle Earth, would hesitate over a matter of such importance, and would trust the judgement of Gandalf the White (who has only just been brought back to the world after a fierce battle with the enemy) over his own.
There are three reasons for the old Ent’s hesitation, the first of which is to do with the state of the world, the second of which is to do with the nature of Ents as creatures, and the third is to do with their connection with hobbits, albeit a connection from long ago, that has been lost in across the ages.
In terms of the state of the world, Treebeard doesn’t crush the hobbits immediately, because there is much that has changed in Middle Earth in recent years, especially since Sauron’s ominous resurfacing at the end of Bilbo’s quest for Erebor in the form of the Necromancer. Therefore, Treebeard has lost touch with what has stayed the same since the days of old, when he was just a young Enting, and what has grown and developed beyond recognition.
Not only does this give him ample excuse to be weary of his own judgement, it also explains why he fears being tricked by orcs or magic. In seeking the experience of someone more in touch with the modern world, who is well traveled and knows a lot about the cities and the people of the realms (which is definitely a gap in Treebeard’s wisdom) the Ent is making a really smart call.
In terms of an Ent’s nature, it is well known that Ents don’t like to rush into anything, and that it can take them days or even weeks of discussion to come to any decision or consensus. Treebeard’s most common catchphrase is “Don’t be hasty”, so obviously the Ent didn’t want to presume too quickly that they were orcs and kill them instantly, if there was even a hint of doubt in his mind that this wasn’t the case.
And where did this doubt come from? That would be in the ancient kinship that exists between the Shirelings and the Treeherders, because they share a love of the natural world, and a nourishment and protection of things that grow. In Tolkien’s original story, Treebeard explains it himself, stating “If I had seen you, before I heard your voices – I liked them: nice little voices; they reminded me of something I cannot remember – if I had seen you before I heard you, I should have just trodden on you, taking you for little Orcs, and found out my mistake afterwards.”
This beautiful little voice that Treebeard feels so much resonance and connection with is because hobbits are ultimately gentle and peaceful creatures, and love the lands and its animals as much as the Ents do. Therefore, it is easy to see how, even though the dark days of Middle Earth have worn on Treebeard and made him angry and suspicious, his heart is still able to recognize friend over foe.
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