I can see why you might feel that way about the ending, but let me share a line from the book. It's just before Gandalf parts comopany with the fouir Hobbits.
I am with you at present, but soon shall not be. I am not comeing to the Shire. You must settle its arrairs yourselves; that is what you ahve been trained for. Do you not yet understand? My itme is over: it is no longer my task to set things to rights, nor to help other fok to do so. And as for you, my dear friends, you will need no help. You are grown up now. Grown indeed very high; among the great you are, and I have to longer any fear at all for any of you.
I think this shows that there is a higher purpose in their task than simply a secondary and lesser climax.
But more importantly, The whole story is about the changing of the world. It is the beginning of the age of man. The Elves, Dwarves and Hobbits are all fading away. Since the story began with the Hobbits, and has them as our anchor, it is only fitting to demonstrate the changes that will be wrought in their world.
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Re: The Scouring of the Shire
Date: 2004-01-26 04:37 am (UTC)From:But more importantly, The whole story is about the changing of the world. It is the beginning of the age of man. The Elves, Dwarves and Hobbits are all fading away. Since the story began with the Hobbits, and has them as our anchor, it is only fitting to demonstrate the changes that will be wrought in their world.