How evil was Lotho?

[dreamflower]

Anyone who has read very many of my fics *knows* I have a very strong antipathy to Lotho Pimple, self-styled "Chief" of the Shire. The last couple of weeks though, I've been having a very interesting debate wtih a gentleman on the rec.arts.books.tolkien/alt.fan.tolkien newsgroups on the subject.

He seems to think Lotho was simply doing what he thought of as "good business", and that as soon as the ruffians arrived, they took over and were responsible for all the wickedness that took place afterward.

We've just about argued to a standstill.

He's pretty entrenched in his position, as am I. But I'm wondering if anyone else sees this as a likely scenario? Was Lotho just a victim, like the other hobbits?

(Not bloody likely. But anyway...)

Comments

[dreamflower]

*Exactly*!!
It is not like we don't all know of people who grew up in horrible environments, with horrible parents, who turned out to be decent caring people anyway--as well as the opposite occuring.

Again, I see Lotho as "evil" on a sliding scale of evil. He is less evil than Saruman, only because he has less "stature" (think of how the Ring gave power according to stature) but he is *more* evil than say, the hobbits who spread gossip about Frodo's parents, but never went any further than talk. He would probably have ended up like Wormtongue if he had lived--completely consumed with malice. I think he was much like Gollum must have been before he got the Ring.

I have a theory that Lotho and his parents lacked what I think of as the "charisma gene"--a personality trait built into the majority of hobbits, that makes them charming and friendly, and causes most Big Folk to feel all protective of them. It's a natural defense mechanism, and they are completely unconscious of it. It is especially strong in the Fallohide strain.

According to UT, the Bracegirdles had been having dealings with Saruman for a good long while. I'm wondering now how strong the Stoorish strain was in them, and if there is any possibility the Bracegirdles could have been related back through generations to Smeagol?

[lindelea1.livejournal.com]

Fascinating discussion! Must admit, though I "reformed" Lobelia and Ted Sandyman, I've never attempted the same for Lotho. Perhaps he had a realisation, but too little, too late.

My wiser characters pity him, my more mundane characters hold him in contempt.

But thinking about Stoor blood, and distant relation to Gollum? As I said, fascinating speculation!