Why didn't Gimli know Moria had fallen?

Question

Between Gandalf's fear of Moria, and the amount of time that has obviously passed (due to the condition of the remains of the dwarves in Moria), why is Gimli so unaware of the fall of his kin?

At least in the movie, Saruman's line;

"Moria... You fear to go into those mines. The dwarves delved too greedily and too deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad-dûm... shadow and flame."

Would seem to indicate Gandalf not only knows of Balin's defeat, but even that the defeat was not purely because of orcs or goblins. (The dwarves' book of records references the drumming that is a precursor to the appearance of the Balrog - indicating the downfall of the dwarves in general was not due entirely to warring with the orcs).

I have a hard time believing Gandalf would have been so reluctant to go into Moria if he believed the Balin and his group of dwarves had been successful and wasn't more aware of its current state. I figure even if he wasn't sure, he was pretty convinced they had not survived. So why does Gimli seem so clueless? (Yes, I understand wizards are wise and a little smarter, but Gimli wasn't a Neanderthal either.)

I do not remember this part of the book really at all. If things are entirely different in the book it wouldn't surprise me one bit. If the answer is that Jackson took a liberty here for the sake of the movie's plot, I'd love to know the comparable aspects of the original version in the books as are applicable.

Answer 1

The references in The Hobbit are from a different "fall of Moria". After the events in The Hobbit, a dwarf named Balin, from the company that traveled with Bilbo, attempted to reclaim Moria once more. In the movie, Balin is the old-looking dwarf with white hair.

His success was short-lived, though, as we find in The Lord of the Rings. Hence the tombstone which reads "Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria".

Both Gimli and Gandalf know of Moria being a dangerous place, but they don't know Balin's mission has failed so catastrophically.

From Wikipedia:

In T.A. 2989 Balin left Erebor and entered Moria with a company of dwarves including Flói, Óin, Ori, Frár, Lóni, and Náli. He discovered Durin's Axe. Balin's colony was overrun by orcs soon afterward, and Balin was killed by an orc archer in the Dimrill Dale in 2994.

In The Fellowship of the Ring, the title characters discover Balin's tomb in the Chamber of Mazarbul. Gandalf finds the dwarves' book of records, and discovers from it that Balin was killed by orcs.

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In addition, I do not think Gandalf knew for certain that Durin's Bane was a Balrog, or that it had been reawakened. In "The Mirror of Galadriel", it is at least shown the Elves from Lórien weren't sure themselves, and also Galadriel shows some insight into why Gimli might want to see Moria in spite of the danger. Here's the relevant exchange:

Celeborn says:

“We long have feared that under Caradhras a terror slept. But had I known that the Dwarves had stirred up this evil in Moria again, I would have forbidden you to pass the northern borders, you and all that went with you.”

(FotR, "The Mirror of Galadriel". Source: "Celeborn and Galadriel", The Council of Elrond)

To which Galadriel answers:

“If our folk had been exiled long and far from Lothlórien, who of the Galadhrim, even Celeborn the Wise, would pass nigh and would not wish to look upon their ancient home, though it had become an abode of dragons? Dark is the water of Kheled-zâram, and cold are the springs of Kibil-nâla, and fair were the many-pillared halls of Khazad-dûm in Elder Days before the fall of mighty kings beneath the stone.”

Answer 2

The Dwarves believed in fact not that everything went right in Balin's mission. Before the Council of Elrond

'And what has become of Balin and Ori and Óin?' asked Frodo.

A shadow passed over Glóin's face. 'We do not know,' he answered. 'It is largely on account of Balin that I have come to ask the advice of those that dwell in Rivendell.'

Then at the Council:

'At last, however, Balin listened to the whispers, and resolved to go; and though Dáin did not give leave willingly, he took with him Ori and Óin and many of our folk, and they went away south.

That was nigh on thirty years ago. For a while we had news and it seemed good: messages reported that Moria had been entered and a great work begun there. Then there was silence, and no word has ever come from Moria since.'

Before they enter the mines, Gandalf doesn't express any more than hope to find Balin there (alive), and neither does Gimli:

'There is even a chance that Dwarves are there, and that in some deep hall of his fathers, Balin son of Fundin may be found. However it may prove, one must tread the path that need chooses!'

'I will tread the path with you, Gandalf!' said Gimli. 'I will go and look on the halls of Durin, whatever may wait there – if you can find the doors that are shut.'

Answer 3

Discard the movie; what you see there is Jackson's fairly clumsy mish-mash and he certainly messed up this part something rotten.

In the book Gandalf does not know that it's a Balrog; he knew after the Chamber of Mazarbul that there was something quite powerful there, but it was only at the Bridge that he became aware of what he faced: "a Balrog, now I understand".

It's also the case that Gimli did not know what had happened to Balin. Nobody knew; all the Dwarves knew was that Something Bad had happened, and it was quite clear that the colony had failed (witness Sauron's messenger to Dáin offering the realm of Moria back), but precise details were unknown.

Answer 4

First of all, communications technology wasn't really a thing yet. As isolated as Moria is, travel back and forth was probably relatively infrequent, so news would travel slowly -- also, if there were no survivors, the only way for news to get out would be when the next supply shipment or such showed up (which might be a long time).

Gandalf's reticence is probably based on his knowledge of the first fall of Moria, and the precariousness of Balin's hold there. Gimli, on the other hand, grew up knowing Balin as one of his father Glóin's cool friends who was part of the successful Smaug-slaying expedition; he probably looks up to him, and has since his youth.

Answer 5

I agree with leftaroundabout and Andres F. A few other points:

• It's possible that the dwarves of Erebor had sent one or more search parties to try and make contact with Balin. Given all the perils between Erebor and Moria, and inside Moria itself, it may be that none of the searchers ever returned. After this happened a few times, King Dáin (who had never approved of Balin's expedition in the first place) might have forbidden any more of them from going.

• While the Elves and wizards might have had means of sending fast messages, they would not be likely to lend them out to the dwarves. (The dwarves in The Hobbit did use ravens to send messages, but Erebor to Moria is a long and dangerous flight for a raven — they might have refused to go, or not been successful.)

• In The Hobbit, Tolkien noted that dwarves are "not heroes, but calculating folk with a great idea of the value of money." Balin may have taken many of the more heroic and adventurous dwarves of Erebor with him. Those who remained might have been reluctant to go out searching for him, if there was no obvious profit in it.

• One of the members of Balin's group was Óin, who was Glóin's brother and Gimli's uncle. This would have given them an additional interest in finding out what happened.

• Dwarves live a long time (up to 300 years, or about 4 times as long as a human) so 30 years to them is more like 8 years to us. Still a long time, but they would not feel quite the same sense of urgency.

Answer 6

The thirty year gap though is strange, Balin died in 2994 and the Fellowship did not find his tomb until 3018/9. The fact that it took 25 years for the Dwarves to organise a search party shows a lack of care on their part, maybe family ties aren't that strong? Or perhaps JRR just didn't worry too much about the dates when he wrote this fictional book!

In reality we know people would react more quickly regardless of how you were communicating be it pigeon mail or email - If my cousin moved to Australia and started writing once he arrived - then stopped suddenly, I wouldn't wait thirty years to go looking!!

Answer 7

Aye a Balrog has come.

Gandalf tries to lock the door once they escape the chamber but the counter spell was too strong, broke the door and greatly weakened him. He had to be almost carried down to the lower level.

The rumour of the great evil, hinted at by Saruman, was well known but its nature was never known. No one lived to tell of it. Saruman either did not know or hid his knowledge of the nature of the beast. More likely he did not know.

When it leaps upon the bridge Gandalf realizes what it is, tells the others to flee that it is beyond their power.

Gandalf blocks the bridge and the Balrog is frightened of Gandalf realizing his nature.

Gandalf's very words "YOU SHALL NOT PASS" have so much power the Balrog balks.

Moria had always been rumoured to have an evil at its depths.

As to the dwarves not going to check on Balin. You would not just pop over and knock on the door and say how goes it?

It would require a large force to go in, in case of trouble, either if Moria had again fallen, or as reinforcements. As it is well known the dwarves reproduce slowly, it would take a long time to have enough people to spare for such a journey. No trade routes had been established and it was a dark time of mistrust in Middle-earth. If I am not mistaken, didn't Lórien lie between Moria and the homes of the other Dwarves, a place they could not and would not pass through?

When Gandalf realizes it is a Balrog the history of Moria makes sense.