I must admit, Barliman's a character I sort of took for granted and didn't really think that much about. But I think this analysis definitely fits. The term 'ADHD' (unless I'm mistaken) probably wasn't used back when Tolkien wrote the books, but it pretty much describes Barliman's behavior.
And it's certainly relatable. I know I've spread myself too thin, put stuff on the back burner, and not got around to doing some stuff I KNOW I should do because I've got distracted with other things. And sometimes my mind isn't on where I am and what I'm doing - I'm thinking about events (real or fictional) as I walk into the kitchen and suddenly find myself having to remind myself why I went to the kitchen in the first place.
Anyway, Barliman's behavior is very human and very relatable. Most of this didn't make the movies, which is a shame, because it gives his character a lot more depth.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2025-06-28 12:50 pm (UTC)And it's certainly relatable. I know I've spread myself too thin, put stuff on the back burner, and not got around to doing some stuff I KNOW I should do because I've got distracted with other things. And sometimes my mind isn't on where I am and what I'm doing - I'm thinking about events (real or fictional) as I walk into the kitchen and suddenly find myself having to remind myself why I went to the kitchen in the first place.
Anyway, Barliman's behavior is very human and very relatable. Most of this didn't make the movies, which is a shame, because it gives his character a lot more depth.