Gimli is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's universe of Middle-earth.

In the book

Gimli, son of Glóin, is a Dwarf of Durin's Folk chosen to accompany Frodo Baggins on his quest to destroy the One Ring in The Lord of the Rings. Initially suspicious of Elves, he became an ardent admirer of Galadriel and a close friend of Legolas. According to the Red Book of Westmarch, some say that he travelled with Legolas into the West (perhaps granted permission at the request of Galadriel), the first Dwarf to visit the Undying Lands.

At the beginning of the story, Gimli appears as the stereotypical crude, violent, Elf-hating Dwarf. He is indeed hot-tempered and eager to battle Orcs, and his enthusiasm for the mines of Moria is typical. Gimli has a very high sense of honor (and is very stubborn), which explains why he is deeply insulted by the treatment he receives from the Elves in Lothlórien, who expect him to travel blindfolded if he is to enter. Aragorn, however, diffuses the potentially violent situation by agreeing that they shalll all be blindfolded, even though both Aragorn and Legolas ought by rights to be welcomed as princes.

Furthermore, the fair Galadriel impresses him so much with her beauty, kindness, and understanding, that Gimli, when given the opportunity to ask for whatever he wishes, asks not treasures or magical items, but rather three of Galdariel's silver-gold hairs, which he will treasure forever. An interesting historical note is that this same request was made, thousands of years previously, by Fëanor, greatest of the Ñoldorin Elves (whose creation of the Silmarils may be have been inspired by that same silver-gold hair). Galadriel refused Fëanor's request, but she grant's Gimli's, perhaps because of his humility.

By the end of the first volume, he is already developing an unlikely friendship with the Elf Legolas. In the second (The Two Towers (book)), Gimli proves his valor in combat (not for the first time). In the Battle of the Hornburg, he and Legolas engage in Orc-slaying contests (Gimli wins by one, but the real result is mutual respect). Later, Gimli's vivid discription of the Glittering Caves of Aglarond moves the Elf to promise to come back and visit when the War is over. Their friendship is a model for overcoming prejudice; they even ride together on the same horse. (They eventually do fulfill this promise, with Gimli also consenting to visit Fangorn Forest.)

Gimli was 139 years old (born in 2879 of the Third Age) when the Fellowship of the Ring set out from Rivendell, making him 52 years older than Aragorn and around 750 years younger than Legolas.

In the film adaptation

In Peter Jackson's movie adaptations Gimli is played by John Rhys-Davies, who was deliberately chosen because he was taller than the actors playing the Hobbits. Thus in scenes where Gimli and the Hobbits appear together their respective sizes remain in proportion, whereas in scenes where they have to interact with human-sized characters tricks of scale had to be employed.

In the movie, Gimli provides the comic relief, where most jokes are based on the crude dwarf stereotype.

Quotations

• "Sleep! I feel the need of it. Yet my axe is restless in my hand. Give me a row of orc-necks and room to swing and all weariness will fall from me!"
• "Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens."

Dwarves of Middle-earth

Azaghâl | Balin | Bifur | Bofur | Bombur | Borin | Dáin I | Dáin II Ironfoot | Dís | Dori | Durin I | Durin III | Durin VI | Durin VII | Dwalin | Fíli | Frerin | Frór | Fundin | Gamil Zirak | Gimli | Glóin | Gróin | Grór | Ibûn | Khîm | Kíli | Mîm | Náin I | Náin II | Náin son of Grór | Narvi | Nori | Óin | Ori | Telchar | Thorin I | Thorin II | Thorin III | Thráin I | Thráin II | Thrór

Kingdoms of the Dwarves

Belegost | Iron Hills | Khazad-dûm | Lonely Mountain | Nogrod