Man-of-the-Wold
11-16-2002, 11:44 PM
I think it was Birdland somewhere who makes a great case for the creation of Hobbits, albeit unknown to the High-Elves and the Wise, as Eru’s plan for eventually dealing with the remnant of Morgoth’s evil in Middle-Earth, as personified in Sauron, and embodied in the Ring.
I like this theory of the Hobbits’ innocence (Sméagol notwithstanding) being the means to cleanse Middle-Earth, by outgrowth from Eru's musical destiny.
And the connection with Gandalf's mentality and predilections is all the more intriguing, especially if one sees it in all its powerful subtlety.
In a way, Hobbits are more closely related to Men, just as the Istari are. But in some ways they compare with Ents, to whom they relate so well. They are there to protect the World, to give the Second-born the chance and an example of humility and simplicity (like Gandalf) but to eventually fade, like all others, but Men.
But just because there is destiny and fate in the Music of Ainur does not mean that the players are without Free Will. Destiny is not pure determinism, especially if one considers someone like Iluvatar, or God, for which the beginning and the end are the same.
Frodo, Sméagol and the rest have Free Will in a way comparable to Men. Again, I think the way that Fate or Free Will avails itself on the various Free Peoples is relative.
The Elves are the most entangled with the Fate of Arda, while Men perhaps are the most unfettered; Hobbits and Dwarves only relatively less so.
Still, they are all affected by Destiny as outlined in the Music, but all are also ultimately capable of succeeding or failing at an individual level. Men, however, can really add new themes to the Music, and thus will join in its remaking in the End. It is this ultimate freedom that so frightened Morgoth about the second-born, as he understood the Music as well as Manwe, and that understanding was the source of his power.
[ November 17, 2002: Message edited by: Man-of-the-Wold ]
I like this theory of the Hobbits’ innocence (Sméagol notwithstanding) being the means to cleanse Middle-Earth, by outgrowth from Eru's musical destiny.
And the connection with Gandalf's mentality and predilections is all the more intriguing, especially if one sees it in all its powerful subtlety.
In a way, Hobbits are more closely related to Men, just as the Istari are. But in some ways they compare with Ents, to whom they relate so well. They are there to protect the World, to give the Second-born the chance and an example of humility and simplicity (like Gandalf) but to eventually fade, like all others, but Men.
But just because there is destiny and fate in the Music of Ainur does not mean that the players are without Free Will. Destiny is not pure determinism, especially if one considers someone like Iluvatar, or God, for which the beginning and the end are the same.
Frodo, Sméagol and the rest have Free Will in a way comparable to Men. Again, I think the way that Fate or Free Will avails itself on the various Free Peoples is relative.
The Elves are the most entangled with the Fate of Arda, while Men perhaps are the most unfettered; Hobbits and Dwarves only relatively less so.
Still, they are all affected by Destiny as outlined in the Music, but all are also ultimately capable of succeeding or failing at an individual level. Men, however, can really add new themes to the Music, and thus will join in its remaking in the End. It is this ultimate freedom that so frightened Morgoth about the second-born, as he understood the Music as well as Manwe, and that understanding was the source of his power.
[ November 17, 2002: Message edited by: Man-of-the-Wold ]