[Keneldil the Polka-dot]

Hope does seem to be a central theme in JRRT's writings. Especially hope as it relates to faith (I mean this in a strictly "within the confines of ME" sense, not religeous).
- What else but hope, or faith, that someone would rescue him would keep Maedhros from simply giving up? I think this is an incredible example of hope in the face of hopelessness. The guy was hanging from a chain on Morgoth's front porch for pete's sake!
- I think hope/faith was one of the main reasons for Gandalf choosing Frodo to bear the Ring. Faith in Frodo's ability to resist the subversion of the Ring and carry it to Orodruin. I agree that Aragorn was a great figure of hope for his people, but I think Frodo was a figure of hope for all the people of ME, athough in hindsight.
- What kept some of the Firstborn in ME, especially in the latter parts of the Third Age? Perhaps hope that they might have a chance to redeem the wrongs they helped to perpetuate in ME. When I say that, I am thinking of Galadriel. She is singled out by Tolkien as the "only woman to stand that day tall and valiant among the contending princes, .. eager to be gone." The entire history of ME was set to a course by the flight of the Noldor, much of it regretted by the elves. No doubt many of them lived to see the times of the War of the Ring. It is a matter of debate what responsibilty the elves still bear by then. Hope born of guilt...a darker side than maybe you intended E.T. Sorry [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]