While this is not meant as a crticism to Tolkien (his books are in a class of their own, set apart from the rest, and are not easily judged by the same standards that we may apply to other familiar literature, modern literature in particular), the deep recesses of the characters' minds, the dirt under their fingernails, the salt of their tears, are, when presented well, the things that make us care for them in the first place. I am personally quite bored by high society with their stiff upper lips, starched collars, and the like. I do not mean that people like the Queen should rush out on some talk-show and entertain the audience with tales of her naughty childhood (if she even had one). I actually quite like mystery, but only if I believe that there is substance behind the veil. It is pretense I can't tolerate-especially in literature.
Having said that, I believe that Tolkien pulled the mystery bit off! We know little about Galadriel, yet we love her anyway. Thus I believe there is nothing to complain about.
__________________
~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~
|