Quote:
|
OK, here’s a question: has reading (and/or re-reading, and re-reading…) The Lord of the Rings made you a “better person”?
|
- Fordim
Quote:
|
Maybe made them aware of such things as nobility and honour and truth, but, in the end, it's up to them to act upon their newfound discovery.
|
- Imladris
Quote:
|
I may feel I am, but that's subjective. Though I do feel I am.
|
- Heren Istarion
Well, yes, these seem like the humble and objective answers we expect. But I am put in mind of
Smith of Wootton Major, in which Smith and little Tim are changed directly by Faërie, and Nokes and Smith's whole family are changed indirectly. Do I equate LotR with Faërie? Perhaps it's as close as you and I can get to experiencing it. The first thing I notice is that, contrary to what Imladris says, and what I thought (and still think) to be a reasonable position to take, the changes that happen to Smith and little Tim happen
to them, will they or nil they. None of us, of course, has eaten a piece of cake with a Faërie star in it, but is not Secondarily Believing Middle Earth comparable? Have we not indeed been changed by our experiences? Has it not been for the better?
I compliment us all on our humility, trying hard not to take undue credit to ourselves for good change, but perhaps Fordim is speaking more of the power of the books, and not so much our own limited powers to change ourselves.
So, I'll restate Fordim's question with examples and in the rhetorical negative:
Have you not developed a deeper love of Trees through reading LotR?
Have you not been inspired to write about beautiful things through reading LotR?
Have you not had your eyes opened to the beauty of people different from yourselves through reading LotR?
The above list could go on and on, but perhaps you get my drift. It's an aspect of true humility to acknowledge the positive change in oneself, as well as our indebtedness to a good person or good book such as LotR.