As
lmp said this is a collection of multiple thread possibilities, but all the more to talk about the better, eh?
I think if we look at Plato's dialogue
The Republic we can see a similar philosophy to what is in Lord of the Rings. In The Republic Plato talks about
'why be moral? What is actually morality? How does one become immoral?' In
The Republic dialogue the Socrates support morality and Glaucon goes to argue against it.
Glaucon's argument is that the immoral actually end up better off than the moral, therefor why be moral? This is what leads to the story of Gyges. Gyges is a poor shephard who comes across a ring that makes him invisible. And he decides to use this ring with immoral purposes. He seduces the King and Queen to the point where he becomes the Ruler. Which leaves Glaucon's argument as what's the point of being moral?
The Socrates argue back saying that being immoral corrupts the soul. It doesn't matter how much wealth, power, or prestige one gets...immorality may lead somebody to have all these things, yet their soul is corrupted. And goes on to say that a moral life leads to the salvation of the soul.
It's interesting that Glaucon brought up the story of Gyges and the Ring. Perhaps we see similarities in The Lord of the Rings. Let's take a look at Boromir for instance.
His idea is to use the Ring as a tool, in fact it's kind of similar to how Gyges uses the Ring. Boromir wishes to use the Ring for personal gain, he's of the idea that if the enemy is erradicated that will end the problem. Gondor will be brought back to it's 'glory' and the Ring will do this for him:
Quote:
|
'I can well believe that Boromir, the proud and fearless, often rash, and ever anxious for the victory of Minas Tirith (and his own glory therein), might desire such a thing and be allured by it.~The Window on the West
|
We can sit here and argue all day whether the Ring would have achieved what Boromir thought it would, but I don't think that has bearing on a discussion over philosophy here. Had the ring given Boromir what he wanted, the Socrates would have argued that Boromir he may have gotten everything he wanted but he would have had a corrupted soul. Boromir did fall to the Ring's temptation, however his acts at the end of sacrficing his life saved him. As Gandalf put it he was 'saved in the end' (The White Rider), but I find Aragorn's comments to even be more interesting:
Quote:
|
'No!' said Aragorn, taking his hand and kissing his brow. 'You have conquered. Few have gained such a victory. Be at peace! Minas Tirith will not fall.'~The Departure of Boromir
|
Boromir 'conquered' few have gained the victory he did. If we look at this, we wonder what did Boromir accomplish? He did go and do his best to defend Merry and Pippin, but they were captured. Aragorn therefor, must be talking about Boromir's soul, and that he redeemed himself. He made a wrong and 'immoral' decision, yet because of his sacrifice Aragorn assures him that he conquered and gives him the comforting words of
'Be at peace.'
Now let's look at Galadriel. Galadriel was offered the Ring and she denied taking it. Eventhough if she had greatly desired to possess the One Ring, her love for the rest of Middle-earth (and it's people) kept her from falling to the Ring. Her 'morality' kept her from falling to the Ring's temptation. When Galadriel denies to take the Ring I see that as a great act of love...and love is one of the absolute best qualities to possess. As you could argue
'love endures all.' She could have given into her desires, and achieved what she wanted, but because she knew how the Ring would corrupt her, her love held her back.
I'm reminded of Robert E. Lee's response when a young private asked what he would do after signing the treaty to end the Civil War. This private said he should gather the South together and start a guerilla warfare against the Union, to which Lee told the the soldier that may be what both of them want, but it's not what's best for the civilians of the South. He reminds the soldier how Sherman went right through the South burning houses of southern civilians and if they were to do this guerilla warfare it would be far worse. So, despite Lee's thoughts after the war, and perhaps he personally wanted to continue resistance...his love for the people of the South held him back. He knew waging a guerilla warfare would only bring more death and destruction to southern citizens, and therefor Lee went on in the aftermath to support reconstruction and integrating the South back into the Union...despite that being possibly against his personal desires.
Tolkien in later texts talks about how Galadriel was 'unstained,' this may contradict what was earlier written about Galadriel, but still even these earlier concepts of Galadriel had her a figure of morality. And it is her love that keeps her from taking the Ring and as Galadriel put it herself:
'forever remain Galadriel.'