On the one hand, you have Tolkien's own belief in free will. This contrasted strongly with the belief systems you find in most heroic/early literature, which are very fatalistic.
I find Narn more on the side of fatalism than free will. I think this is what makes it such particularly grim reading for modern men and women of the western world, where pre-destination is mostly a forgotten doctrine. (With the exception of those who take astrology as their religion... [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] )
You get the fatalism feeling particularly with Turin, there is this awful feeling throughout the tale of watching a man trying to get out of a marshy bog, everything he does turns out bad. I personally never got the feeling that he was bringing anything on himself, except in as far as his troubles made him increasingly hurt and hardened, so he became more difficult to help.
But Guinevere, you're right, this doesn't explain *why* Tolkien should have made Narn such a fatalistic story.
Btw Morwen - I'm not entirely disagreeing with you either. As Turin becomes more desperate and unhappy he lashes out at those around him...for example the exchange with his aunt Aerin is very telling.
[ May 19, 2003: Message edited by: Lalaith ]
__________________
Out went the candle, and we were left darkling
|