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And one assumes it would have been just as difficult for Parish to lose his 'practical', no-nonsense ways as it was for Niggle to learn some. Niggle had to learn to do the practical stuff, on which civilisation depends. Parish had to learn to appreciate the art & beauty for which civilisation exists.
Which brings us to Tolkien's attitude to the 'conflict' which he personifies in Niggle & Parish. He focusses on Niggle's struggles to become a 'practical' man, yet he also feels that the practical people like Parish are lacking something & that they also have a lesson to learn. 'Niggle's Parish' is both a place & the necessary next step for humanity. Its 'the best introduction to the Mountains', & the step humanity must take before they can 'move on' & transcend their 'fallen' state. The conflict between Thesis & Antithesis produce Synthesis - as in Jung's concept of the Transcendent Function....
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