Splendid but Unhappy - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

littlemanpoet · 04-27-2007, 08:02 PM

I was reading Homesick for Middle Earth one of the many reviews of the new Turin book, and my mind literally stumbled when I read this.

Quote:

Tolkien's silence says that Middle Earth is a splendid but unhappy world because it has no real god. That is certainly implicit in TLOTR, especially in the postwar sadness of Frodo. Not until he leaves Middle Earth for the home of the gods in the West does he find some hope of happiness. His companion Sam sees him off, and then returns to the Shire and the simple consolations of domestic life.

I'll grant Crawford Kilian the unhappiness point for the nonce, but it is the bolded statement with which I take exception. Lack of gods is what makes Middle Earth both splendid and unhappy? Supposing it was even accurate, how does that work?

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 05-01-2007, 01:24 PM

No real god? I'm as confused as you are, LMP. This sounds as if someone feels he has a unique perspective on the author's creation, and jumbles the facts around until they fit his viewpoint.

Aiwendil · 05-01-2007, 01:42 PM

I think the meaning is not that Arda has no God but that Middle-earth has no gods. That is, the 'gods' - the Valar - are across the sea.

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 05-01-2007, 02:19 PM

Same world though, isn't it?

littlemanpoet · 05-01-2007, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aiwendil

I think the meaning is not that Arda has no God but that Middle-earth has no gods. That is, the 'gods' - the Valar - are across the sea.

Let us grant this postulate for the sake of argument. I still am unconvinced that unhappiness is caused by the particular circumstance of 'no gods in Middle Earth'.

MatthewM · 05-01-2007, 08:52 PM

Agreed with LMP. There are many references in TLOtR which suggest the worship of a God, or Gods. I find no truth in Kilian's statement.

Knight of Gondor · 05-01-2007, 09:26 PM

There is the factual error that Tolkien's Middle-Earth has no God, because Illuvatar, Eru, The One, first sang Middle-Earth into existence.

And I think that readers of histories (The Silmarillion and so forth) know that the stories of Middle-Earth are great tragedies. (I don't know if I want to read a new take on the sordid tale of the children of Hurin! Even if it IS a new book!) and we can agree that Middle-Earth has more than its share of sadness.

But I think the question of whether or not the world can be happy without (a) God is a philosophical one. Most (including myself) would argue that without God, there is no higher purpose, no deeper meaning in life, and no solid moral frame of Right or Wrong. Man is flying solo through a purposeless world. If that is the case, then by all means, eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

05-01-2007, 01:24 PM	#2
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	No real god? I'm as confused as you are, LMP. This sounds as if someone feels he has a unique perspective on the author's creation, and jumbles the facts around until they fit his viewpoint. __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

05-01-2007, 02:19 PM	#4
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	Same world though, isn't it? __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

05-01-2007, 08:52 PM	#6
MatthewM Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 628	Agreed with LMP. There are many references in TLOtR which suggest the worship of a God, or Gods. I find no truth in Kilian's statement. __________________ "Loud and clear it sounds in the valleys of the hills...and then let all the foes of Gondor flee!" -Boromir, The Fellowship of the Ring

05-01-2007, 09:26 PM	#7
Knight of Gondor Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 744	There is the factual error that Tolkien's Middle-Earth has no God, because Illuvatar, Eru, The One, first sang Middle-Earth into existence. And I think that readers of histories (The Silmarillion and so forth) know that the stories of Middle-Earth are great tragedies. (I don't know if I want to read a new take on the sordid tale of the children of Hurin! Even if it IS a new book!) and we can agree that Middle-Earth has more than its share of sadness. But I think the question of whether or not the world can be happy without (a) God is a philosophical one. Most (including myself) would argue that without God, there is no higher purpose, no deeper meaning in life, and no solid moral frame of Right or Wrong. Man is flying solo through a purposeless world. If that is the case, then by all means, eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. __________________ Eagerly awaiting the REAL Return of the King - Jesus Christ! Revelation 19:11-16

05-01-2007, 01:42 PM	#3
Aiwendil Late Istar Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,224	I think the meaning is not that Arda has no God but that Middle-earth has no gods. That is, the 'gods' - the Valar - are across the sea.