Hope and Hopelessness

[Estelyn Telcontar]

One of the major themes of The Lord of the Rings is ‚hope’. When I last reread the book, I realized how centrally important it is to the whole story. I took notice of its usage, even counting it; including its variations ‘hopeful’, ‘hopefully’, ‘hopeless’, ‘unhopeful’ and the Elvish ‘estel’ (Appendix A, Tale of Aragorn and Arwen), the word is used over 300 times throughout the book. Sometimes it is the conventional “I hope” type of usage, but very often the word is of utmost significance to a passage.

I would like to show some examples that impress me deeply, beginning with the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen, Appendix A (V):

Aragorn’s grandmother encourages the marriage of his parents despite the youth of Gilraen with the words

If these two wed now, hope may be born for our people, but if they delay, it will not come while this age lasts.

This prophecy points to Aragorn as personified hope! How fitting that he was called Estel, that is “Hope” while growing up in the house of Elrond.

When he first met Arwen, it is said:

He sang, for he was full of hope…

During the years of his labour against Sauron he is described:

His face was sad and stern because of the doom that was laid on him, and yet hope dwelt ever in the depths of his heart, from which mirth would arise at times like a spring from the rock.

Arwen encourages him when he cannot see the end of the Shadow, so that he says:

Yet with your hope I will hope.

Though Elrond says that

years will come when hope will fade

Arwen supports Aragorn in his efforts:

From afar she watched over him in thought; and in hope she made for him a great and kingly standard.

When she sends him the banner, it is with the message:

Either our hope cometh, or all hope’s end.

Obviously, hope is a central element in their relationship.

Aragorn’s mother Gilraen loses hope and chooses to die with the words

Ónen i-Estel Edain, ú-chebin estel anim.
I gave Hope to the Dúnedain, I have kept no hope for myself.

Here again, Aragorn is Hope personified. The defeat of Sauron in the War of the Ring is described thus:

Hope beyond hope was fulfilled.
The Third Age ended thus in victory and hope.

Why did I begin with the end, the tale that isn’t in the main story? Partly because in it, ‘hope’ has become a person, Aragorn, concrete and tangible, an almost Messianic incarnation. But it is for personal reasons as well: When I chose my nickname to register here at the beginning of this year, it was because I like this story and admire Aragorn as a wonderful character, but also because of the meaning of the word ‘Estel’. Choosing ‘hope’ as a name while feeling hopeless was a conscious decision. Although I didn’t know it at that time, this was to become my personal theme for the year.

There are many more passages in the book in which ‘hope’ is important: Éowyn’s hopelessness, leading to her wish to die; Sam’s simple and practical hope, enough for two when Frodo loses all hope – but this monologue is quite long enough already! I hope you will share your thoughts on ‘hope’ in LotR with me.

[ November 04, 2002: Message edited by: Estelyn Telcontar ]