Psychological depth in Tolkien's characters

[lindil]

I think that what Lindil meant (if I may be so bold) is not that powerful characters automatically have psychological depth, but rather that the fact that the character is powerful is one of the pieces of characterization that goes toward establishing psychological depth.

You may of course be so bold A., especially as you are so often able to express my thoughts better than I do [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]].

This characterization of her power and personality is explicity what I was referring to as being fully developed for Galadriel outside of the Lord of the Rings.

In truth with Galadriel she only came into existence with the writing of LotR, so her backstory is a a sort of front story, nonetheless, she grew [immensely] and her words and deeds in the LotR come to have far greater depth and meaning as we learn it.

Depending on one's pov this can be experienced as frustrating or fascinating or a mixtute, or even ignored. Personally I find it one of the most realistic things about the Legendarium, even now 25 years after first reading LotR I am still understanding the same things not only more deeply, but in many cases far differently. Is all this essential to having a good grasp of the story? No. Is it for having a far greater experience of the plot and characters? I think so.

Eurytus, I do however have my limits as to how far I really wish to have to dig [read search out, cross reference, google and usually purchase] all of these stray bits of lore, and so I hope ultimately to a create a sort of 'one-stop Silmarillion', which will at least narrow things down abit.

[ November 17, 2003: Message edited by: lindil ]