‘The Workhouse’ – Tolkien’s Purgatory

[davem]

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

Well, actually, in the end Sam does go to Valinor. I think that Sam might be more easily equated with Parish, who remained in Niggle’s Parish after Niggle departed. Am I suggesting that Frodo might be more easily equated with Niggle, well, maybe. (Don’t hold me to that though.)

This struck me just after I posted last night - problem with it is that Sam is nothing like Parish to start with - he's a dreamer right from the beginning. Perhaps the Gaffer is closer to Parish - 'Elves & Dragons! Cabbages & potatoes are better for you & me.'

Of course, its dangerous to push these kinds of 'connections', as that implies that one story is simply an allegory of the other. Actually, I don't see Niggle as an allegory as such - more of an artistic manifesto, perhaps.