A review: JRRT's Osanwe-Kenta [ missing bit of The Silm.] - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

davem · 12-29-2003, 04:30 AM

I've ordered the relevant issue, & thanks, Lindil, for sparking my interest, but as I'm still waiting for it I don't really want to comment too deeply.

One thing that has struck me is a (vague) similarity between Osanwe & Tolkien's fellow inkling, Charles Williams', concept of co-inherence. I can't comment on how similar the two are till I've read the essay, but I'd appreciate the comments of anyone who has read it.

A good account of co-inherence is at: http://www.polarissite.net/page27.html

(short quote from the essay:
"Simply stated, co-inherence is the concept that all human beings are spiritually interconnected and totally dependent on each other. "No man is an island" and so every thought and every action affects other people. In another terminology, humanity shares a "vast spiritual reservoir".).

I'm not saying that they are exactly alike, or that Tolkien 'lifted' the idea from Williams, but this idea of a unity of mind/spirit between individuals is a possible indication that despite Tolkien's assertions, the two men were not all that far apart in their worldview.

12-29-2003, 04:30 AM	#34
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	I've ordered the relevant issue, & thanks, Lindil, for sparking my interest, but as I'm still waiting for it I don't really want to comment too deeply. One thing that has struck me is a (vague) similarity between Osanwe & Tolkien's fellow inkling, Charles Williams', concept of co-inherence. I can't comment on how similar the two are till I've read the essay, but I'd appreciate the comments of anyone who has read it. A good account of co-inherence is at: http://www.polarissite.net/page27.html (short quote from the essay: "Simply stated, co-inherence is the concept that all human beings are spiritually interconnected and totally dependent on each other. "No man is an island" and so every thought and every action affects other people. In another terminology, humanity shares a "vast spiritual reservoir".). I'm not saying that they are exactly alike, or that Tolkien 'lifted' the idea from Williams, but this idea of a unity of mind/spirit between individuals is a possible indication that despite Tolkien's assertions, the two men were not all that far apart in their worldview. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."