LotR -- Book 2 - Chapter 07 - The Mirror of Galadriel

[davem]

Originally Posted by Bb

Perhaps the satan is sent to help people avoid worse harm.

This is a very ancient symbolic role, certainly - it crops up in Tarot, with the figure of the Devil/The Guardian, but I don't see Galadriel manifesting that Archetype in the context of this chapter - She does manifest Justice, The High Priestess, The Empress & Strength particularly.

It is stunning, I think, that Tolkien turns this around on her with Frodo's offer of the Ring.

Yes, but I also think that Galadriel's 'temptation' scene is also a test of Frodo - he is being confronted with what would happen if he surrendered the Ring to anyone - even someone apparently good, powerful & trustworthy. So her test is also his.

As to Brocelliande, I can't help wondering how much of an influence Williams'Taliesin poems had on Tolkien.