Tolkien's 'Machine' - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Gwaihir the Windlord · 12-04-2002, 03:41 AM

There could be a different meaning here, which is to do with thought. It's about thinking of a country, or a town or whatever, as a 'machine' rather than a community, with every part existing to help the machine work. As long as the part performs that task, it is useful and deserves to exist; if not it must be replaced or improved. People are not involved, only parts.

This is really what facism is all about. Of course, a degree of 'machineness' in society is necessary, but it can get out of hand and dominate.

12-04-2002, 03:41 AM	#7
Gwaihir the Windlord Essence of Darkness Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Evermore Posts: 1,420	There could be a different meaning here, which is to do with thought. It's about thinking of a country, or a town or whatever, as a 'machine' rather than a community, with every part existing to help the machine work. As long as the part performs that task, it is useful and deserves to exist; if not it must be replaced or improved. People are not involved, only parts. This is really what facism is all about. Of course, a degree of 'machineness' in society is necessary, but it can get out of hand and dominate.