Author, Reader, or Text? (aka Canonicity Slapdown 2005)

[davem]

Originally Posted by Thenamir

In that sense he *did* create Middle Earth for himself. But it would be strange indeed if he did not read it over himself and take pleasure in it, preferring instead to ignore that over which he took so much time and effort.

Yet there is pleasure in the creation process itself. I think of Aule, who created things & then gave them away in order to be free to create other things. His 'fall
(or the closest he comes to it) comes when he creates the dwarves - & in that he is driven by the desire to create something he can 'possess' - 'students' if you like.

Or we could take a runner or a dancer - they train to be able to run or dance, but once the race or the dance is over they leave it behind & move on to the next chance to 'express' themselves - to fully & completely be themselves. In the 'moment' of running or dancing (or writing or singing, etc) they are truly, completely alive. When the act is over they seek their next chance to be alive in that same way. When they are full 'themselves' in that way they touch eternity, & are what 'God' intended them to be.

Without getting all 'zen' about it, of course....

And perhaps that's what readers pick up on? They read the story & feel, vicariously, that sense of being 'alive' - to the universe & to what lies beyond...