Silmarillion - Ainulindale

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Hilde Bracegirdle

Wouldn’t the whole question of gender be irrelevant? There would be no point to gender differences in beings who create by means of song etc. For is not the difference in gender merely purposeful for reproduction in the natural world. Illuvatar has not need to reproduce, nor the Ainur. That is unless I am greatly mistaken. I do not recall any of them having children.

But we are looking at this through the eyes of a gendered people. The Valar chose forms according to their temperament, and I would think that this was mainly so the elves and men (who they were exposed to prematurely in the music) might perceive those Valar better. Or because the Valar might indentify with one gender or the other as a personal preferance.

This is an excellent point, Hilde and there is much to commend the idea, epescially the idea that we consider a wholly different perspective. What would the world be like, what would our life be like, had we not had this little necessity. Yet, like it or not, reproduction is a basic fact of organic life, whether sexual or asexual or cabbages and bees.

The gender issue is merely an example of how Tolkien's mythology differs from others. It can also, however, been seen as a gaping big hole in the cosmology. If a mythology of creation ignores a basic fact in favour of an asexual initial form of being, then one can ask how the later development of sexual being is regarded. The unfortunate consequence for much of human development is that, when male is defined as the main or true or essential form and female as the standby, then power inequity is inevitable. It is not only women who suffer, but children also.

Frankly, I don't know where this would lead in a discussion of The Silm. We can wonder why a Denethor even in madness would think he has the right to immolate his son, and to consider the nature of sub-creation and control over what one creates. What is the nature of human creativity and will? I just know that, as much as I enjoy Tolkien, there is always this aching lack as if something is missing, something is ignored, something is omitted. And it starts here with creation. For me. My opinion only.