Causality, fatalism or pure chance? LotR and Matrix revisited

[Estelyn Telcontar]

The one passage in LotR that occurs to me most strongly when choice and free will are discussed is in "The Breaking of the Fellowship". Frodo is upon Amon Hen, and two powers are attempting to influence him.

The two powers strove in him. For a moment, perfectly balanced between their piercing points, he writhed, tormented. Suddenly he was aware of himself again, Frodo, neither the Voice nor the Eye: free to choose, and with one remaining instant in which to do so. He took the Ring off his finger.

The question of free will vs. predestination is one that has been discussed within the framework of Christian theology for centuries, and as such is not to be answered simply. However, what defines humanity is the fact that mankind was created with the power to choose. Without that, sub-creativity could not take place. Tolkien is a fervent advocate of sub-creativity, so obviously, he must write his story with that central element of free will.

As to the Divine influence, Tolkien adheres to the standpoint that pre-knowledge is not the same as pre-determination. The former allows for individual choice. The latter could be interpreted as a Divine plan of the outcome, though an individual could possibly choose not to participate in that plan. (We've discussed such issues as alternate Ringbearers - and indeed Sam did continue when it looked like Frodo could not. And his choice, though he afterwards thought it was wrong, was the right one in that situation!)

Enough worms for now - for a deeper discussion, the terms used would have to be clearly defined.


PS - Interestingly, my current signature (a Dumbledore quote from Rowling's Harry Potter books) corresponds with this question:

It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.