No Married Persons - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Sarumian · 06-10-2013, 07:15 PM

So many valuable points has been already made here! I'd like, however to tackle a very delicate subject. I strongly believe that there is (was) no sexuality of our kind in Tolkien's universe. Apparently, there are sexes and conception but there is no sexual lust. What precipitates lust here is power, not the attraction to opposite sex. Due to this reason celibacy in this universe seems to be much more a way one can choose without committing oneself to the struggle against sexual desire.

Those in love in Middle Earth are free of persistent sexual attraction and thus is ready to wait for a proper time to build a family. There is also no problem with love that people of the same sex can feel to each other as there is nothing "sexual" in such love. It is a kind of philia or even agape, rather than eros. I would risk to say this about Frodo and Sam as well as about Legolas and Gimli, but in Middle Earth the lack of lust is typical even for relationship between different sexes.

06-10-2013, 07:15 PM	#15
Sarumian Wight Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 129	So many valuable points has been already made here! I'd like, however to tackle a very delicate subject. I strongly believe that there is (was) no sexuality of our kind in Tolkien's universe. Apparently, there are sexes and conception but there is no sexual lust. What precipitates lust here is power, not the attraction to opposite sex. Due to this reason celibacy in this universe seems to be much more a way one can choose without committing oneself to the struggle against sexual desire. Those in love in Middle Earth are free of persistent sexual attraction and thus is ready to wait for a proper time to build a family. There is also no problem with love that people of the same sex can feel to each other as there is nothing "sexual" in such love. It is a kind of philia or even agape, rather than eros. I would risk to say this about Frodo and Sam as well as about Legolas and Gimli, but in Middle Earth the lack of lust is typical even for relationship between different sexes.