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"it fails to address some major facets of existence, such as sexuality and sensuality, transcendental faith and the nature of evil, among others."
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I agree with you on the religion and the sexuality point TMM, but not on the nature of evil. In my opinion the popular perception of many “learned scholars”, that Tolkien presents a black and white struggle of good verses evil is incorrect. The reader never encounters Sauron, but we are introduced to Sauron’s chief creation, the One Ring. The Ring is a character onto itself in the book. The nature of the Ring is such that it may in fact be used for good, but in the end it will eventually turn all good into evil. This relationship between good and evil was far ahead of its time. When Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings war was still an acceptable means of settling disputes and power was seen as an end unto itself; this view is still held by many around the world today.
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“Then quickly and strangely his tone changed. Give it to me! he cried, Give it to me at once! You can’t have it!… No, no! cried Frodo, snatching the ring and chain from Sam’s hands. No you won’t, you thief!”
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With this passage Tolkien describes the modern sense of addiction, well before it actually comes about.
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“…And then all the clouds rolled away, and the white sun shown, and at his command the vale of Gorgoroth became a garden of flowers and trees and brought forth fruit. He had only to put on the Ring and claim it for his own, and all this could be.”
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By never mentioning the antagonist of the novel Tolkien has done a truly original and genius thing. Sauron did not rise to power through force alone, he did it by deception. Sauron tricked the elves, decieved the Haradrim, and betrayed Numenor, the true danger of Sauron and the Ring is the temptation to give into the path that seems easiest. There are so many examples of evil (well, evil actions at least) that is not black and white throughout Tolkien's work. The oath that the sons of Feanor take, the madness of Denethor, the treachery of Saruman, the Numorean's fear of death and attack of Valinor, and The Valar's response to destroy everything in Numenor just to name a few. There is no mention of true evil anywhere in The Lord of the Rings, only temptation. Even Sauron was good at one point, but he was seduced by Melkor. In the real world true evil does not really exist either. Often when we try to do good we end up doing more harm, does that make us evil? The Temptation that power brings is the true enemy of free people, and Sauron and his Ring are the ultimate tempters. This relationship between the desire to use power to do good and the danger of that power corrupting you is hardly a simple black and white relationship.
*Its my 100th post, wha whooo [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]
[ February 05, 2002: Message edited by: Thingol ]