[Carannillion]

I have been thinking a bit about the hopelessness thing. hope is a very central theme, but still, I find this lack of it to be also quite significant. Not in the same way though.

In my opinion, LotR is "burdened" with a strain of sorrow, sorrow emerging from a kind of hopelessness. This hopelessness is not a trait of one or more of the characters though. The hopelessness is the general mood of the book - perhaps representing the thoughts of Men. In the midst of all this we find hope, hope in the hearts of our "heroes", and those with the strongest hope - and faith in the victory of good - are "the least likely ones to have it..." Yet not so at all. The hobbits are in a way the representatives of children; not a care in the world, great wisdom in their own little way and a wonderful and secluded place to "play" in. Hope is found very naturally in them, although they are easily frightened. However they grow up fast, e.g. Sam who manages to control his fear - partly out of love - and "grow up" to become a hero, representing hope, in the middle of hopelessness. All seems lost, yet someone, somewhere... and so on.

[This is one of the things I am especially fond of about Tolkien. All his sub themes and threads and side stories are all knit together, sharing a greater theme each in their own way.]

This leads us back to another thread - the importance of Sam. Sam is absolutely vital to the victory of good. Again the least likely. Bilbo who found the ring, Frodo who took up the task and Sam who rescues Frodo. This hope is small in the middle of all the hopelessness, but it is strong.
-> Imagine reading the book with only the depressing mood and no hope..!

[ November 04, 2002: Message edited by: Carannillion ]