cogent as usual, child [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] after reading the arguments above, i get the impression that the hobbits' inclination for so-called "evil" equates nicely with either the capacity for "mischief" (from the mercenary s-b.s to gollum's sneaking around) or a "yielding" to evil (frodo's fall at the crack of doom).
following the incomparable kalessin's train of thought about evil not being a distinction for a form of action, but rather a natural or essential state of BEING, it then seems reasonable to conclude that hobbits ARE capable of evil, but are NOT. i think birdland put that more nicely [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]
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pity this busy monster,manunkind, not / -progress is a comfortable disease;/ your victim (death and life safely beyond) / plays with the bigness of his littleness
---ee cummings
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