The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post

Child of the 7th Age · 06-22-2002, 09:53 PM

Helen -- You must be claivoyant. Either that, or you have the makings of a real Tolkien scholar!

In the latest issue of Mythlore, the jornal of the Mythopoeic Society, there is an article by Daniel Timmons, "Hobbit Sex and Sensuality in the Lord of the Rings." It is very well done and refutes a lot of the ideas in an older article entitled "No Sex Please--We're Hobbits" by Barbara Partridge. (I kid you not about that name!)

The author interprets Frodo's words concerning Goldberry (and there are other lines in the book besides those listed in this post) as "sensual desire for feminine love." Please don't get me wrong--this article is written in a convincing and, to me, realistic way.

He does see some of that in Frodo's first encounters with other characters. Frodo on Arwen: "Such loveliness in living thing Frodo had never seen before nor imagined in his mind." 298 There is also the scene when Frodo beholds Arwen with Aragorn and is profoundly moved once more: "The light of her eyes fell upon him from afar and pierced his heart."

Timmons also suggests that Frodo's response to Galadriel when she comes into his mind may possibly have some bearing as well: "Whatever came into my mind, that I will keep to myself." (Sam had just commented that when Galadriel examined his mind, "I felt as if I hadn't got nothing on." (Poor Sam!) At the farewell dinner with Galariel, Frodo eats and drinks little, "heeding only the beauty of the Lady and her voice."

Timmons draws a clear line between sex as carnal desire which he sees no evidence of, and sensuality or feminine attraction which he does see. He views this as one more piece of the hobbits' gradual maturing. He also notes that one of the insidious influences of the Ring is to isolate an individual from the community, which invariably includes females and families. Timmons suggests that Frodo may have been well aware that the love and contentment with a female which he sees in Aragorn will sadly never be his own.

Anyways, it's interesting you picked up on this!

Additionally, if you put these two images together--the perky Frodo and the Frodo who is at least aware of feminine beauty--the Frodo of the books initially looks even more distant from that of PJ.

sharon, the 7th age hobbit

[ June 23, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

06-22-2002, 09:53 PM	#61
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Helen -- You must be claivoyant. Either that, or you have the makings of a real Tolkien scholar! In the latest issue of Mythlore, the jornal of the Mythopoeic Society, there is an article by Daniel Timmons, "Hobbit Sex and Sensuality in the Lord of the Rings." It is very well done and refutes a lot of the ideas in an older article entitled "No Sex Please--We're Hobbits" by Barbara Partridge. (I kid you not about that name!) The author interprets Frodo's words concerning Goldberry (and there are other lines in the book besides those listed in this post) as "sensual desire for feminine love." Please don't get me wrong--this article is written in a convincing and, to me, realistic way. He does see some of that in Frodo's first encounters with other characters. Frodo on Arwen: "Such loveliness in living thing Frodo had never seen before nor imagined in his mind." 298 There is also the scene when Frodo beholds Arwen with Aragorn and is profoundly moved once more: "The light of her eyes fell upon him from afar and pierced his heart." Timmons also suggests that Frodo's response to Galadriel when she comes into his mind may possibly have some bearing as well: "Whatever came into my mind, that I will keep to myself." (Sam had just commented that when Galadriel examined his mind, "I felt as if I hadn't got nothing on." (Poor Sam!) At the farewell dinner with Galariel, Frodo eats and drinks little, "heeding only the beauty of the Lady and her voice." Timmons draws a clear line between sex as carnal desire which he sees no evidence of, and sensuality or feminine attraction which he does see. He views this as one more piece of the hobbits' gradual maturing. He also notes that one of the insidious influences of the Ring is to isolate an individual from the community, which invariably includes females and families. Timmons suggests that Frodo may have been well aware that the love and contentment with a female which he sees in Aragorn will sadly never be his own. Anyways, it's interesting you picked up on this! Additionally, if you put these two images together--the perky Frodo and the Frodo who is at least aware of feminine beauty--the Frodo of the books initially looks even more distant from that of PJ. sharon, the 7th age hobbit [ June 23, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ] __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.