Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Child of the 7th Age
Strangely enough, the other name that comes to my mind when I think of "love" is Nienna. It almost seems as if Tolkien often equates "love" with "tears" -- that pure grieving is one of the truest forms of love we can experience in a world that is so flawed.
|
Note that Tolkien also never fails to mention that in Nienna's grief is something good, whether it be the learning of pity and endurance, or the wisdom that is mentioned when she visits Mandos. That's something else that jumped out at me that I forgot to mention in my original post.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Child of the 7th Age
What is missing, however, is erotic love....unless you assume that this element lies hidden within Varda and Manwe but is decently concealed from outside eyes.
|
But isn't erotic love and eroticism missing from the entire body of Tolkien's writing? It is a subject that he implies, or mentions the results of, without ever entering someone else's bedroom. Which strikes me as singularly British.
There's a thread over on the main Books board right now about CT preparing to publish a completed version of the Children of Hurin, which is said to contain much r-rated material, such as incest. However, if JRR's original style is to be preserved, the incest will be understood, but never directly seen.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Child of the 7th Age
Does anyone have any favorites among the Valar and Maiar? My own are Nienna and Olórin. I love it that these two were connected by Tolkien right from the start.
|
Have to think abou that - I don't think I have a favorite, there is no god of woodworking (see my Avatar)... Yavanna's sort of the god of anti-woodworking...