I wasn't suggesting anything about the application of a disorder to Melkor (I also disagree with it, but figured there was enough people coming down strongly against it). I was simply responding to some remarks I personally found a little disparaging in describing the disorder.
Yes, I realize lust's meaning has changed over time and really in my own vocabulary it doesn't necessarily mean sexual desire. It does seem to largely refer to desire; which is not necessarily a bad thing. Obviously the adjective 'lusty' was a positive adjective and really as far as I know could describe youthfulness or at least youthful vigor, which of course is full of desires. (One of the benefits of old age according to Seneca is the lack of desires, haha)
I don't think Melkor's 'lust' was necessarily (just) sexual desire, but perhaps the lust of owning a person in such a way that he clearly demonstrates his power. 'Lust' as simply 'sexual desire' is a pretty neutral feeling. Melkor's hardly neutral or hardly simple instinct. (I tried to express that I thought it was more than just simple sexual lust in my previous post, as well, but obviously it was short and didn't get much of anything across.)
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"Then Morgoth looking upon her beauty conceived in his thought an evil lust, and a design more dark than any that had yet come into his heart since he fled from Valinor. Thus he was beguiled by his own malice, for he watched her, leaving her free for awhile, and taking secret pleasure in his thought."
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Wen I read that, I think of lust in a sexual way because Tolkien specifies that Melkor apparently thought of her as 'beautiful,' but in the fuller context, it is more than just a sexual lust. He's bigger plans than that, with a darker heart. I don't have a text to look at and don't remember the story in full so I wonder what his design was that was somehow more dark than anything yet. And I recall the situation being rather strange...that Luthien is sort of distracting Melkor...why would she assume she could distract him? And was it with her physical beauty?
I seriously don't know why I posted when I honestly don't remember much and don't have any Tolkien books here with me at all.
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Originally Posted by Bethberry
Readers are free to make any interpretation they wish, but they should also be able to justify their interpretion or explain their theoretical perspective.
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Well, if they're posting in this forum, at least.
