Pity inspiring

[Bêthberry]

Greetings Evisse the Blue,

And welcome to the Downs. *dances a welcoming jig*

If you don't mind, I would like to take a very different approach to yours.

Maybe this is an art: the art of evoking compassion in your enemies, thus making them vulnerable to your wickedness.

I think this approach misunderstands the nature of pity and compassion as they are portrayed in LOTR.

The crucial and relevant passage which looms so largely over the entire novel is Gandalf's talk with Frodo about Gollem in the chapter "The Shadow of the Past" in FOTR.

"Pity? It was pity that stayed his hand.... Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life, Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.

This is the lesson Frodo has learnt by the end. Look at his attitude in the chapter "The Scouring of the Shire." It is the central issue in Tolkien's work and so very different from the blood thirsty epics which are part of the inspiration for LOTR.

Respectfully,
Bethberry