Tolkien and the Monsters - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Bêthberry · 07-10-2004, 09:32 AM

Now davem, I had expected it would be Sauce or Aiwendil who took that approach, not you. First of all, it was Fordim's idea first, so go tease him too.

More seriously, many ancient mythologies have figures of disgust similar to Shelob, perhaps not in spider-form, but certainly carrying all the imageries of loathesome appetite and revolting physicality and this gender attribute. Shelob is simply another example of how Tolkien extends old mythologies in very well done ways. After all, consider the Lilith--Eve distinction.

It's another literary reference, davem, not Freudian overkill.

07-10-2004, 09:32 AM	#20
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	Ain't no flies on She Now davem, I had expected it would be Sauce or Aiwendil who took that approach, not you. First of all, it was Fordim's idea first, so go tease him too. More seriously, many ancient mythologies have figures of disgust similar to Shelob, perhaps not in spider-form, but certainly carrying all the imageries of loathesome appetite and revolting physicality and this gender attribute. Shelob is simply another example of how Tolkien extends old mythologies in very well done ways. After all, consider the Lilith--Eve distinction. It's another literary reference, davem, not Freudian overkill. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.