the scope of sacrifice - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Child of the 7th Age · 03-24-2002, 05:23 PM

I think your post is very perceptive. It was absolutely essential that everyone be willing to battle against the Shadow and, if necessary, to sacrifice all, even life itself. But, in the end, the combined efforts of hobbits, elves, men, ents, and whatever else simply wasn't enough. This I think reflected Tolkien's own view of the word which was shaped by the pessimism of northern mythology and his deep beliefs as a Catholic.

For Tolkien, history could only be a series of delaying actions against the forces of evil. No final victory was possible in his eyes until the end of time. When Clyde Kilby spent one summer with him near the end of his life, Tolkien did talk with him about the end of time and what it would mean. How men would join with Iluvatar and the Ainor in the Second Music of Creation and Arda would be healed.

03-24-2002, 05:23 PM	#9
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	I think your post is very perceptive. It was absolutely essential that everyone be willing to battle against the Shadow and, if necessary, to sacrifice all, even life itself. But, in the end, the combined efforts of hobbits, elves, men, ents, and whatever else simply wasn't enough. This I think reflected Tolkien's own view of the word which was shaped by the pessimism of northern mythology and his deep beliefs as a Catholic. For Tolkien, history could only be a series of delaying actions against the forces of evil. No final victory was possible in his eyes until the end of time. When Clyde Kilby spent one summer with him near the end of his life, Tolkien did talk with him about the end of time and what it would mean. How men would join with Iluvatar and the Ainor in the Second Music of Creation and Arda would be healed. Last edited by Child of the 7th Age; 01-24-2005 at 05:35 PM.