Unorthodox Heroes?

[Anguirel]

I think a case could be argued that "the devil made me do it", added to a single crucial character flaw, produces the chemical reaction that results in the product of tragedy. Think of Othello's Iago, Macbeth's weird sisters (four in number, of course, as his lady-wife is among them...)

Attraction to flawed tragic characters, I suppose, is a Greek or Classical emotion in origin, rather than an attitude from Nordic tradition. Thus, perhaps, those admirers of Tolkien who, like me, strongly disagree with him aesthetically quite a lot of the time, will think his epic Nordic heroes a little bland and will build new heroes out of Classically inspired failures-running contrary to Tolkien's intentions, yes, but also exercising our privilege as readers.

It is a truism, but nevertheless a worthwhile thought, that a published work is independent of its author's views; that an author's criticism and appreciation of his work is on the same level as any other critic's view of it. The "historico-literary" nature of Tolkienalia, almost uniquely, allows the readers to excercise the power of the historical critic with the justifications of a literary one.