Enemies

[Lalwendë]

*smashes head against wall*

Originally Posted by Raynor

Before I comment on the difference between cognitive and moral abilities, let me get this straight: do you actually mean this??

You're alright, you can leave the 'comment', as I don't really go in for being patronised, especially not early in the mornning.

Originally Posted by Raynor

Wit their low nativity rate and with many of their women unwed, I find that hard to believe. Their life style, of living in tents, caves and shelters, isn't indicative of that either.

I'm talking about the Rohirrim.

Originally Posted by Raynor

I would say this would be an attack on his own premise for this world. Here, beauty is associated with goodness. Varda is not just a good valar; her beauty is too great to be declared in words; Ungoliant is not just evil, she is a hideous spider. Luthien isn't just the only one who can, arguably, single-handedly out-wit and out-power Melkor, she is the most beautiful of Eru's children. Melkor and Sauron, as they become more evil, they become more hideous. The elves are not the most gifted, and the closer to the valar in values and behaviour; they are the fair folk. Orcs are not just some of the cruelest beings, they are just plain ugly. The drugs challenge all this; and the fact that they are secretive and wary, and apparently use transfer of power to objects (Tolkien admits that one can consider this a miniature of the transfer of Sauron's power to the one ring or Barad-dur) really does not help their case.

Sorry. Not that clear cut I'm afraid. There are far too many examples of when characters misjudge by appearances, so Tolkien clearly did not equate beauty with goodness and he clearly did ask us to examine our own prejudices.

In fact if Tolkien did not do this then he was a racist, propounding racist values and none of us should be reading his books. I'm not sure why you are trying to gather up evidence which excuses characters from and condones their indulging in racist and prejudiced behaviour? Are you Michael Moorcock by any chance?