Why is the Hated Loved?

[Lotrelf]

Originally Posted by Imladris

I searched but didn't find what I was looking for. If I missed a topic, please forgive me...

I was reading the Silmarillion and I was surprised and perplexed at the similarites that Gollum, Melkor, and Ungoliant possess:



Melkor does not love light, yet he lusted after the Silmarils (made from the Light of the Two Trees). He would not give give them up, even though they burned his hand:



And then there is Gollum, who loved and hated the Ring.

What do you think that Tolkien was trying to say?

Did Melkor lust after Silmarils? I think not. I feel he stole them because they contained the light of the Two Trees; and he wanted them to keep from good side i.e. Valar. Light represents hope, and Melkor would certainly fear/hate them, but he'd hate the fact that the light is in possession of his enemies. After all he spent his entire lifetime in darkness and wanted to rule the world by that.
Ungoliant's case seems same to me. She lusted after the light and would eat(?) it. She was fulfilling the purpose of Melkor: spreading darkness. She and Melkor hated the light, but lusted after it so that it should not be in possession of the good, also light was their strength.
Gollum's case was different. He was not like Melkor or Ungoliant. He lacked morals but wasn't devoid of them like the other two were. Ring amplified his "evil qualities", and he let the evil consume him. His hatred for the Ring was basically because he still had a human part safe, in his soul; and he loved it because he was addicted to it, he got "energy" from the Ring to survive.

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by Lotrelf

Did Melkor lust after Silmarils? I think not.

"Melkor lusted for the Silmarils, and the very memory of their radiance was a gnawing fire in his heart." (The Silmarillion Chapter 7)

"Fëanor looked upon Melkor with eyes that burned through his fair semblance and pierced the cloaks of his mind, perceiving there his fierce lust for the Silmarils." (The Silmarillion Chapter 7)

"The Jewels were coveted by Morgoth the Enemy, who stole them and, after destroying the Trees, took them to Middle-earth, and guarded them in his great fortress of Thangorodrim." (The Lord of the Rings Appendix A)

Originally Posted by Lotrelf

I feel he stole them because they contained the light of the Two Trees; and he wanted them to keep from good side i.e. Valar. Light represents hope, and Melkor would certainly fear/hate them, but he'd hate the fact that the light is in possession of his enemies. After all he spent his entire lifetime in darkness and wanted to rule the world by that.

"He began with the desire of Light, but when he could not possess it for himself alone, he descended through fire and wrath into a great burning, down into Darkness." (The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta")

[Lotrelf]

Originally Posted by Zig�0‹4r

"Melkor lusted for the Silmarils, and the very memory of their radiance was a gnawing fire in his heart." (The Silmarillion Chapter 7)

"F�0Š5anor looked upon Melkor with eyes that burned through his fair semblance and pierced the cloaks of his mind, perceiving there his fierce lust for the Silmarils." (The Silmarillion Chapter 7)

"The Jewels were coveted by Morgoth the Enemy, who stole them and, after destroying the Trees, took them to Middle-earth, and guarded them in his great fortress of Thangorodrim." (The Lord of the Rings Appendix A)

"He began with the desire of Light, but when he could not possess it for himself alone, he descended through fire and wrath into a great burning, down into Darkness." (The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta")

Thanks for the clarification about the first quote. I meant in a different way actually.
Why did Melkor desire the Silmarils? Not for himself certainly. Though my impression was that he'd want them to keep from the Valar. Taking away the sources of the lights would weaken their powers- In his mind(may be?)- and so Melkor would be able to defeat them, and thus claim the light as well.
Sorry, again for the mess.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Lotrelf

Why did Melkor desire the Silmarils? Not for himself certainly. Though my impression was that he'd want them to keep from the Valar. Taking away the sources of the lights would weaken their powers- In his mind(may be?)- and so Melkor would be able to defeat them, and thus claim the light as well.

The hunger for Light seems to be a common thread among the evil in Arda.
Ungoliant was said to be a devourer of light, as was her offspring, Shelob. I think that may be related to the desire of the Nazgûl for, as described by Aragorn, 'the blood of living things, desiring and hating it'. Evil may only recognize its ultimate emptiness when seen in relation to good as embodied by Light, and thus wants to possess that light, though it cannot endure it.