Finrod, Andreth, and the coming of Eru

[Angry Hill Troll]

Child, thanks for pointing out CT's comment on this passage!

The passages you quote do relate to the fate of Morgoth, but only indirectly I believe.

I worded the last part a little carelessly! The casting out of Morgoth the incarnated being was accomplished without Eru's intervention. Of course the War of Wrath did not accomplish the removal of Melkor's taint upon Arda, resulting from the dispersal of his original being into the physical world. I'm not quite sure which of these two things Finrod meant. At first reading I took the phrase "conquer him" to mean the overpowering of Morgoth the physical being, as well as removal of his Shadow, and that he (Finrod) believed that neither was possible without Eru's intervention. But maybe Finrod foresaw that Morgoth could be overpowered (with help from Aman) but is simply saying that a military victory won't make the world that much better of a place, rather that the definitive victory must be achieved on a metaphysical level (and is beyond the capabilities of anyone save Eru).

Certainly, this passage very much embodies Tolkien's own religious beliefs, and to my my mind it gives a rather interesting and novel view of christian theology, projected as it is onto Tolkien's mythical realm. Still, I find it curious that nowhere else in Tolkien's works, is there a suggestion of Eru incarnating Himself. If I remember correctly, Eru is only mentioned once in LOTR, in the Appendix relating the destruction of Numenor. Did Tolkien simply not decide to treat theological and religious themes until later in his life?

[ October 07, 2003: Message edited by: Angry Hill Troll ]