From: Mike.Hoffmann@ap.mchp.sni.de (Mike Hoffmann)
Subject: Re: Der Herr der Ringe...
Organization: Siemens-Nixdorf AG, AP 712
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 92 15:36:36 GMT

Da ich die Buecher Toliens nur in Englisch lese, bleibe ich in diesem posting
auch in englischer Sprache, damit ich mich mit den Ausdruecken leichter tue.

In article <J8bEr*320@memyam.UUCP> meggers@SEMyAm.DinoCo.DE writes:
>In article <2374.178.uupcb@wugate.wustl.edu>, Carl Camurca writes:

>> An die Anderen: Schon 'mal aufgefallen, dass die Boesen bei Tolkien in
>> der Regel dunkel sind, im Osten und Sueden wohnen, dass "das edle Blut
>> der Koenige von Arathorn durch fremde Einheiraten geschwaecht wurde",
>> ganz zu schweigen von dem urgermanischen Reitervolk der Eowin (oder so
>> aehnlich)?

Hmmm. "Oder so aehnlich"... I don't know when and how often or how thoroughly
you read the books of JRRT, but it sure seems that your memory is dim on that
subject.

- Tolkien intended (and has said and written so again and again during his life)
that his Middle-Earth books were to create a "mythology for Britain -
specifically England". He hated allegory and hated any implications that his
books might contain it even more.

- T. wrote his books when the expression "Political Correctness" would have
received blank stares. So he wrote about characters achievements as they
were realistic for "ancient societies" - women and minority groups or members
of the lower classes had nil rights, basically. The few women who are mentioned
by some deed of their's are all noble and one of the few characters to reach
high state above his social origin is Sam Gamgee.

- as someone wrote, it is quite natural, that people from the Far South and
East are "black" or "yellow". But some of the allies of Mordor are just
as well describable as "clichees of blond and bearded Germanics or Celtics" 
- e.g. the Wainriders and one of the otherwise unnamed peoples flocking to
Sauron's banners.

- Why the "good" West and the "evil" East? It followed naturally from Tolkiens
intentions and the sources he drew upon. All of the Celtic and Germanic myths
and legends were "originally founded" on the infinitly long-ago Ages of
Middle-Earth. Thus the legendary "Blessed Isles" - located somewhere in the
"Western Ocean" beyond England or Ireland is what is left of Aman and Tol
Eressea. The evil powers in opposition to the Valar (the gods) and the High-
Elves were driven off farther into the East, where they built or re-built their
powers and their military strength.

- FInally something on the races and their "diminishing": In Tolkiens stories
the Elves are the highest beings that are not actually gods. They are related
to mankind, but have received gifts that latter did not. Elves and Humans
(and gods) could intermix, with the children inheriting the gifts and abilities
of both. (thus Elrond Halfelven, who was counted higher than many of the
High-Elves). The "good" people were those who had always followed the ways
of the Elves and the Valar and in their long history had intermingled with them.
For their support in the First Age against Morgoth - the first baddie, worse
than Sauron, these goodies received long life and even a island-continent
to dwell on. This was Numenor, also called Atalante (rings a bell?).
When the (few) survivors of Numenor returned to Middle-Earth they lost many
of the gifts and the thousands of years gradually led to a decrease of
life-span.

- Really finally, to get behind Tolkien's works and understand it (if not
necessarily approve of it) you have to keep in mind, that JRRT was a devout
Catholic (unusual in Britain) and his view of history and the world - which
reflects into his works as with any author - is one of a humanity down-fallen
from Grace. The Elves are mankind before the Original Sin, the Numenoreans
and other "Elf-Friend" peoples (the Hobbits, the Rohirrim, the BArdings) are
the good Xians and the rest, well, they're a bunch of pagans. This gives me
head-aches too, but, hey, most of the time I don't care, and simply enjoy the
stories themselves.

.ramble-mode off... sorry, for the length
Mike

-- 
Mike Hoffmann, Siemens-Nixdorf AG, SNI AP 712  
INTERNET: Mike.Hoffmann@ap.mchp.sni.de
It would be easy to dismiss the Americans who are fascinated with British 
royalty as nothing but a bunch of brain-dead, no-life celebrity moonies, but 
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