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#1 |
Fëanorophobic
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the pages of a book
Posts: 1,417
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Christ in Middle Earth
I'm sure you'll agree with me that there are Christ figures in Middle Earth.
I mean, you can find Christ-like qualities in these characters: -Earendil -Gandalf -Aragorn -Frodo And maybe there are others... So my question is, how is this significant? Why did Tolkien choose to portray many Christ figures? Why didn't he just come up with a single Christ figure that would be central to the action instead? |
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#2 |
The Insufferable
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,333
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Because Middle-Earth is (in the mythology) the same as our earth. So while the great heroes of the past often show christ-like traits, Christ himself was going to arrive sometime in the fifth age or so.
Besides... the whole comparison is kind of silly. ![]()
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Disgraced he may be, yet is not dethroned, and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned |
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#3 |
Warrior of the House of Hador
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,651
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As you repetedly say!
![]() I think if Tolkien had made one Christ like figure (this excludes the Valar and Eru) then ME would have been a spin off form of the Bible. If Aragorn or Frodo were perfect then everything would be a little predictable. Frodo would have taken The Ring straight to Mount Doom and destroyed it with out a second thought. Aragorn would challenge Sauron and defeat him easily giving Frodo a resonably easier path to Mount Doom. He would then have broken the Black Gate and single handidly(sp.) killed all orcs and other evil creatures in Mordor. You see what I mean?
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Then Huor spoke and said: "Yet if it stands but a little while, then out of your house shall come the hope of Elves and Men. This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and me a new star shall arise. Farewell!" The Silmarillion, Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Page 230 |
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#4 |
The Supreme Lord of The Northern Eagles
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: trondheim, norway
Posts: 1,388
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yes, good point TD. tolkien himself was very religious, and when he should create a mythology for England, he ceartainly would take in some elements from Christianity.
besides, in NArnia by C.S Lewis, the comparison to the bibel is even more obvious.
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#5 | |
Fëanorophobic
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the pages of a book
Posts: 1,417
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Quote:
![]() I see your point, TD. You're saying that Tolkien placed some aspects of Christ in each of these character so as not have a flat plot, right? |
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#6 |
The Insufferable
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,333
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The facts are silly.
![]() The reason I say that, though, is that it strikes me as patently ridiculous to imagine JRRT sitting down and saying to himself "Hmm... how many Christ figures should I include in this story?". Isn't that picture just a teensy bit amusing? I don't believe Tolkien was trying to represent Christ in any of those characters. They were simply good people, and because they were good people they had a number of things in common with Christ. It really doesn't have anything to do with portraying multiple Christ figures. Aslan was meant to represent Christ. Frodo wasn't. I think there's a big difference between the two.
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Disgraced he may be, yet is not dethroned, and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned |
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#7 | |
Elven Warrior
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 369
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Quote:
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#8 | |
Elven Loremaster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 892
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![]() Quote:
The mythology of Middle-earth (which is NOT the "mythology for England" -- that was The Book of Lost Tales) encompasses many aspects of our historical world -- including its mythologies and religions. Hence, you have angels and demi-god-like heroes marching across the landscape in battles which shape the world. You have trips to the underworld (Luthien's prayer for Beren in Mandos, the beseechings of Finwe for Miriel's return) and resurrections (Beren and Luthien, Gandalf, Turin at the end of the First Age, Finrod and other Elves in Aman, etc.) and you have figurative passages through the underworld (Angband, Moria, the Paths of the Dead). |
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#9 | |
Elven Warrior
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Birmingham, UK
Posts: 221
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Quote:
There are always going to be comparisons, some intentional, some not. It is a matter of individual tastes and proclivities that we get out of Tolkien what we want to. I personally don't dwell too much on the religious aspects, although I am very keen on understanding some of the philosophical themes.
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#10 | ||
Elven Warrior
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 369
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Quote:
We ask and examine these kinds of questions all the time, even MM has in his books and articles. So to focus on a Christian theme, and I think there can really be little question that Tolkien's faith influenced him, is in fact desireable. Quote:
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