|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The One Ring Forums:
Tolkien Topics: Reading Room:
“He is a man, and that for him and many is sufficient tragedy.”:
Edit Log
|
|
SirDennisC
Gondolin
Sep 1 2020, 4:05am
Views: 3811
|
|
“He is a man, and that for him and many is sufficient tragedy.”
|
|
|
Though spoken of Beowulf, this quote made before the “The Hobbit” was published, seems to me the premise on which Tolkien created the Men of Middle-earth (not as a gender, but as a people). I see in them lament for their fragility, their temporary and largely temporal existence; except, perhaps, should reputation afford them endurance against fading memory.
The other peoples of Middle-earth, each with their specialness, reinforce this lament, even if their lives were not any longer than the natural lifespans of Men: Hobbits for instance lived about as long, though were culturally wise enough to know that adulthood—perhaps now speaking chiefly of gender—doesn’t take hold of men until midlife. Certainly, as someone else mentioned, Hobbits were Tolkien’s analogue of Man of his day.
Just my thoughts on the question, late as usual.
(This post was edited by SirDennisC on Sep 1 2020, 4:19am)
|
|
|
Edit Log:
|
|
Post edited by SirDennisC
(Gondolin) on Sep 1 2020, 4:07am
|
|
Post edited by SirDennisC
(Gondolin) on Sep 1 2020, 4:08am
|
|
Post edited by SirDennisC
(Gondolin) on Sep 1 2020, 4:10am
|
|
Post edited by SirDennisC
(Gondolin) on Sep 1 2020, 4:19am
|
|
|
|
