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Elthir
Grey Havens
Jul 21 2014, 4:41pm
Post #51 of 52
(149 views)
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I mean 'you can even destroy it' does give a broad implication of control. I wonder if Tolkien himself had really given up all hope of publishing the Silmarillion himself. It's possible to have days in which you think a project is too great, but there are other times where JRRT seems to think 'maybe yet' -- not just by the 'evidence' of him still working on it very late in life (although the amount of work might cut both ways in that argument) -- but perhaps the late letter to Lord Halsbury is interesting, where to my mind JRRT seems to suggest that, given both help and inspiration, he could do it. Of course some can claim that that too, was perhaps momentary wishful thinking. I don't think the mindset behind JRRT's last will represents [what I'll call] the primary desire of the author, but a secondary mindset, one 'forced' upon him -- even in a potential sense, that is, in the event Tolkien never completes the Silmarillion. And even within this context I'm not sure Tolkien would have desired as much as possible of his drafts be published. Would Tolkien the artist desire everything he had ever put to paper about his world be published? Well in any case, he left this possible, but again I would say this doesn't reflect his primary desire, which in my opinion was to publish the matter of The Silmarillion, the act of which results in the draft papers remaining private drafts. Hmmm, The Silmarillion by JRRT... with special thanks to Lord Halsbury?
(This post was edited by Elthir on Jul 21 2014, 4:43pm)
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Rembrethil
Tol Eressea
Jul 22 2014, 12:39am
Post #52 of 52
(168 views)
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I just had the thought that he might be worried about his legacy and what others might do with it. As Christopher was his constant 'help and inspiration' he would seem to be best fitted to manage his posthumous affairs. That kind of wording seems to change the question of interpretation of the will from 'What can Christopher do' to 'What can't he do!?'.
Call me Rem, and remember, not all who ramble are lost...Uh...where was I?
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