XPost: rec.arts.books.tolkien, soc.culture.south-africa   
   From: hayesmstw@hotmail.com   
      
   On Wed, 7 Jan 2004 13:29:02 +0200, "Skokkie"  wrote:   
      
   >   
   >"Steve Hayes"  wrote in message   
   >news:3ffba766.43670790@news.saix.net...   
   >> Though one can't help thinking that the deus ex machina is rather crude,   
   >it   
   >> also seems that Tolkien is, perhaps deliberately, setting his story within   
   >> Christian mythology (a la Beowolf). The eagles are an allusion (and   
   >PLEASE,   
   >> let no one bring in the other all***** word at this point!) to Exodus   
   >19:4.   
      
      
   >Er -  I think that you hit the nail on the head with the biblical allegory   
   >to eagles. You will note that The Lord of the Rings is actually dedicated to   
   >a noted Christian apologist called C.S. Lewis. He used a similar method in   
   >his allegories.   
      
   Arrrrrrrrrggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!   
      
   You used the a******* word!   
      
   >The point of the story is not so much about the actual practicalities of   
   >carrying a ring up a mountain but the actual spiritual process involved in   
   >divesting ones self of a posession that owns it's owner. Sort of like the   
   >young rich man who would not give up his wealth to serve God - he loved his   
   >money more. So with the ring as a posession that ensnared it's owner. The   
   >spiritual process of getting rid of its hold was more important than the   
   >practical task of actually disposing of it. Will the owner hang onto the   
   >posession despite wars and awesome monsters and harm to all of the people   
   >around him. THe concept of Bob the Gob Mugabe comes to mind - hanging onto   
   >his government position long after he is able to do anything productive with   
   >it for himself or his country. Is not his clinging to power as tenuous as   
   >Frodo's refusal to give up the ring that had posessed him. Once he had done   
   >his task he was allowed to rise up with wings as an Eagle.   
      
   Your last sentence puts it very well. I was thinking primarily of being   
   rescued from danger, but the lightness of being freed of a heavy burden is   
   indeed part of it.   
      
      
   --   
   Steve Hayes   
   E-mail: hayesmstw@hotmail.com   
   Web: http://www.geocities.com/hayesstw/stevesig.htm   
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   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)