I read once that Tolkien wrote with the pessimism of the
pagan poets [1]. They uphold honor in despair, dying well, the heroic
quest at the cost of losing everything you love. But I read Tolkien and
see hope scribed into every chapter. No light, whimsical child’s hope:
Tolkien’s hope is not ignorance of all things capable of clouding the
good. It’s a “fool’s hope,” [2] where anyone can see that in all
likelihood, if things go on as they are, the fool will be disappointed.
In Tolkien, the fools know themselves to be fools.
Elven-King Fingolfin’s story weighs on the side of hopelessness. The Silmarillion describes him as “fey” [3] when he challenges Melkor himself, living up to the epic’s heroic virtues. What hope has an elf against a Vala? But the Vala ought to be contended, resisted, fought. Though the high king of the Noldor (elves) finally fell, his fight was not without effect. The Dark Lord Melkor limped forever after.
At first reading, it seems that Aragorn commends this sort of despairing courage when he instructs his friends, “There are some things that it is better to begin than to refuse, even though the end may be dark.” [4] But Gandalf, the wizard who knows his life-encompassing hope is foolish, lends a bit of insight early on. Recognizing he is a fool, he embraces humility. Do you hear it in Gandalf’s words? “Despair, or folly? It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not. It is wisdom to recognize necessity, when all other courses have been weighed, though as folly it may appear to those who cling to false hope.” [5] He acknowledges that he may not have all the facts. Indeed, thinking that he knew what the end would be was the prideful downfall of Denethor, who let his enemy select the facts he discovered, and so turn him to despair, and madness. Tolkien’s works regularly discourage the assumption that we know the future.
He also discourages despair. I know it doesn’t seem true. There are some pivotal scenes driven by characters that rashly pursue death and glory. Aragorn is accused of it when he takes the Paths of the Dead, but that perspective is refuted. Though the way had been shut for long ages, the time had come. Such is the way of hope. Things go on in a certain way until the due time, and then change springs upon the world.
Perhaps most potent is the image of grey-eyed Dernhelm. The warrior’s silent, calm assurance going in search of death chilled Merry. And it awakens our empathy. Why shouldn’t it? Who hasn’t felt that life is going from bad to worse, and decided to rush forward to the end instead of waiting to be burned with the house? I think maybe Tolkien intended to carry us along with this character, so that we could reach the same end. Dernhelm was proud, seeking glory before duty, though demonstrating loyal love to King Theoden by staying close to him. And glory was achieved. And darkness did descend on the desperate hero. Even as Dernhelm revealed herself as Eowyn, golden hair glittering in the storm-piercing sunrise like a figment of hope; she was cast down, poisoned, and taken for dead. [6]
But now we come to it: Tolkien’s hope is the kind that stands further and deeper than all those things – than despair and darkness and loss. He knew about a resurrection hope, about seeds bringing forth fruit after they have fallen into the ground and died. Maybe he knew that fruit is more glorious than merely putting an end to your enemies. His hope embraces grief. It accepts hard things. Good is not determined by the outcome, but by some transcendent standard. And this hope joyfully trusts that there is someOne good who may intervene yet.
For Eowyn woke, and repented her destructive ideals. Day came again. Darkness was not unescapable. Faramir described the moment, “I do not know what is happening. The reason of my waking mind tells me that great evil has befallen and we stand at the end of days. But my heart says nay; and all my limbs are light, and a hope and joy are come to me that no reason can deny. … in this hour I do not believe that any darkness will endure!” [7] So Eowyn moved and married, healed and tended gardens. [8] Her story is a fuller exposition of the transformation the Fellowship underwent in Moria. They lost their way and lost their guide. They had descended black depths and awakened demons so that they lost hope. But on the field high on the mountain slopes, “they came beyond hope under the sky and felt the wind on their faces.” [9]
[1] Hopeless Courage by Loren Rosson, III (http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/lord_of_the_rings_guest_03.htm)
[2] The Return of the King: “The Siege of Gondor” by JRR Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin One-Volume Edition 2001; p. 797)
[3] See etymology of “fey” at http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=fey&allowed_in_frame=0
[4] The Two Towers: “The Riders of Rohan” by JRR Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin One-Volume Edition 2001; p. 430)
[5] The Fellowship of the Ring: “The Council of Elrond” by JRR Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin One-Volume Edition 2001; p. 262)
[6] The Return of the King: “The Battle of the Pelennor Fields” by JRR Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin One-Volume Edition 2001; p. 823-824)
[7] The Return of the King: “The Steward and the King” by JRR Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin One-Volume Edition 2001; p. 941)
[8] The Return of the King: “The Steward and the King” by JRR Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin One-Volume Edition 2001; p. 943-944)
[9] The Fellowship of the Ring: “The Bridge of Khazad-Dum” by JRR Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin One-Volume Edition 2001; p. 323)
See also, The Silmarillion: “Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin” by JRR Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien
Elven-King Fingolfin’s story weighs on the side of hopelessness. The Silmarillion describes him as “fey” [3] when he challenges Melkor himself, living up to the epic’s heroic virtues. What hope has an elf against a Vala? But the Vala ought to be contended, resisted, fought. Though the high king of the Noldor (elves) finally fell, his fight was not without effect. The Dark Lord Melkor limped forever after.
At first reading, it seems that Aragorn commends this sort of despairing courage when he instructs his friends, “There are some things that it is better to begin than to refuse, even though the end may be dark.” [4] But Gandalf, the wizard who knows his life-encompassing hope is foolish, lends a bit of insight early on. Recognizing he is a fool, he embraces humility. Do you hear it in Gandalf’s words? “Despair, or folly? It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not. It is wisdom to recognize necessity, when all other courses have been weighed, though as folly it may appear to those who cling to false hope.” [5] He acknowledges that he may not have all the facts. Indeed, thinking that he knew what the end would be was the prideful downfall of Denethor, who let his enemy select the facts he discovered, and so turn him to despair, and madness. Tolkien’s works regularly discourage the assumption that we know the future.
He also discourages despair. I know it doesn’t seem true. There are some pivotal scenes driven by characters that rashly pursue death and glory. Aragorn is accused of it when he takes the Paths of the Dead, but that perspective is refuted. Though the way had been shut for long ages, the time had come. Such is the way of hope. Things go on in a certain way until the due time, and then change springs upon the world.
Perhaps most potent is the image of grey-eyed Dernhelm. The warrior’s silent, calm assurance going in search of death chilled Merry. And it awakens our empathy. Why shouldn’t it? Who hasn’t felt that life is going from bad to worse, and decided to rush forward to the end instead of waiting to be burned with the house? I think maybe Tolkien intended to carry us along with this character, so that we could reach the same end. Dernhelm was proud, seeking glory before duty, though demonstrating loyal love to King Theoden by staying close to him. And glory was achieved. And darkness did descend on the desperate hero. Even as Dernhelm revealed herself as Eowyn, golden hair glittering in the storm-piercing sunrise like a figment of hope; she was cast down, poisoned, and taken for dead. [6]
But now we come to it: Tolkien’s hope is the kind that stands further and deeper than all those things – than despair and darkness and loss. He knew about a resurrection hope, about seeds bringing forth fruit after they have fallen into the ground and died. Maybe he knew that fruit is more glorious than merely putting an end to your enemies. His hope embraces grief. It accepts hard things. Good is not determined by the outcome, but by some transcendent standard. And this hope joyfully trusts that there is someOne good who may intervene yet.
For Eowyn woke, and repented her destructive ideals. Day came again. Darkness was not unescapable. Faramir described the moment, “I do not know what is happening. The reason of my waking mind tells me that great evil has befallen and we stand at the end of days. But my heart says nay; and all my limbs are light, and a hope and joy are come to me that no reason can deny. … in this hour I do not believe that any darkness will endure!” [7] So Eowyn moved and married, healed and tended gardens. [8] Her story is a fuller exposition of the transformation the Fellowship underwent in Moria. They lost their way and lost their guide. They had descended black depths and awakened demons so that they lost hope. But on the field high on the mountain slopes, “they came beyond hope under the sky and felt the wind on their faces.” [9]
[1] Hopeless Courage by Loren Rosson, III (http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/lord_of_the_rings_guest_03.htm)
[2] The Return of the King: “The Siege of Gondor” by JRR Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin One-Volume Edition 2001; p. 797)
[3] See etymology of “fey” at http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=fey&allowed_in_frame=0
[4] The Two Towers: “The Riders of Rohan” by JRR Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin One-Volume Edition 2001; p. 430)
[5] The Fellowship of the Ring: “The Council of Elrond” by JRR Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin One-Volume Edition 2001; p. 262)
[6] The Return of the King: “The Battle of the Pelennor Fields” by JRR Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin One-Volume Edition 2001; p. 823-824)
[7] The Return of the King: “The Steward and the King” by JRR Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin One-Volume Edition 2001; p. 941)
[8] The Return of the King: “The Steward and the King” by JRR Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin One-Volume Edition 2001; p. 943-944)
[9] The Fellowship of the Ring: “The Bridge of Khazad-Dum” by JRR Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin One-Volume Edition 2001; p. 323)
See also, The Silmarillion: “Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin” by JRR Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien
