Re-reading the Lord of the Rings, Chapter 37
Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit serves to foreshadow both Frodo's and Sam's success and the Big Battle to come, for they have entered a derelict part of Gondor, in which Gondor is still active both as a memory and as forayers.
The whole chapter breathes the kind of exoticism you may experience on an excursion on vacation, somewhere in the Mediterranean, among crumbling architecture of old. I think I felt something similar at a Spanish pine forest once. Much is dried up, but the air is heavy with scent. In the last chapter defeat was at hand and the devastation of the Shire continues to loom, but here we have a hint of a new beginning amongst ruins.
At the same time the men of Gondor are being introduced, as strong, brave, level-headed and educated. They take care of the Hobbits with the same kind of confidence that a grown-up man is taking care of a child.
Tolkien is also reflecting a little upon the projection of power, Sauron makes friends, because he appears mighty, and his friends think, they are save, because the threat of Sauron's attack is upon his enemies. For that reason they wear bright amour, whereas the Dunédain wear camouflage, so as not be intrusive.
Which shows that Tolkien hasn't heeded the Revelation here, for the beast wears camouflage, a leopard like assassin wherever it sets its bear footed boot, as good a tool to threaten and project power as any. And bright amour, like Napoléon's soldiers had, might just as well be the open confession of a common cause. I mean, they're on the same side of human rights of course, but isn't it really more natural for the soldiers of the ordinary people against their oppressors to be plainly visible as opposed to hide from sight? But then again... the leading ranks hid even in Napoléon's day and the uniforms of his infantery may be owed to the fact that back then people would have instinctively understood, what was approaching them - as opposed to Tolkien, although, in fairness, Gondor doesn't always wear camouflage.
It is true though that the single person, who fears for his liberty, will be urged to resort to stealth. But that is not necessarily, in fact not even likely, the best course of action.
Of course, these thoughts are not closely linked to the current chapter, they are but warnings against possibly therein contained suggestions.
The whole chapter breathes the kind of exoticism you may experience on an excursion on vacation, somewhere in the Mediterranean, among crumbling architecture of old. I think I felt something similar at a Spanish pine forest once. Much is dried up, but the air is heavy with scent. In the last chapter defeat was at hand and the devastation of the Shire continues to loom, but here we have a hint of a new beginning amongst ruins.
At the same time the men of Gondor are being introduced, as strong, brave, level-headed and educated. They take care of the Hobbits with the same kind of confidence that a grown-up man is taking care of a child.
Tolkien is also reflecting a little upon the projection of power, Sauron makes friends, because he appears mighty, and his friends think, they are save, because the threat of Sauron's attack is upon his enemies. For that reason they wear bright amour, whereas the Dunédain wear camouflage, so as not be intrusive.
Which shows that Tolkien hasn't heeded the Revelation here, for the beast wears camouflage, a leopard like assassin wherever it sets its bear footed boot, as good a tool to threaten and project power as any. And bright amour, like Napoléon's soldiers had, might just as well be the open confession of a common cause. I mean, they're on the same side of human rights of course, but isn't it really more natural for the soldiers of the ordinary people against their oppressors to be plainly visible as opposed to hide from sight? But then again... the leading ranks hid even in Napoléon's day and the uniforms of his infantery may be owed to the fact that back then people would have instinctively understood, what was approaching them - as opposed to Tolkien, although, in fairness, Gondor doesn't always wear camouflage.
It is true though that the single person, who fears for his liberty, will be urged to resort to stealth. But that is not necessarily, in fact not even likely, the best course of action.
Of course, these thoughts are not closely linked to the current chapter, they are but warnings against possibly therein contained suggestions.
Labels: 14, institutionen, rezension, ἰδέα, φιλοσοφία
Eingetragen Am/um
11:04
