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Forum Home » Books Discussion » BC Archive: The Silmarillion » Masters of Mythology; The Light and The Darkness
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PotbellyHairyfoot
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Post Masters of Mythology; The Light and The Darkness
on: August 24, 2009 12:20
Feanor was able to capture the light of the two trees in the Silmarils, and that Light remained in the jewels even after the tress had gone dark

Ungoliant sucked up the light and wove nets of darkness that no light could penetrate. Even the vison of Manwe could not penetrate her darkness.


These are just two examples of Tolkien making light and darkness so much more than they are on our world.

What special values does Tolkien give to the light and the darkness and what do they signify?
cirdaneth
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Post RE: Masters of Mythology; The Light and The Darkness
on: November 09, 2009 04:56
The mediaeval mind viewed good and evil as cosmic forces rather than qualities of choice. We are still struggling away from that view and perhaps this is why Tolkien makes light and darkness tangible substances, ... manipulable by those of good or evil will. Thus the characters in his tales may choose whether to be guided by the light or ensnared by the darkness.
pv
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Post RE: Masters of Mythology; The Light and The Darkness
on: November 17, 2009 08:21
If light signifies spiritual good and dark signifies evil, how did the light end up in the hands of (of all people) Feanor? Is Tolkien trying to say that good & evil is finally in the hands of human choice?
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