3 ms·

My favorite analysis of lotr is this: > good does not need to destroy evil; good needs only to resist evil, and when it does that, evil destroys itself

xandrius 2y ago
In LotR, good did indeed destroy evil (or rather its boss) by destroying the one ring.
- Cornbilly 2y ago
  If you read Tolkien’s other works, you’ll find that evil cannot be destroyed as Melkor/Morgoth corrupted the very nature of the world and that evil will remain until the end of the world.
  - Trasmatta 2y ago
    You have to go deeper than that, though. Eru Ilúvatar said this to Melkor: > No theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined. The idea being that the evil that Melkor commits ultimately just builds towards the creators greater and secret purpose. It's kind of an attempt to deal with the "problem of evil".
    - ViktorRay 2y ago
      Worth mentioning that Tolkien was a devout Catholic and the idea you are talking about is something Catholic theologians would probably agree with. (I’m not a Christian though so somebody please correct me if I am wrong)
    - weard_beard 2y ago
      The work is mysterious and important. (-Severence, the motto of the business/cult enslaving people on the show)
- lolinder 2y ago
  No. Good took the ring all the way to Mount Doom, resisting its Evil all the way up until the end, and then once more the Good person failed to destroy the Ring. Frodo stood at the precipice and took the Ring for himself. The only way the Ring was destroyed was by accident when Gollum attacked Frodo to claim the Ring. The Evil that the ring stoked in the hearts of those it touched is what ended up destroying it in the end, not the Good people who took it to Mount Doom.
  - jon_richards 2y ago
    Interestingly, the author of my quote also mentions this: > Tolkien in his letters insists that Frodo did not fail – that his captivity to the Ring was inevitable
  - monkeydreams 2y ago
    Gollum took back the ring after Frodo - possessed by the spirit of the ring and in its voice - cursed him with death if he should ever break his oath. Gollum did so the ring did, bringing about his downfall.

xandrius 2y ago

In LotR, good did indeed destroy evil (or rather its boss) by destroying the one ring.

Cornbilly 2y ago
If you read Tolkien’s other works, you’ll find that evil cannot be destroyed as Melkor/Morgoth corrupted the very nature of the world and that evil will remain until the end of the world.
- Trasmatta 2y ago
  You have to go deeper than that, though. Eru Ilúvatar said this to Melkor: > No theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined. The idea being that the evil that Melkor commits ultimately just builds towards the creators greater and secret purpose. It's kind of an attempt to deal with the "problem of evil".
  - ViktorRay 2y ago
    Worth mentioning that Tolkien was a devout Catholic and the idea you are talking about is something Catholic theologians would probably agree with. (I’m not a Christian though so somebody please correct me if I am wrong)
  - weard_beard 2y ago
    The work is mysterious and important. (-Severence, the motto of the business/cult enslaving people on the show)
lolinder 2y ago
No. Good took the ring all the way to Mount Doom, resisting its Evil all the way up until the end, and then once more the Good person failed to destroy the Ring. Frodo stood at the precipice and took the Ring for himself. The only way the Ring was destroyed was by accident when Gollum attacked Frodo to claim the Ring. The Evil that the ring stoked in the hearts of those it touched is what ended up destroying it in the end, not the Good people who took it to Mount Doom.
- jon_richards 2y ago
  Interestingly, the author of my quote also mentions this: > Tolkien in his letters insists that Frodo did not fail – that his captivity to the Ring was inevitable
- monkeydreams 2y ago
  Gollum took back the ring after Frodo - possessed by the spirit of the ring and in its voice - cursed him with death if he should ever break his oath. Gollum did so the ring did, bringing about his downfall.