Shippey explains that Tolkien set out to restore English traditions and language which had been diminished by the Norman Conquest. Shippey also points out the repercussions of the Conquest were not much felt in England since it was suppressed. Nevertheless, some very vital elements and focus of the English traditions were lost. Tolkien aims to revitalize the lost tradition through his writings. In this way, Tolkien can be compared to one of his contemporary writers, Chinua Achebe, who is the author of Things Fall Apart. Tolkien and Achebe through their work try to help the reader to answer the rhetoric question of the superimposition of one culture over another. Their work also calls the reader to analyze the implications of such actions have on the people of the subordinate culture.
Achebe uses Okonkwo, the main protagonist of his novel as the representation of the customs, traditions and values of the people of Umoufia. Achebe illustrates through the cause of events in the novel the clash of ideology, life philosophies and culture from two different sources lead to the ultimate destruction of one culture. Achebe achieves this by presenting to the reader the mannerisms surrounding the death of Okonkwo. Both Tolkien and Achebe try to help the reader to examine the morals behind the distraction of many cultures which could have help to better understand humanity.
Although, Tolkien relates to readers the destruction of ideas using Saruman through his treatment of nature and the amassing of a legion of soldiers, Achebe uses the relationships of the individuals in his novel. The disintegrations amongst families, chaos and the sense of doom that the Christian religion the land of Umoufia. Both authors are trying to warn the world in its dealings with the new cultures that are discovered. They question the significance of causing people to undergo rapid cultural changes, if it is for the better or for the worst. In the end none of the authors offer concrete answers to these questions but leads the reader to answer that question for themselves.
One other interesting fact that Shippey points out is the relationship of The Silmarillion to Christian myth. He compares the Fall of Lucifer and his followers that Melkor his subordinate spirits. Both Lucifer and Melkor defiled their creator were punished for their disobedience. Lucifer is cast out of the heavens and loses his position as the leader of all the angels in heaven. He lands on the earth and sets up his reign and his kingdom which is opposed to that of his creator. In the end Lucifer is defeated in the fight between good and evil by the sheering of the blood of the sacrificial lamb. Melkor on the other hand, by defiling his creator sets up his own reign over Middle Earth and seeks to destroy all that is good and promise harmony. He tries to bring all the inhabitants of Middle Earth into the darkness which haunts his soul and for which is always bound. Although certain themes in The Silmarillion are related Christian myth, Shippey wants the reader to also keep in mind they are very distinct similarities which can sometimes have striking differences.
Trudy Antwi November 11, 2008, at 10:51 PM
