I enjoyed reading this chapter the most out of all the chapters we have been assigned to read thus far. I like how Shippey shows the difference between the first and second editions of The Hobbit in regards to the account of Bilbo and Gollum in the cave. He is then able to show how the original edition contradicts that the Ring abandons who it wants to. Another thing I liked about this chapter that Shippey mentions is that the journey the characters take in The Lord of the Rings is not a quest, but an anti-quest in that they are not searching for something, but trying to destroy something they already possess.
The next topic Shippey discusses that I find interesting is how the opinion of evil has changed through time from something that reveals character, to something that negatively alters a person’s character. Shippey explains this shift by discussing how in the 20th Century many had been deceived by people with perceived good political intentions, which ultimately led to bloodshed. Earlier on in the book Shippey describes such authors as Tolkien and Orwell as traumatized authors. I like how Shippey shows that Gandalf’s opinion, that seizures of power will always turn bad, even if there are good intentions behind it, is a reflection of the opinion of many authors in Tolkien’s time because of what they experienced in their lives. I thought it was very negative, yet understandable for these authors to believe that people can never be trusted, especially if they express a desire to help mankind. It is also interesting that these writers had to write these stories because they couldn’t find explanations of the evil in the nature of humanity in previously written literature. I hadn’t known before reading this chapter that Tolkien’s critics have critisized him for being inconsistent in the power that the Ring has over characters in his novel. For example, the critics don’t like that the Ring appears to have no power over Faramir. I like how Shippey defends Tolkien yet again by emphasizing the word “addiction” and explaining how the Ring can be resisted in early stages, but gains influence after each time it is used.
Shippey’s discussion of the wraiths was also enjoyable to read. It is interesting how Shippey says that the fact that the Black Riders did not have much of an impact in the beginning shows that Tolkien may have taken a while to develop the concept of the Ringwraiths. His description of how someone becomes a wraith was also very interesting. It is a very powerful description when Shippey explains that the person’s morality is destroyed and is “eaten up inside.” I found it beneficial to read about the characters who were possibly on the way to becoming, or had already become wraiths. I had never thought when reading The Return of the King that the grey mist, which gathers above Sarumon and rises from him after he is stabbed by Wormtongue, could have been the wraith leaving his already long dead body.
What I found the most interesting when reading this chapter was when Shippey points out how Lewis’ claims that no one likes badness just because it is bad, and evil deeds will be justified in terms of good, are supported with the conversation of the orcs outside of Shelob’s Lair. Gorbag criticizes the “large warrior” for leaving his friend behind, which he calls an “elvish trick.” Then a disagreement doesn’t arise when Shagrat asks him if he remembers how they left Ufthak alone because they didn’t want to interfere with Shelob. I hadn’t picked up on the idea that the conversation between the orcs shows that they have human qualities that include having no concept of self-criticism. Finally, I found it informative to read about the conflict between the Boethian and Manichaen opinions of evil that governs the plot in The Lord of the Rings.
Emily Marvin? October 26, 2008, at 06:26 PM
