| J. R. R. Tolkien's cosmology translated into a great mythological structure revolving around three dominant and inclusive themes: Fall, Mortality and the Machine (or Magic). Mortality, or lif is laene, is the dominant and unifying theme of The Lord of the Rings.; Mortality is a theme found in much of medieval literature, and particularly in Beowulf, one of Tolkien's favorite works. Like the Beowulf poet, Tolkien centered his work about the great truth of the mortal world: lif is laene: life is transitory. Man and all his works shall die. The theme is developed in The Lord of the Rings in four repeated manifestations: change, choice, leave-taking and death, each reiterating the lessons of a mortal world and the sense of loss and sadness engendered thereby.; Faced with the dominance of this theme in his work, as in his life, Tolkien explores two antithetical philosophies of life that have dominated much of Western thought in the last two thousand years. The two philosophies, or codes of life, are the Nordic and the Christian. As the theme forms a pervasive backdrop to his drama, so that exploration of these two codes composes the dramatic conflict at center stage.; Each provides a way of dealing with the grim reality of a mortal world. The Nordic code is expressed in the values of despair, pride, vengeance and earthly fealty, values which have long served Western Man. However, the Nordic code, as Tolkien well knew, could betray as well as fortify.; In contrast, the Christian values of hope, humility, mercy and fealty (or submission) to God and His Purpose allow a true understanding and acceptance of each man's place in the mortal world of God's Plan. They permit a more effective defense against the worst enemy, the despair of death. Death itself is not to be despaired, for it is not a punishment, but a gift. These messages are the purpose of Tolkien's greatest work. |
