:-) I see I didn't need to respond; you did it quite well, and obviously, we
were both typing in two different parts of the country, similar thoughts at the
same time! It's like, mind meld.
I don't think Tolkien meant that he based the CHARACTER of Galadriel on the
Blessed Mother. I think he meant his understanding of beauty and lovely
womanhood, was based on the Blessed Mother, and this influenced his portrait of
Galadriel. Galadriel's character and beauty is influenced by Tolkien's
understanding of (what he considered to be) the pinnacle of earthly womanly
beauty and goodness, which he viewed through the lens of the BVM. But not the
story of Galadriel in total.
my opinion, of course.
After reading all the letters, now, I believe I have come around to your
opinion that he did a bit of spindoctoring, in later years...just a bit.
a.s.
What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind... Wordsworth
