(no, your eyes are fine. I realized I had posted this in a subthread, but meant
it to be in response to the main thread. sorry/a.s.)
Tolkien's faith influenced his life, and his work. It affected his worldview
(what a modern word to use, though) and the way he regarded certain elemental
parts of life: our relation to the cosmos, the possibility of grace, the
presence of evil, etc. I don't think anyone attmpting to understand Tolkien's
influences can possibly discount his Catholicism.
Yet, in other ways, it had nothing whatsoever to do with the story, which
surely owes as much to Tolkien's understanding of, and love for, myths and
legends and old languages. These also colored his worldview. There is much of
Beowulf in LOTR (by influence). There are many noble pre-Christians in his
work, fighting all the more bravely for their uncertain destiny after death. We
can't overlook that, either.
It seems apparent, from the letters, that he was really trying to write a good
story, a "legend for England", and not a Christian allegory or Catholic
apologetic of any kind. Yet, he could not remove all his inbred understandings
and thoughts and opinions, about mortality and divine intervention, etc. What
writer can? He may say, for instance, that he had the Lord's prayer in mind,
when he sends Frodo and Sam...and Gollum...up Mt. Doom: "Lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil". But I wonder if, when he put Frodo in
temptations way, and then delivered him by divine intervention, he didn't just
do so based on art imititating personal belief. And only later, realized that
of COURSE! it's the Lord's prayer illustrated. His mind led him down the path
of the Lord's prayer; the Lord's prayer didn't lead him down the path.
Similarly, any Catholic or Christian is free to interpret the work for personal
use, as is any reader of any story. Story resonate differently in the chambers
of different hearts. However, Tolkien did not set out to instruct us in
Christianity in general, nor Catholicism in particular. That is not the intent
of the story, even if he tried to get it into alignment with his core religious
beliefs. It is a fantasy; an alternate beginning for the world. It's not the
Bible reinterpreted. It never was.
In short, I think it's important to remember Tolkien's Catholicim, because you
can see its influence everywhere, throughout the story. And it was important to
the writer, so should not be discounted as an influence. But the story remains
a beautiful, enduring masterpiece of literature. One needs not have any
Catholic background, to appreciate the lovely work of art. Simply finding out,
years later, as most do, that he WAS a Catholic and that there IS Catholic
symbolism spread throughout, should never serve to change the beauty of the
work in one's heart. It is NOT Catholic instruction. And it is not beautiful
BECAUSE it is Catholic. It is simply beautiful.
It is a beautiful story written by a Catholic, whose faith should only be
pertinent to those trying to deconstruct the work for study, not to those
reading for the extreme pleasure of doing so.
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
