One thing that keeps reappearing in Tolkiens works is a family model (note, not "model family").
You have the Father who is wise and powerful but not a main character.
Then there is the oldest son who has an extraordinary talent of some sort, but is proud and commits evil.
Finally there is the younger son who is more humble. He cannot compete with his older brother, but proves himself when it counts.
There are many variations over this theme, you have Eru-Melkor-Manwe and Finwe-Feanor-Fingolfin/Finarfin (here there are two younger sons, but you rarely see both of them together in the storyline and when you do they show the same character traits). Last example is Denethor-Boromir-Faramir.
There are of course many differences between them, Eru and Denethor for example are very different, but Denethors flaws is more or less caused by him facing a much more powerful enemy. Imagine him in his prime without Sauron and the palantir.
If you streach the imagination there are more similarities and a lot more examples of this trinity or trio if you wish. Any thoughts?
Hm, thats interesting.. you dont only have this theme in LoTR, but in many legends and tales. Just think about it...
The youngest is nearly always the bearer of the sympathy of the reader, while the oldest (sometimes) makes quite a good evil guy. Just try to imagine it the other way round - it would seem totally strange. Except when the older brother still goes to school and the youger one annoys him.
__________________ Life is complex: it has both real and imaginary components.
It is shown in the movies of course through B and F but I think that ppl can really relate to it. It always seems that the younger is always begins as a follower who wants to be his brother yet takes the right path by learning from his brothers mistakes.
Exa has a very a very good point, it happens threw-out many films/books/tales etc, I am trying to think of an example though
Discos - or lets just let someone else do it
__________________
"In the year of our Lord 1314, patriots of Scotland, starving and outnumbered, charged the fields at Bannockburn. They fought like warrior poets. They fought like Scotsmen. And won their freedom."
Wow......that phenomenal because I was thinkin' along the lines of that in class yesterday and I guess I forgot about it. Wow....brilliant minds think alike, aye?
__________________
Thank you so much Eezy!!
I'm starting over, do not mistake me for my brother - he has left. Eezy has convinced me to come back, give him some credit.
I was thinking of toast this morning.....how about you Sauron, do stupid minds work alike?
__________________
"In the year of our Lord 1314, patriots of Scotland, starving and outnumbered, charged the fields at Bannockburn. They fought like warrior poets. They fought like Scotsmen. And won their freedom."
Good example Smodden... It is true that they are rarly turned around and the younger is the evil.... I mean keeping in line with your example, Cain and Able... The good son: younger, The Evil son: older.
oops didn't notice that... i forgot about cain and abel... i would love to read thru the whole Bible and i'm tryin' if u compare to LOTR and SIL and HOBBIT, its about the same length i think...and i've read those many times. So it can't be that hard..
KMC Community Forums
Feb 5th, 2004 06:29 PM
