|
Contact Author |
Thanks |
Blog Index |
Symbolic and Mythic Expression in the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings
A Part to Play
10/9/2K6
"he has some part to play yet"
-- Gandalf, of Gollum (Fellowship, p. 69)
Frodo is able to travel as far as Mount Doom with the Ring. However, he is unable to throw the Ring into the Cracks of Doom. That's where Gollum comes in.
Gandalf had long ago said of Gollum: "he has some part to play yet" (Fellowship, p. 69).
Gollum bites off Frodo's Ring finger, then falls into the volcano.
Supernatural providence finds expression in Gollum taking the Ring with him.
It is possible for an event to be an expression of two ideas at once.
The idea of supernatural providence takes up into itself the idea that evil hurts itself and in the process performs a good that it does not intend.
Gollum tripping into the volcano and taking the Ring with him is an expression of supernatural providence.
It is also an expression of evil hurting itself while performing a good that it does not intend.