QOTD: Tolkein's Number

[mishalak]

Quote of the Day

Is there anything that happens in the Silmarillion that wasn't "the cause of much sorrow"? --Konrad Gaertner

*Snerk*

Comments

[rautenkranzmt.livejournal.com]

Yes. The End.

It was the cause of much happiness. In the Reader.

[muzzyfeverlint.livejournal.com]

... and there was much rejoicing. ~yaaay~

[mishalak.livejournal.com]

I liked it. But then I liked reading Bullfinch's mythology.

[rautenkranzmt.livejournal.com]

oh, do not get me wrong... i loved it... but it was a TEXTBOOK, man. a wonderfully imagined textbook, but still a textbook none the less.

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

Umm, if you're asking seriously, there was the love of Melian and Elwë, which seemed to go well for both of them. There was Galadriel meeting Celeborn, who was kin to Elwe. There was Maglor's taking pity on Elrond and Elros, and adopting them as his own children. Nobody seemed to have any problem with Ëarendil's sailing off to fetch the Valar. The banishment of Morgoth probably caused great sorrow to Sauron and the rest of his evil minions, but not to anyone else. Elendil's escape from downfallen Númenor was also generally regarded as a Happy Thing.

In addition to these incidents, there were the deaths of Glaurung, Gothmog, Carcharoth, and a whole bunch of other nasty beasties, over whom there don't appear to have been any tears shed.

[mishalak.livejournal.com]

Nah, not asking seriously. It was just an observation someone made on the general tone of the Silmarillion. It seems every joy has the black lining of causing a sorrow latter on. Though that's, as you point out, not literally true.