tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post7723330982824551070..comments2024-03-28T21:32:26.550+00:00Comments on Bruce Charlton's Notions: Gollum now has the ring (and it's better that way, in the end)Bruce Charltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-19029510761615185252020-04-17T09:08:36.884+01:002020-04-17T09:08:36.884+01:00@Francis - Thanks. Tolkien saw more clearly than m...@Francis - Thanks. Tolkien saw more clearly than most that the worst outcome would be if Gandalf or Galadriel were to take the ring; since the mixture of high ideals and insidious corruption could go much further than Sauron - "All shall <br />love me, and despair". Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-3192210239007161042020-04-17T08:45:22.131+01:002020-04-17T08:45:22.131+01:00This is great insight - one I have struggled to co...This is great insight - one I have struggled to come to terms with myself. Having the Gollums of the world triumph appears counterintuitive and counterproductive at the purely material level of pleasure and comfort. After all, what pleasures or comforts could possibly remain if their short-sightedness and wickedness collapses everything? <br /><br />In this sense, the implementation of Sauron's bureaucratic order seems more desirable because it would, in theory at least, allow for the continuity of comfort and pleasure. But this comfort and pleasure would be illusions. If Sauron triumphs, freedom perishes. Everything is rendered to the mechanical level and we are all reduced the piano keys. <br /><br />On the other hand, the Gollums might destroy comfort and pleasure, but they will not destroy freedom. In this sense, having the Gollums succeed is indeed preferable spiritually.<br /><br />Once again, great insight. Nonetheless, it remains a difficult thing to come to terms with. Francis Bergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11063224017320651978noreply@blogger.com