September 3, 2002

Just Some Thoughts
Jim W.

To Pip: If you have ever read "The letter's of JRR Tolkien" you would understand that LotR is not an allegory. Galadriel isn't Eve, Gandalf isn't Christ, etc. Of course, any work that meant as much to an author as LotR did to Tolkien would be reflective of his beliefs. So since he was a catholic, the book is reflective of Catholic beliefs, but it was in no way intended to be a symbolic representation of catholicism.

About Kingsfoil: I think the reason it is in FotR (By the way, he did send Sam)isn't because it is removed from RotK. In fact I believe just the opposite. It is foreshadowing the scenes at the House of Healing. Since the audience has seen this weed help to heal Frodo, when he uses it in RotK, it will be easier to accept. What do you think people would think if Aragorn walked in and just whipped out this magical weed to heal them? It's the same thing PJ is doing with Narsil/Anduril. By seeing how Boromir held it in awe, and Aragorn bowed to it in FotR, PJ suggests to the audience that this is of some importance. Then when Aragorn accepts it (and his fate as Lord of men), the audience won't think to themselves "but its just a sword". They will understand that it is symoblic of his destiny, and will accept it as more than just a sword.