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Post by Sparrow on Jul 19, 2004 20:56:04 GMT -6
A few paragraphs after the goblin song, the narrator summarizes the goblins' chief characteristics. The narrator opines, "It is not unlikely that they invented some of the machines that have since troubled the world, especially the ingenious devices for killing large numbers of people at once. . ." Do you think this reflects Tolkien's attitudes about machinary in our world? What do you know or can you discover about Tolkien's attitudes about machinary? What do you think he would have thought about modern technological advances?
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Post by Stormrider on Jul 23, 2004 6:20:25 GMT -6
Having been in World War I, Tolkien saw much slaughter and destruction. Some of the modern devices (planes, guns, cannon) helped the destruction and killing more than if the armies had not had the use of those modern machines. I think Tolkien did not care for anything that would destroy people or lands with such quick, easy, mass methods.
I wonder what he would have thought of the computer and word processing! Would he have used it to write and edit his manuscripts? Would he have saved the old copies on his pc or used color font for passages he wanted to change and another for the old passage.
I went to Marquette University to see his manuscripts and it was a very moving experience. I can't imagine that seeing a computerize version of these would have been as moving! Seeing his small scratchy handwriting was a real treat!
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Post by Hilary on Jul 23, 2004 12:33:48 GMT -6
Sparrow asked: Much information, in Tolkien's own words can be found in Humphrey Carpenter's Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. In Letter #64 (written to his son, Christopher, in 1944)Tolkien relates: (my emphasis bold). An altogether low opinion of machinery, I think  |
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Post by Stormrider on Jul 28, 2012 17:14:23 GMT -6
I can't help myself from longing for some of those good old days of the 40's and 50's. Things were slower paced, moms stayed home with the kids, people only had one vehicle, neighbors actually talked to each other and helped each other. Kids went outside and played together physically instead of sitting on a couch with a hand held game. Television shows were more family oriented and not so full of violence and bad language.
Sure modern machinery has played a large role in making life as it is today: everyone in a rush, no one cares for anyone but themselves, everyone has to go out to work to make ends meet so they can keep up with the Jones who have this and that modern convenience or toy, people are lazy because of modern conviences (rider lawn mowers, etc.), sitting at a computer surfing the web instead of going out and doing things.
There are even more war machines, survelleince devices, satelites, infared glasses, computers linked in to everything so there is instant access to what happens on what street corner, store, mall, restaurant, office, emails, chat rooms. No one can have privacy any more. These modern things are needed these days to keep ahead of our enemies progress so we can catch things before they happen. These are meant to help keep us safe, but it really is rather frightening when you think what technology can do and how it can be used for evil purpose.
Tolkien may have like modern typewriters, then computers, for his writing, but he would have really hated the modern progress. Things have really sped up technologically since his death in the early 70's and I think he would be very shocked to see what modern inventions have become.
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Post by Andorinha on Jul 30, 2012 6:55:50 GMT -6
RE Stormrider's: "These are meant to help keep us safe, but it really is rather frightening when you think what technology can do and how it can be used for evil purpose."
Yeah, this of course is what happened to Saruman -- he studied the "devices" of Sauron, originally with the idea of using such knowledge to defeat Evil, but then got trapped himself, became a "machinist" himself, and even tried to build his own Great Ring. In the end, he became as corrupt as Sauron, and his enforced industrialization of Isengard and the Shire cause only sorrow...
Of course, all that said, playing outdoors in the 50s, was broken-up nicely when we got to watch Saturday morning Cowboy shows (Hopalong, Roy and Dale, Cisco-Pancho, Lone Ranger-Tonto, Circus Boy, My Friend Flicka, and the airplane cowboy Sky King!). Then, we'd troop back outside to re-enact the salient scenes... Hula-hoops and Roller Skates instead of Nintendo! I guess for JRRT, it must have been reading fantasy-heroic books, then dashing outside to battle dragons.
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Post by Stormrider on Jul 31, 2012 6:33:20 GMT -6
RE: Andorinha's: Of course, all that said, playing outdoors in the 50s, was broken-up nicely when we got to watch Saturday morning Cowboy shows (Hopalong, Roy and Dale, Cisco-Pancho, Lone Ranger-Tonto, Circus Boy, My Friend Flicka, and the airplane cowboy Sky King!). Then, we'd troop back outside to re-enact the salient scenes... Hula-hoops and Roller Skates instead of Nintendo! I guess for JRRT, it must have been reading fantasy-heroic books, then dashing outside to battle dragons.
Yes, I can see the young Tolkien doing just that or his children doing it!
Oh! and Flash Gordon! And the Family Favorites: Leave It to Beaver, Father Knows Best, Andy of Mayberry, Petticoat Junction, Green Acres.
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