Envy and jealousy

[minyaliel]

I was just wondering what effect do you believe envy or jealousy to have in Tolkien's work? I believe it to play a major part on who is swayed and influenced by objects or people like the Rings of Power or Saruman. Here is a quote that might put some information behind my statement:

"Then Melkor saw what was done, and that the Valar walked on Earth as powers visible, clad in raiment of the world, and were lovely and glorious to see, and blissful, and that the Earth was becoming as a garden for their delight, for it's turmoils were subdued. His envy grew then the greater within him; and je a;sp tppl visible form, but because of his mood tand the malice that burned in him that form was dark and terrible." The Silmarillion, Ainulindale.

[bacon]

Well, an obvious example here would be Saruman's envy for the Ring.

Eowyn would be another. Her 'jealousy' of the men riding to battle is what pushed her into doing it herself.

[RaditzSoldier]

admin said:

Well, an obvious example here would be Saruman's envy for the Ring.

Eowyn would be another. Her 'jealousy' of the men riding to battle is what pushed her into doing it herself.

You speak of Eowyn's deed as bad? Is she not the one who slew the Witch King?

[bacon]

Where did I say it was bad? Inferring is not always the best thing. What say you of the topic?

[RaditzSoldier]

admin said:

Where did I say it was bad? Inferring is not always the best thing. What say you of the topic?

You spoke of it as evil; still holding on to chivalry, eh?

[bacon]

As I said, it's not always best to resort to such implications. Nowhere did I say what she did was bad, just a proposition that she might have been doing what she did out of jealousy.

[RaditzSoldier]

She was doing it out of will for equal will; she sees not the point of having only men be honored for their fighting.

[bacon]

Exactly.