The Best Introduction To The Mountains

James Jordan · 03 Jan 2002, 23:16 · from urth-v0031.mbox · original

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From: James Jordan <jbjordan4 at home.com>
Subject: Re: (urth) Re: The Best Introduction To The Mountains
Date: Thu, 03 Jan 2002 17:16:52 -0600
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         Politics and Religions are supposed to be off-limits in polite=20
conversation, but when discussing Wolfe they are inescapable. So, without=20
wishing to open a can of worms, I'd like to try to shed a tad (only a tad)=20
of light on how Wolfe almost certainly thinks about the following=20
observations from Adam.
         A couple of selected quotations from Adam:

>I haven't looked at MEDITATIONS ON MIDDLE-EARTH, but possibly Wolfe's=20
>essay was rejected because the image of Tolkien as propagandist for a=20
>society in which the lower orders cheerfully obey and serve their betters=20
>was not one the editor wanted to project.

and

>Wolfe's illustrations of Tolkien's "discovery," which he allegedly wrote
>LOTR to propagandize for, both center on the willingness of people to serve
>and be led by their "betters."
>
>And if he is really talking about libertarianism, it's curious he should
>pick the "Dark Ages" as his exemplar, a time not particularly known for
>security of property.

         The "Christian model" of societal hierarchy, to which Wolfe surely=20
subscribes, and which people on this list are free to reject, affirms the=20
following matters, among others:
         1. The poor you will always have with you. Some people just won't=20
be able to "make it."
         1a. Corollary: Some people need to be taken care of, by others.
         2. Some people have a gift for leadership, and others (most) are=20
gifted in other areas of life.
         2a. Corollary: Pure democracy is nonsense, though a relative=20
democracy such as the American Constitution envisioned is a good thing. To=20
wit: a variety of ways of selecting leaders, checks and balances in a=20
diversified government, and rulers at various levels (county, state,=20
federal) -- all of which is a Protestantized feudal order.
         3. People usually but not always grow into their callings as a=20
result of their upbringing.
         3a. Corollary: Some kind of political aristocracy, with sons (and=20
daughters nowadays) reared for rule, in inescapable: Kennedys, Bushes, etc.=20
The "skull & bones" elite." The Eastern Establishment. Etc.
         4. The way differently gifted people relate to one another should=20
be through mutual service and joy in being who they are and in doing what=20
they do best. The artisan enjoys his work, and does it to produce things=20
for others to buy. Same with the auto mechanic. Same with the ruler, who is=20
to serve his people with wisdom. This is not a matter of "lessers" serving=20
"betters," but of mutual service of various sorts. Jesus said, "He who=20
would be great among you must be slave of all." One example: Entrepreneurs=20
become rich by seeing what other people need and/or want, and by serving=20
them by providing it. Monopolists, on the other hand, become rich by=20
"lording it over" other people, and preventing competition.
         4a. Thus, Samwise (wise) enjoys being Sam. He would not enjoy=20
being Aragorn. Neither would I, and I would not be any good at being Sam=20
either -- my automobile is worked on by others; they serve me by fixing it,=20
and I serve them by paying them.
         In short, some kind of societal hierarchy is inescapable. The=20
questions are whether those who rule do so by "lording it over" others, or=20
by serving them; and whether those who are ruled delight in being freed=20
from the burdens of rule so that they can happily pursue their callings, or=20
desire to usurp functions for which they are not gifted and not prepared;=20
and whether the ruled are perhaps provoked to consider such a usurpation by=20
the evil behavior of the rulers.
         Thus, I did not read Wolfe's article as saying that Tolkein had=20
"discovered" a society where the lessers delight to serve their betters --=20
though Adam may be right that those who rejected his essay thought he was=20
saying this -- but as saying Tolkein was reflecting on the nature of=20
societal hierarchy as delineated above. The society of Tolkein's and=20
Wolfe's vision is not "equality" (i.e., identity, everyone the same), but=20
"mutuality" (everyone serving everyone else with his/her particular gifts).
         Finally, "dark ages" is just sarcasm. What most of us were taught=20
in high school about this period is mostly rubbish, and Wolfe knows it (or=20
believes it, anyway).
         Nobody has to agree with Wolfe (or me) about any of this. I just=20
offer it as a way of understanding where he is coming from. FWIW. Feel free=20
to push "delete," but read the next paragraph first:
         On another topic: Wolfe's statement that he read only one chapter=20
per day or LOTR is surely a clue as to how he has written his own epic=20
works, and how they might be profitably read, such as carefully taking into=20
account what things are put together in each chapter.

Patera Nutria

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