File spoon-archives/phillitcrit.archive/phillitcrit_2000/phillitcrit.0007, message 110


Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2000 13:36:58 -0400
From: Barron <gebarron-AT-InfoAve.Net>
Subject: Re: PLC: Harold Bloom on Harry Potter


On 7/13/00 7:34 PM George Y Trail wrote:

> Mordor is mother, and the only way to appease her is to cut
> off your finger. anybody remember the women? There was some princess,
> and as I remember, that was about it.  I found the whole thing to be
> this amazingly sexist, and finally homosexual as a refuge from all the
> scary shit involved in heterosexuality, indulgence.

In the current climate of this list I hate to add to the bickering but
George Trail is just plain wrong about Tolkien's sexism at least in terms of
memorable female characters. (What a meaningless criticism even if Tolkien
was sexist and misogynist). I also hate to be weighing in as a Tolkien
defender; I  simply found Tolkein entertaining as a young adult, that's all.

At least as we demand accountablity for everything read, cited and written
George Trail has at least hinted toward his failing memory on the topic, but
alas, it didn't prevent him from sounding off on it. (I think Troy was
castigated for this?) If his memory served him a little better, or if he had
read the books without searching for chauvanistic themes or homosexual
understones, or had actually read Tolkien at all,  he might have noted that
females played important (and in some cases pivotal) roles in the
development of the events. The female characters were at the same time the
most wise and the most valiant, proving themselves both in counsel and in
battle. Should I cite each case Mr. Trail? Or will you simply now dismiss
Tolkien as trivial and move on (despite the fact that he rated your response
initially)?

> Tolkein, I thought
> wrote for children, but was was read by people who felt they were "open"
> to fantasy. Magic.

Tolkien wrote for the joy of it. He wrote the Hobbit for children. The
Trilogy was written for young adults. The Silmarillion was clearly for
adults. All of his Middle Earth stuff came from his interest in linguistics
and a fantasy land he had created (Yoknapatawpha?) He published it for
public consumption at other's suggestion. It was initially ignored. Tolkien
was obviously no Faulkner, and in this minority I hardly find that he
warrents misguided and misplaced charges of sexism. (Of course I find such
criticism foolish anyway-Now that should start a discussion, no?)

I'm sure I can't hold my own in matters of philosophy with you heavy-weights
but if we are all prepared to beat up anyone who steps out of his own little
wading pool for a moment then I'm ready to go on this Tolkien/sexism crap.
-- 
Barron



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