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 --- from list phillitcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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