People often say LOTR is a story about hope. (I'm reminded of it because someone said it in the notes of my Faramir post.) And that's true, but it's not the whole picture: LOTR is in large part a story about having to go on in the absence of hope.
Frodo has lost hope, as well as the ability to access any positive emotion, by Return. He is already losing it in Towers: he keeps going through duty and determination and of course Sam's constant help.
For most of the story, Sam is fueled by hope, which is why it's such a huge moment when he finally lets go of the hope of surviving and returning home, and focuses on making it to the Mountain. To speed their way and lighten the load, he throws his beloved pots and pans into a pit, accepting that he will never cook, or eat, again.
When Eowyn kills the Witch King, she's beyond hope and seeking for a glorious death in battle. It's possible that in addition to her love and loyalty for Théoden, she's strengthened by her hopelessness, the fear of the Nazgúl cannot touch someone who's already past despair.
Faramir is his father's son, he doesn't have any more hope of Gondor's victory or survival than Denethor does, he says as much to Frodo. What hope have we? It is long since we had any hope. ... We are a failing people, a springless autumn. He knows he's fighting a losing war and it's killing him. When he rejects the ring, he doesn't do it in the hope that his people can survive without it, he has good reason to believe they cannot. He acts correctly in the absence of hope.
Of course LOTR has a (mostly) happy ending, all the unlikely hopes come true, the characters who have lost hope gain what they didn't even hope for, and everyone is rewarded for their bravery and goodness, so on some level the message is that hope was justified. But the book never chastises characters who lost hope, it was completely reasonable of them to do so. Despair pushed Théoden and Denethor into inaction, pushed Saruman into collaboration, but the characters who despaired and held up under the weight of despair are Tolkien's real heroes.
(In an early draft of Return, Frodo and Sam receive honorary titles in Noldorin: Endurance beyond Hope and Hope Unquenchable, respectively. Then he cut it, probably because it was stating the themes of the entire book way too obviously, because this is what Tolkien cared about, really: enduring beyond hope. Without hope.)
Also, people who know more than me about the concept of estel, feel free to @ me.
Donnie: Are you through with your shenanigans? Mikey: Nope. I think I am going to shenan-again.
Got some Mikey and Klunk for you today
Every mikey needs a Klunk. Very Important tmnt requirement.
Rise of the Parallel!
1- A Cut Short Party: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 2- The Krang Be Back: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 3- Seeing Red: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 4- Corrupted Logic: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 5- Colliding Worlds: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 6- The Boiling Point: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 7- Eye of the Storm: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 8- Lurking in the Shadows: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 9- Bad News: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 10- Retribution: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
11- Hell on Earth: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 12- The Crystal Shards: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 13- The Promise: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 14- End Game: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 15- Owari: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 Please enjoy! :]
Rise of the Parallel Specials:
Mikey and Ice Cream Kitty Short (Christmas)
Reeses off a Paraglider (April Fools Day)
Behind the Scenes Potty Mouth (Special Request)
Ad-Lib Bathroom Brake (Special Request)
The Typo Saboteur (Special Request)
Get your hands on the first ever printed edition Rise of the Parallel by Indie Y. This two-volume set, with over 360 full color pages, includes all 15 chapters plus never-before-seen bonus content!
If you like what I’m doing, you can support me on Kofi!
Finally have all 4 life stages let's gooo
Please reblog if you have an active TMNT Tumblr and don't post hate towards any of the versions/incarnations! I would love to spread some Ninja Turtles positivity and love right now!
Hunter- *runs into Cut at SpaceMart* "I guess they'll let anyone in here!"
Tech- *snaps bungee cord* "Oh yeah, that's not going anywhere!"
Echo- "Omega, turn off the car light, that's illegal. Don't make me turn the Marauder around!"
Wrecker- "Let's blow this popsicle stand!"
Crosshair- "Hi hungry, I'm Cross."
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Novelization)
Those 3 credits are all that Kallus has to his name he NEEDS THIS
when your art program’s closing message hits you straight in the heart and makes you stop and contemplate the state of it all
STOP. DON'T SCROLL. READ THIS TO SAVE LIVES IN GAZA. Below are some VETTED campaigns to support Gazans. These people have been experiencing an active genocide for almost a full year. Donate and share widely.
(may 27th)
Save a displaced Gazan Family (@ranibra) - Rania is married with five children, her husband needs medical care. She is now responsible to save her children. Help them evacuate.
Support Fahmi and his family (@fahmiakkila) - Fahmi's life has been turned completely upside down, and he now finds himself responsible to save his parents, sisters, & brothers - 7 members.
Save the Maliha family (@dinamaliha) - Dina wants to save her mother, two sisters, and three brothers. The family lost contact with their father when the genocide started. They desperately need to get to Egypt.
Save Firas' family (@firassalemnewacccount @prosolitudeeee) - Firas is a father of two children, a 10-month-old boy and a two-year-old girl, who are in need of safe haven in Egypt.
Help Husam and his family (@husamthaher) - Husam desperately needs to save himself, his wife, and 3 young children.
Help Nader's family to evacuate from Gaza (@nadershoshaa) - Nader and his family, consisting of six members, are currently displaced in the south; help them evacuate and survive.
The Shamaly family wants to survive (@daee571989) - Help save 15 kids and their family, who are living a horrifying active genocide.
Ahmd needs urgent evacuation (@ahmd-iyd) - Ahmd has lost his livelihood to this genocide, and needs funds to help his family evacuate and rebuild their life.
Help evacuate Hani's family (@skatehani) - A dear friend, and a Palestinian skater trying to evacuate 10 members of his family; he has lost his father to injustice.
Help Iman’s family find safety (@imaneyad) - Iman has a family of 7 who need to find safety.
Help save Youssef's family (@bba3lo @mahmoud7878) - Ahmed Baalousha wants to save his wife, his two sons, his daughter, as well as his parents and siblings.
Support Ruba and Amal's family's urgent evacuation (@rubashaban @amalshabn) - Ruba and Amal's family are lacking the basic necessities of life; they have an elderly father who desperately needs to be evacuated for medical care.
Save little Yusuf and his family (@ahmednabubake) - Yusuf is in an intensive care unit fighting for his life in Gaza; he needs urgent evacuation alongside his family.
Help Omar evacuate (@omarsobhi) - Omar is a 20 year old Palestinian student who wants to save himself and his family from this genocide.
Help Belal and his family to evacuate from Gaza (@alaajshaat) - Belal has lost too much to this war and needs to support himself and his family.
Do not scroll past this list without contributing. This list makes it easy for you to find a fundraiser to support. Choose at least one. Your contribution will save lives. If you cannot donate, share these campaigns.
FIND MORE CAMPAIGNS HERE
She/Her - 23Hello! My name is Sam. I've been in many fandoms, but the main ones right now are:TMNT, LoZ, and One Piece. I'm new to tumblr but may post more stuff eventually, I am still settling in.
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