Magic: Difference between revisions
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==Divine magic== | ==Divine magic== | ||
The [[Ainur]] as supernatural beings could | The [[Ainur]] as supernatural beings or angelic beings could shape the world in terms according to their natures. Melkor, later Morgoth, had great power but he could only seem to mar or corrupt what his brethren had wrought.<ref name="Ainu">{{S|Ainulndale}}</ref> | ||
[[Sauron]], a lieutenant of Morgoth, was a powerful Maia (lesser Ainu) who used his powers to manipulate his slaves and objects. However, these acts of corruption, putting his will and power into other things and people lessened him as it did his master before him. "Evil is fissiparous. But itself barren,"<ref>{{MR|Myths}}</ref> which basically means that evil forces in Middle-earth divided their power into what they made. So with each creation or corruption, they themselves were lessened because parts of their power now existed outside of themselves. It was not an unlimited supply. Even the Ainur who resided in Aman had limits. For example, Yavanna could not remake the light of the Two Trees. The only hope for them to be restored would be reclaim the light captured of them in the Silmarils.<ref>{{S|Flight}}</ref> | |||
Properly, Men using | It should be understood when discussing Sauron that he was not merely another Maia. Some Maiar had power nearly the equal of a Vala<ref name="Ainu"/> even [[Gandalf|Olórin]] feared him.<ref name="Istari"/> Whatever lore he shared with the [[Elves]], such as the making of the [[Rings of Power]] in Eregion, would have unlocked their own understanding of how to craft the rings with their own innate abilities, which is how the master-smith [[Celebrimbor]] was able to create the [[Three Rings]] in secret. But the rings that [[Sauron|Annatar]] had a hand in were corrupted and bound to his own power. Any power that Sauron's slaves or servants had was sourced in him. Servants like the [[Black Númenóreans]] and the Men who became [[Nazgûl]] used this power as sorcery. | ||
The [[Istari]], the Maiar who came to [[Middle-earth]] in the diminished form of men, were tasked to help guide the [[Free peoples]] against Sauron. The nature of the Istari was not known to all, and they were known as wise old men. They were called [[Wizards]]. Properly, Men using what might be seen as magic, even for good, are not termed Wizards. | |||
In Tolkien's mythology, this term is specifically only used for the Order of the Istari, who are of angelic origin. The word "wizard is a translation of Quenya istar (Sindarin ''ithron''); one of the members of an 'order' (as they called it), claiming to posess, and exhibiting, eminent knowledge of the history and nature of the World."<ref name ="Istari">{{UT|Istari}}</ref> | |||
A member of the race of Men wielding magical powers would be referred to as a sorcerer, whether for good or evil. However, according to Tolkien's letter 155, the concept of magic in his world did not come from 'lore' or spells, and Men did not have magic.<ref name="L155"/> By this definition, lore like knowing the language of an animal, would not be considered magical in Middle-earth, merely knowledgable. But, it might look like magic to one who did not understand the knowledge. | |||
==Elven magic== | ==Elven magic== | ||
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- "For this is what your folk would call magic. I believe; though I do not understand clearly what they mean; and they seem also to use the same word of the deceits of the Enemy"
- ― Galadriel, The Mirror of Galadriel
Magic was a term used by the Hobbits to describe processes and abilities of objects which could not be explained outside of their limited lore and knowledge. For Elves and Wizards, this "magic" was not something special or different from the natural world, just part of it that was not immediately visible, leading to more common categorization of things as "Seen" or "Unseen". The "Seen" aspects of a thing or person are only part of it. Through the power of the One Ring, Frodo Baggins at times saw powerful Elves, such as the High-elf Glorfindel, in their true level of power and radiance that extends into the Unseen.
The effects which could be described as magical were of different natures:
Divine magic
The Ainur as supernatural beings or angelic beings could shape the world in terms according to their natures. Melkor, later Morgoth, had great power but he could only seem to mar or corrupt what his brethren had wrought.[1]
Sauron, a lieutenant of Morgoth, was a powerful Maia (lesser Ainu) who used his powers to manipulate his slaves and objects. However, these acts of corruption, putting his will and power into other things and people lessened him as it did his master before him. "Evil is fissiparous. But itself barren,"[2] which basically means that evil forces in Middle-earth divided their power into what they made. So with each creation or corruption, they themselves were lessened because parts of their power now existed outside of themselves. It was not an unlimited supply. Even the Ainur who resided in Aman had limits. For example, Yavanna could not remake the light of the Two Trees. The only hope for them to be restored would be reclaim the light captured of them in the Silmarils.[3]
It should be understood when discussing Sauron that he was not merely another Maia. Some Maiar had power nearly the equal of a Vala[1] even Olórin feared him.[4] Whatever lore he shared with the Elves, such as the making of the Rings of Power in Eregion, would have unlocked their own understanding of how to craft the rings with their own innate abilities, which is how the master-smith Celebrimbor was able to create the Three Rings in secret. But the rings that Annatar had a hand in were corrupted and bound to his own power. Any power that Sauron's slaves or servants had was sourced in him. Servants like the Black Númenóreans and the Men who became Nazgûl used this power as sorcery.
The Istari, the Maiar who came to Middle-earth in the diminished form of men, were tasked to help guide the Free peoples against Sauron. The nature of the Istari was not known to all, and they were known as wise old men. They were called Wizards. Properly, Men using what might be seen as magic, even for good, are not termed Wizards.
In Tolkien's mythology, this term is specifically only used for the Order of the Istari, who are of angelic origin. The word "wizard is a translation of Quenya istar (Sindarin ithron); one of the members of an 'order' (as they called it), claiming to posess, and exhibiting, eminent knowledge of the history and nature of the World."[4]
A member of the race of Men wielding magical powers would be referred to as a sorcerer, whether for good or evil. However, according to Tolkien's letter 155, the concept of magic in his world did not come from 'lore' or spells, and Men did not have magic.[5] By this definition, lore like knowing the language of an animal, would not be considered magical in Middle-earth, merely knowledgable. But, it might look like magic to one who did not understand the knowledge.
Elven magic
The Elves were not supernatural beings and although knew the powers of the Ainur, they did not comprehend the concept of "magic" as used by mortals. The Elves were taught arts and crafts by the Valar in Valinor and could put dedication and love in every thing they wrought. Due to their immortality, Elven smiths could reach high levels of experience in craft and lore.
As mentioned, the Rings of Power were such "magical" objects that would seem supernatural to the regular people; they gave powers of manipulation of the word and invisibility. Other Elven artifacts were the Palantíri or the Lamps of the Noldor, as well as the Mirror of Galadriel. Some simpler artifacts were the river-boats of the Galadhrim and the elven ropes, which seemed to have will on their own.
Dark magic
Sindarin has two words for dark magic: morgul and guldur, although it is not defined clearly, the element "gul" literally means "lore" or "knowledge". It refers to the divine magic of Sauron used for evil, which could be taught to his followers, such as the powers of the Ringwraiths. Black Númenóreans who entered his service learned dark lore from him and became Sorcerers.
Sauron himself was also known as Necromancer which indicated that he had power over spirits. The Witch-king of Angmar had the power to summon the Barrow-wights to the Barrow-downs.
Tolkien also uses the word "Sorcery" and "Sorcerer" in negative context. Sorcery is perhaps the equivalent of the dark magic.
Dwarven magic
The constructions of Dwarves had significant properties which could be defined as magical. Such example could be the Doors of Durin which opened by themselves by pronunciation of the word "mellon", without visible machinery or other assistance.
Inspiration
J.R.R. Tolkien discussed the operations and moral dimensions of magic in Letter 155 of The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. Actually, this "letter" is an unsent part of a draft of Letter 154 which may not have been sent because of lingering questions regarding magic in Tolkien's mind (a note at the end of the draft asked about the magic used by the Númenóreans in making swords).
The area of discussion here is the difference between magia and goeteia, with magia usually noted as good and goeteia bad. He wrote, "neither is, in this tale, good or bad (per se), but only by motive or purpose or use. Both sides use both, but with different motives."[5] The evil motive was to use it to dominate free will, for example, the Enemy used his magia to "bulldoze" both people and things and used his goeteia to terrify and subjugate. The Elves and Gandalf sparingly used magia for specific beneficial purposes (like burning pine cones to toss at the Wargs), and their goetic effects were "entirely artistic and not intended to deceive: they never deceive Elves (but may deceive or bewilder unaware Men)."[5] For Elves, the differences was as clear to them as the difference to us between art (fiction, painting, and sculpture), and life.[5]
At the end of the draft noted as Letter 155, he wrote "a difference between the use of 'magic' in this story [The Lord of the Rings] is that it is not to be come by by 'lore' or spells; but it is an inherent power not possessed or attainable by Men as such."[5] While Aragorn's healing ability may have been regarded as magical, or a blend of magic with medicine, Aragorn is not a pure 'Man' but a distant descendant of Lúthien's line.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Five. Myths Transformed"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Flight of the Noldor"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Istari"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 155, (dated 25 September 1954)
External links
- Essay on magic in Middle-earth by Steuard Jensen
- Principles of Tolkien's Magic by John H. Kim
- Magic In The Third Age at Finduilas's J.R.R. Tolkien Page
- Magic in Middle-earth at tolkien.cro.net
