#but still it's a crap topic and I don't broach it lightly

[wolves-etc]

there's something I'm noticing in this read-through of Lord of the Rings that's really intriguing me, and it's how many times the characters (aragorn, so far, while he's leading the party) say things like "we must make do without hope."

I guess because to the reader - especially the rereader, or someone who's familiar with the films - it's so clear it's going to be okay, you know? tolkien drops these bits in the middle of danger, like that merry has a scar on his forehead for the rest of his life, that nod towards the characters' futures. there's this implication of fate or a higher power steering things towards good. and maybe it's partly the genre, the age, the language, but the story feels like a myth that was already finished long ago.

and I really took to heart this years-old post describing the story as hopepunk, even if - looking back - I think I misremembered the why.

thing is, so far, "hope is a skill you can practise" thinking doesn't really work for me. It Gets Better kinds of reassurance, while probably a force for good and maybe objectively necessary, leave me shirty.

but an honest and exhausted portrayal of how sometimes you have to and can keep going with or without hope? that works. that's a thing that feels real to me. that's a thing that's good to see.

and y'know, maybe there's something to the idea of hope as an action rather than a feeling. hope as we must make do without hope for now, as pulling oneself out of the hole which is not the grave.

it's kinda touching to recognise that here.

#that said I'm personally not digging into the frodo and sam arc‚ that stuff's too painful for me. #preferring to think of aragorn needing to reassure himself or his fellow rangers this way in the past #enough times that ''hope isn't necessary‚ we can push on regardless'' becomes a sort of rallying call when needed. #there's something about ranger era aragorn (and it's hopefully not just my distaste for the monarchy) #dogged and tired and already old for a human and I have to wonder if he ever expected to just be a ranger for the rest of his life #or even feared worse. #for all that he had friends in many places I really don't think he was lying with the #''a hunted man sometimes wearies of distrust and longs for friendship'' bit. #listen clearly I need to read more than just lotr I'm going off of vibes and extrapolation here (and projection‚ maybe‚ shhh) #lord of the rings #orig #angst tag #feeling a little weird about posting this one but I think it's worse to never talk about this stuff #and it really was good to stop at that line and think and feel a bit Known from it #but still it's a crap topic and I don't broach it lightly