Post by FRANK the giant bunny on May 13, 2011 12:43:04 GMT -5
The following is taken from the book that I wrote some years ago concerning the similarities between the myths of the Gnostic's and the creation mythos of J.R.R Tolkien, entitled Examining Tolkien: A comparison of quotes from the creation myth of J.R.R Tolkien & the ancient Gnostic scriptures of the Nag Hammadi Library (it can be found in most high class book stores.....I wish).
This was suppose to talk bout he three main characters of Tolkien's books, Elves, Men and Dwarfs. I never finished the chapter, I got distracted, I found that the three types of Elves alone were sufficient.
Chapter 2: The Valentinian concept of the three Soul types and their Connection to the three main character portrayals within the Silmarillion
“Not all humans are spiritual (pneumatics) and thus ready for Gnosis and liberation. Some are earthbound and materialistic beings (hyletics), who recognize only the physical reality. Others live largely in their psyche (psychics).” -The Gnostic World View: A Brief Summary of Gnosticism by Dr Stefan Heoller
The Valentinian concept of the three soul type is not as explicitly represented within the Silmarillion as are many of the other similarities that we have encountered so far. The basic notion of the three types of people within the world is fairly solid, however there are many things concerning the Elves which do not fit into this particular Valentinian concept; at least not as easily as some of the other concepts have fitted in with Tolkien‘s ideas. The Dwarfs are far more applicable to the Valentinian concept of the three soul types then are the Elves.
Valentianism tells us that the three soul types originated with the creation of materiality, according to the teachings of Valentinus, the unfolding of reality consists of three distinct phases, and at the heart of this process is Sophia. In short, Sophia‘s detachment from the Pleroma (divine realm) causes the formation of these substances. The three phases are as follows: the initial separation of Sophia from the Godhead gives form to the material aspects of existence; her desire to repent gave form to soul. The spiritual Christ is then sent to Sophia in order to re-introduce a connection with the Father, this is the origin of spirit.
In the Valentinian view, human beings consist of three components. Each person has a material body, an animating soul, and a spirit. Similarly, the cosmos itself is viewed as having a tripartite structure. It too is said to consist of spirit (pneuma), soul (psyche) and matter (hyle). 6
The idea of three distinct characteristics within creation can be easily transposed unto Tolkien’s conception of Men, Dwarves, and Elves. The general notion in Gnosticism is that there are three options or paths that a person can take, one can either, travel the road of the worldly-minded and run the risk of becoming submerged even deeper in this false reality, or travel the “straight road” which can release the spirit from matter. The third path lies between the first two, for this road goes off in many directions, this is the path of indecision.
The spiritual person is free from all concerns, as is the totally materialistic person, the only difference is that the latter type of individual is free as a result of his ignorance, whereas the spiritual person is free because he has transcended materiality. This type of human has experienced the end of the aeonian drama; for him at least, the consummation of the Aeon has already been carried out.
The Elves are mainly characterized by their inclination toward nostalgia, they seem to have an immense longing to return to Elvenhome, a kind of intermediary realm, as it were. Christopher Tolkien described the Elves inclination toward nostalgia and completion best when he stated in an interview, “The Elves no longer look forward. They look back” This too is the natural inclination of the pneumatic; to reestablish a connection with the original condition.
One of the things that I found particularly interesting about the Elves was the fact that there were several different types and that the Elves were not always wholly good. As I read about the westward journey taken by these three types of Elves I came to realize that this journey actually mirrors the journey of the Gnostic. Tolkien’s concept of the three races of Elves can also be applied directly to the three soul types of Valentianism, here is the order of the three kindred’s as they appear within the Silmarillion:
Vanyar: The first host of the Eldar on the westward journey from Cuiviénen, led by Ingwé. 8
Noldor: The deep elves, the second race of the Eldar on the westward journey from Cuiviénen, led by Finwé. The name meant ‘the wise’. 9
Teleri: The third and greatest of the three hosts of the Eldar on the westward journey from Cuivinen, let by Elwé and Olwé. The name Teleri, the last comers, the hindmost, was given to them by those before them on the march. Many of the Teleri did not leave middle-earth. 10
The rearrangement of these three groups; in terms of a Gnostic connection, would place the Teleri in the first position, with the Noldor and Vanyar coming after, respectively. What follows next are a few examples from the Silmarillion and various Gnostic scriptures which explain how the three groups of Elves can be aligned with the different phases, or more accurately, with the perils which may arise on the way toward liberation.
The Teleri are placed first because they represent the majority of people within the world, they are the Hyletics (from the Greek Hyle, meaning matter). The Noldor are those people whose first reaction to any sort change, is to doubt, these are the psychics. Tolkien explains that the name Noldor comes from the Quenya; Noldo, and the Sindarin word Golodh, both of these words seem to mean ‘the wise’.
Tolkien makes one amendment to this translation however; where he states that the translation of ’wise’ should be interpreted as one who “possesses knowledge” and not in terms of possessing sound judgment. The other factors which lead to the linking of the Noldor with the Gnostic concept of “psychics,” is found in the fact that the Noldor were also known as the friends of Aulé.
And it was Aulé who created the Dwarves (the materialistic person), the story of the fall of the Noldor gives a further indication of their hyletic inclinations, this also shows a close relationship between the Hyletic and the psychic. The Vanyar never questioned the decision to take part in the march into the west; this group of Elves is representative of the spiritually liberated or pneumatic, the Gnostic.
The association of the Vanyar with the purely spiritual person finds validation in several places within the Silmarillion, for instance, the Silmarillion tells us that the Vanyar are especially loved by Manwé, the Vanyar also have a great love for the lands of the Valar. The following quote is also interesting in that it provides a link back to the traditional Valentinian concept of the three soul types. In essence, Tolkien tells us that the Vanyar (pneumatics, e.g. Gnostic's) are rarely represented within the realm of Men, this is a very significant observation.
Not only does this particular quote provide us with a good connection to one of the Valentinian soul types, it also shows the close relationship between the Noldor and the Dwarves; that is to say, between the Hyletic and the physic. In the story of the westward march the Elves are collectively known as Eldar; which translates as “people of the stars”. Oromé, as a kind of Gnostic Messenger of Light, comes forth from Valinor in order to convince the Elves to pass beyond the great mountains of the westernmost shores.
The Vanyar and Noldor pass over the dreaded Hithaeglir mountain range, and eventually enter Aman, but the Teleri, as the translation of their name suggests, had a harder time relating to the situation. The Noldor and Vanyar were drawn across to the Isle of Balar and beyond, the Teleri; holding true to their hyletic nature, refused to cross the bay. Many of them would eventually cross the sea and enter the lands of Aman, but there were those who remained in Middle-Earths even after this.
These Elves are the Eglath, the Forsaken People, but unlike the larger portion of the Teleri which had remained behind, these particular Elves chose not to dwell near the sea. Just like the Vanyar, the pneumatic desires a connection with, and to experience the liberating gnosis; the supernal light from without, if you will. Even though the road is long, eventually everyone who possesses the liberating gnosis shall enter the Pleroma. For even the Teleri succeeded in crossing the threshold which separates materiality from a purely spiritual existence. Herein lies the total spectrum of the Gnostic's search for liberation.