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Mirzabayati, Ali

University of British Columbia

This thesis explores contrasting perceptions of death among Men in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, focusing on the characters Théoden and Denethor in The Lord of the Rings. Central to this study is Ilúvatar’s Gift of mortality, which paradoxically shortens human life while inspiring a yearning for transcendence beyond the physical world. This research examines how Men’s understanding of their free will and connection to larger cosmic forces influence their views of death as either a gift or a curse. Although scholars, including Tom Shippey, Amy Amendt-Raduege, and Majorie Burns, have examined Théoden’s and Denethor’s differing attitudes, this thesis offers a more comprehensive view by analyzing The Silmarillion, The Fall of Númenor, and Morgoth’s Ring alongside Tolkien’s letters. This approach reveals new insights into Tolkien's portrayal of mortality, addressing gaps in existing scholarship. The second chapter reviews death narratives in Arda, showing how Men’s interactions with Elves and divine entities shape their cultural attitudes toward mortality. Building on Anna Vaninskaya’s discussion in Fantasies of Time and Death, this chapter refines overlooked elements of death as a gift. The third chapter delves into Denethor’s despair, framing his fear of death within the context of melancholy as explored in Beowulf and analyzed by F. Anne Payne and Ruth Wehlau. The fourth chapter traces Théoden’s transformation from despair to hope, framing his acceptance of mortality as a source of fulfillment. Comparing Théoden’s journey to Niggle’s in “Leaf by Niggle,” the study explores how embracing mortality offers a path to heroic glory. The fifth chapter contrasts Théoden’s and Denethor’s responses to the loss of their sons, using Freud’s “Mourning and Melancholia” to examine their grief as healthy mourning versus pathological melancholia. Ultimately, this thesis argues that Men’s contrasting attitudes toward Ilúvatar’s Gift—acceptance exemplified by Théoden's heroic death and rejection by Denethor's despair—result in divergent outcomes of glory versus disgrace. Through comparative and psychological analysis, the study provides a fresh understanding of death as a transformative gift in Tolkien's works, emphasizing how accepting mortality celebrates life heroically.

Text

2024-12-20

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/89965

English

University of British Columbia

UBCO

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/