Thursday 17 February 2011

Nietzsche, Tolkien,Some Observations, On, Their, Literary, Symbolism




Nietzsche's, 'Pied Cow'.[the town ]


Nietzsche’s Recurring Dream Zarathustra’s Prophecies are designed on several Human, Animal and Geographical Metaphors that form a Cyclical Dreamscape.

This continuum represents infinite movements that heighten the tensions between the human realm, the animal world, and the physical environment.

There is also a superimposition of human identities onto the animals re-creating the camel, lion, dragon, and the pied cow as anthropomorphic identities.

A politics arises out of the appearance and disappearance of these anthropomorphic forms in Nietzsche’s recurring dream because of the differences in talents between a beast of burden, a predator, the consortium with the dragon and the freedom that is attained with the image of the child.

This accounts for Zarathustra’s recurring dream, images of the past, present and the future that reoccur in sequence on the plane of immanence.

The Oriental desert geography in the dream represents the backdrop of modernity within which desolation and isolated geography entertains the possibilities of the nihilistic experience of life.

The surreal landscape is seen in the importance of falling asleep through the vestibule of the dreamscape seen in Zarathustra’s warning to the youth that surround him:

Honor sleep and be bashful before it-that first of all. And avoid all who sleep badly and stay awake at night.

Even the thief is bashful before sleep: he always steals silently through the night. Shameless, however, is the watchman of the night; shamelessly he carries his horn … Sleeping is no mean art: for its sake one must stay awake all day. (Zarathustra, Part I: The Teachers of Virtue, 28).

Nietzsche’s recurring dream is therefore presented as an ironic dogma of conformity and non-conformity. 

'The Pied Cow', is a symbol, for the imaginative state.
'Pied', or Black and White, shows up in other symbols, 'Pied Piper', etc,


As a young man growing up near Basel, Jung was fascinated and disturbed by tales of Nietzsche's brilliance, eccentricity, and eventual decline into permanent psychosis.


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J R R Tolkien.   THE HOBBIT.  and Notes, from, 'The Lord of The Rings'.
[wikipedia]


The Prancing Pony (also known as the Inn of the Prancing Pony) was an inn where Frodo Baggins first met the Ranger Strider.

The Inn of the Prancing Pony was built along the old Great East Road, and was the chief building within the village of Bree, near where the Greenway went north to Fornost.

Only one other hostelry outside the Shire is ever named in Middle-earth

, The Forsaken Inn, which lay a days ride east of Bree, but this may have been in ruins by the time of the War of the Ring , making the Prancing Pony,
especially unique. 



By the time of the War of the Ring, it was owned and managed by Barliman Butterbur, a Man who was somewhat absent-minded at times.


NIETZSCHE AND TOLKIEN? WHAT WAS IN THEIR MINDS EYE? TOLKIEN WAS A DEVOUT CATHOLIC, NIETZSCHE?....

STRANGE HOW, THE, 'ANIMAL SYMBOLISM' ,CROPS UP WITH THESE DIVERSE ACADEMICS?





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The Hobbit  [Tolkien]



Chapter I: AN UNEXPECTED PARTY

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.

Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

It had a perfectly round door like a porthole, painted green, with a shiny yellow brass knob in the exact middle. 

The door opened on to a tube-shaped hall like a tunnel: a very comfortable tunnel without smoke, with panelled walls, and floors tiled and carpeted, provided with polished chairs, and lots and lots of pegs for hats and coats—the hobbit was fond of visitors.

The tunnel wound on and on, going fairly but not quite straight into the side of the hill—The Hill, as all the people for many miles round called it—and many little round doors opened out of it, first on one side and then on another.

No going upstairs for the hobbit: bedrooms, bathrooms, cellars, pantries (lots of these), wardrobes (he had whole rooms devoted to clothes), kitchens, dining-rooms, all were on the same floor, and indeed on the same passage.

The best rooms were all on the left-hand side (going in), for these were the only ones to have windows, deep-set round windows looking over his garden, and meadows beyond, sloping down to the river.


This hobbit was a very well-to-do hobbit, and his name was Baggins.

The Bagginses had lived in the neighbourhood of The Hill for time out of mind, and people considered them very respectable, not only because most of them were rich, but also because they never had any adventures or did anything unexpected: you could tell what a Baggins would say on any question without the bother of asking him.

This is a story of how a Baggins had an adventure, and found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected.

He may have lost the neighbours’ respect, but he gained—well, you will see whether he gained anything in the end.
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Now, I have highlighted in yellow, the 'mandala symbolism', that opens the story.

The significance of the 'round door, with central point', is echoed, in many famous works, of literature.

 THE CIRCLE WITH A CENTRAL POINT!


Sun symbol
The circled dot, circumpunct, or circle with a point at its centre is an ancient symbol. It can symbolize:
The sun: See also Solar symbol
The circled dot, circumpunct, or circle with a point at its centre is an ancient symbol. It can symbolize:
the circumpunct can also be interpreted as the singularity point before the big bang. One of the earliest evidence of this symbol is found in the image of the priest found at Mohenjodaro, one of the most important cities of what is now called Indus Saraswati civilization. A gold circumpunct with stealite bead forming the centre has also been unearthed. (source: www.harappa.com)

 



It is of interest, that this symbolism shows up right at the start of Tolkien's authorship, the 'left hand side of the hill', can be seen to represent, 'left side brain' functioning, ie imaginative thinking function.

Colour symbolism, [green and yellow/brass] is very relevant, as is, the actual, 'Hill',

The 'hole in the ground', is repeated in many artworks, a connection to the 'Great Mother',[earth] archetype.

Compare Nietzsche, coming 'down from the mountain', in opening pages, of, 'Zarathustra'.

1891
                             THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA
                             by Friedrich Nietzsche
                          translated by Thomas Common
PROLOGUE
                  Zarathustra's Prologue

                            1.

  WHEN Zarathustra was thirty years old, he left his home and the lake
of his home, and went into the mountains.
 
There he enjoyed his
spirit and his solitude, and for ten years did not weary of it.
 
But at
last his heart changed,- and rising one morning with the rosy dawn, he
went before the sun, and spake thus unto it:
Thou great star! What would be thy happiness if thou hadst not those
for whom thou shinest!
For ten years hast thou climbed hither unto my cave: thou wouldst
have wearied of thy light and of the journey, had it not been for
me, mine eagle, and my serpent.
But we awaited thee every morning, took from thee thine overflow,
and blessed thee for it.
Lo! I am weary of my wisdom, like the bee that hath gathered too
much honey; I need hands outstretched to take it.
I would fain bestow and distribute, until the wise have once more
become joyous in their folly, and the poor happy in their riches.
  Therefore must I descend into the deep: as thou doest in the
evening, when thou goest behind the sea, and givest light also to
the nether-world, thou exuberant star!
Like thee must I go down, as men say, to whom I shall descend.
  Bless me, then, thou tranquil eye, that canst behold even the
greatest happiness without envy!
Bless the cup that is about to overflow, that the water may flow
golden out of it, and carry everywhere the reflection of thy bliss!
  Lo! This cup is again going to empty itself, and Zarathustra is
again going to be a man.

  Thus began Zarathustra's down-going.

                            2.

  Zarathustra went down the mountain alone, no one meeting him.

So, as we can see, 'Sun' symbolism, appears in the mind of both authors.
However, Nietzsche, descibes, a, 'Star', Tolkien, Describes, a, 'Door'.
Subjectively, the symbol remains the same, but one [Tolkien] is infused with colour, the other[Nietzsche]is plainly 'completely full ,and undifferentiated'.
Sol, is generally supposed to be a male symbol. This is not always the case.
The 'Master Workman', may actually be female!

How the symbol is relevent to the story making process, I shall attempt to explain,but, plainly, it's early appearance, in the mind of both authors, points to a connection with , 'imaginative power', and 'archetyal imagery development,.........
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 back to Tolkien.......

As I was saying, the mother of this hobbit—of Bilbo Baggins, that is—was the famous Belladonna Took, one of the three remarkable daughters of the Old Took, head of the hobbits who lived across The Water, the small river that ran at the foot of The Hill.

It was often said (in other families) that long ago one of the Took ancestors must have taken a fairy wife.

That was, of course, absurd, but certainly there was still something not entirely hobbitlike about them, and once in a while members of the Took-clan would go and have adventures.
They discreetly disappeared, and the family hushed it up; but the fact remained that the Tooks were not as respectable as the Bagginses, though they were undoubtedly richer.

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Here, we perhaps may see, the beginnings, of differentiation, of Archetype.

Three appears, indicating ego-identification, on the part of Tolkien, who is[ unconsciously] including, his personal experience/family background.

'The family hushed it up', what, I wonder?

some, 'Moral' Transgression?

A little later, in the chapter, a wagon-driving 'wizard', Gandalf, appears on the scene.

The wheels of the wagon [two] indicate, the start of movement, in the 'Pleroma', as personally experienced, by Tolkien.

Wheel symbolism, and 'Syzegies', are well known, in all cultures.

Nietzsche says Zarathustra went down the mountain alone, conveniently excluding his , Avian and Reptilean, animal companions! but three of them , there were![first incomplete quaternio]
[this symbolism is the subject of much debate, as is DNA structurism generally]

[to be continued  ....]

Was, 'Barliman Butterbar';, really, Tolkien's alter-ego? just, as, 'David Copperfield'[DC]
Was, really, Charles Dickens[CD]? ..........I, will, take, a closer, look ,at, this, a little, later , maybe...

OK. I'M ,BACK.[6 April 2013] I ,have, 'Tracking', on, this, Blog, and, this, particular, 'Investigation', has , had,
a, lot, of, 'Hits',....So, if, You ,are, Curious.....

'BellaDonna', is, a,'Nickname', for? CANNABIS.

and, Old Nietzsche, was, a known User, of?, 'Chloryl Hydrate', or, COCAINE.

ENTHEOGENS.

OK,THREE, MORE ,YEARS,GONE ,BY...UPDATE MARCH 23 2016.

NIETZSCHE'S, FATHER,WAS, A CHRISTIAN MINISTER.

THE 'HOLE IN THE GROUND', AS,DESCRIBED,BY,TOLKIEN,IS, A WELL KNOWN,
'MOTHER', OR, 'EARTH-MOTHER',ARCHETYPE,IN,JUNGIAN THOUGHT.

[HOLE IN THE FLOOOR, DOOR TO UNDERWORLD, ETC].....

JUST, WHY ,TOLKIEN, PRODUCED, A 'BUTTERBAR', ?...MAYBE, HE, WOULD, HAVE, BEEN,
AMUSED, BY, THE MOVIE,'LAST TANGO IN PARIS?'...

AND,'GANDALF?'...MAYBE, HECAME FROM, ROME...

The Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo, or the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo from its Italian name Palazzo Apostolico di Castel Gandolfo, is a 17th-century papal palace in the city of Castel Gandolfo, Italy. It has served for centuries as a summer residence and vacation retreat for the pope, the leader of the Catholic Church.

'ACADEMICS', OF,THE, LATE ,VICTORIAN/EDWARDIAN, ERA, LIVED, IN, A RESTRICTIVE,
AND,SUFFOCATING,ATMOSPHERE, OF, 'MORALITY'.

NIETZSCHE,USED,COCAINE, AS,DID, SIGMUND FREUD.......

BOTH,WERE,HIGHLY INTELLIGENT, BUT,UNWORDLY-WISE.

WRITING,FOR,NIETZSCHE, WAS, HIS, WAY, OF, DEALING, WITH, HIS, FEARS, AND,SEXUAL,INADEQUACY...JUNG,CITES, 'ZARATHUSTRA', AS, AN, EXAMPLE, OF, A DESCENT,INTO,PSYCHOSIS.
WRITING, FOR,TOLKIEN, MUST, HAVE, BEEN, AN, ESCAPE, FROM, THE STIFLING WORLD, OF,ACADEMIC,PHILOLOGY[WORD ORIGINS]..HE, WAS, AFTER ALL, AN, EMERITUS PROFESSOR, AND,IN,COMPETITION, WITH,FELLOW,ACADEMICS, SUCH, AS,
C.S LEWIS, IN, THE, 'INKLINGS',CLUB...
LEWIS,LIKE, TOLKIEN, USED, MYTHOLOGY,BUT,HIS,INCLUSION, OF,
'THE ICE QUEEN', IN, 'THE LION,THE WITCH,AND, THE WARDROBE', PERHAPS,
INDICATES, A PROBLEM, WITH, HIS,RELATIONSHIP, TO, HIS,MOTHER?...
THEN,AGAIN, 'ICE', IS, NOT,NECESSARILY,FROZEN, WATER..

THAT 'HIDEOUS STRENGTH',WRITTEN, BY,LEWIS,HAS,ECHOES, IN, MODERNITY..
'DR JEKYLL AND MR HIDE', FOR EXAMPLE..OR,ACTOR, JOHN MALKOVITCH,
DANCING IN A GRAVEYARD, WITH,SIGMUND FREUD'S GRANDDAUGHTER?..
IN, AN, EXPERIMENTAL MOVIE, CALLED, 'HIDEOUS?'...

COULD JUST BE COINCIDENCE...

BUT,I,REMEMBER, ASKING, A [CATHOLIC] TEACHER, AT SCHOOL, ABOUT,
DARWINIAN EVOLUTION, AND,'ACCIDENTAL',MUTATIONS, ETC, PRODUCING,US,
HUMAN BEINGS..

HE REPLIED, 'SMASH, A WATCH, UP,INTO,A MILLION PIECES, ON, A PIECE, OF, CARD,
THROW,IT, INTO, THE AIR, AND,WHEN,IT ACCIDENTALLY, REFORMS, INTO, A WATCH,
THEN,THAT,THEORY, WILL, BE VALIDATED.

WRITERS,LIKE,ACTORS, ARE, ONLY, PLAYING...



[P.S.THIS POST GETS, LOADS, OF,'HITS', THANKS...]





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