As it was discovered during our discussion in class, it is very difficult to distinguish between what we can categorize as natural and unnatural. The reasons being a conflict of perspective, what we can imagine vs. what we cannot, creatures that are mostly normal but not quite, and ones that are still somehow recognizable despite not being like anything else we've ever seen. I believe that this is exactly what Tolkien wants the reader to question. This helps to not only solidify some visuals of this other world by giving us something to picture, but it keeps it interesting by making the lines we draw between imagination and reality a bit blurred. The effect Tolkien achieves by doing this is making the reader experience the same emotions as the character who also experience and interact with these creatures.
A specific instance of this that I found was with the butterflies that Bilbo sees as he climbs to the top of the trees in Mirkwood. after hearing about all the dark and disturbing creatures of Mirkwood, it is a relief to hear of something that is well known to us and is not a threat - the butterfly. This helps us to feel sort of like Bilbo, although I'm sure he felt an even greater sense of relief in that moment. But, in true Tolkien fashion, something here is still off with these butterflies. Bilbo remarks that the butterflies should be a kind of 'purple emperor' but they "were not purple at all, they were a dark dark velvety black without any markings to be seen"(162). So although there is a relief due to familiarity, the fact that these butterflies are all black makes them unusual in middle-earth, and to the reader. Also, the fact that there are hundreds of them means that even above the forest, Bilbo, and us, can't completely escape the darkness of Mirkwood. So we are then able to feel trapped along with him. This is an extremely well executed writing strategy to make this secondary world much more visible and believable, as well as the emotions experienced within this strange place.
Tolkien's contrast between the dark of Mirkwood and the fresh air above helps to emphasize how eerie and stifling Mirkwood is, making it clear that the forest is unnatural. I like your way of saying that something can be "mostly normal but not quite," since that is the perfect way to describe how Tolkien makes even something as simple as butterflies feel unnatural.
ReplyDeleteThe attention to detail in regards to Tolkien’s blurring of reality/imagination is mind-boggling, and the quote you chose is no exception. I loved the fact that Tolkien specifically mentions “’purple emperors’” (162). Not only is this a reference to a real butterfly species, Apatura iris, but it is a species that was common in Great Britain until the early 20th century. That is, their numbers dwindled when much of their habitat was destroyed during the Great War. Much like the purple emperors, the elves in Middle Earth are slowly dwindling as well, adding a touch of parallelism in the use of the butterflies. Of course, as you say, these are black emperors, which means even if they are similar to real-life insects, they still blur the lines of natural and unnatural.
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