I've been wanting 2 write some great treatise on Lord Foul 4 awhile now, as LF bugs me, he really does. This is VERY difficult 2 do, because 2 do so properly would involve a hell of alot of work and research. Almost the same type of work I continually put off when dreaming of writting about the Old Lords or what happens during times we are not aware of in the books. In order 2 even have an inkling of who and what LF truly is I (or u) would have 2 become a TCTC scholar. What this involves is reading the Chrons 10 times or more, having a bulletin board w/all Foul references the size of Melenkurion Skywier and then cross referencing everything. Whew!!!
After reading the 1st Chronicles my life was haunted by LF, I conjured up my own personal LF, Apex the Invisible. In the end Apex turned out 2 b a part of me I just couldn't face and had 2 accept. There's that "acceptance" factor, again, that SRD poses 4 the possible theme of the 3rd Chrons. What was strange about all the years that Apex haunted me was that I was in statis--almost as if that concept in my head terrified me 2 change, constantly put me down and encouraged me not 2 accept responsibility. One of the most important things that happened was that I refused 2 believe in "EVIL", internally or externally. Looking back this was 2 weird because whether u convince urself that EVIL is not part of u, or that u, personally, could NEVER b an evil person, or not, it still potentially exists in the socio-political realm, religious or spiritual realm and, 2 some degree, it's potential exists in individuals outside ur own little world.
I think that last sentence is the most important one, especially when we look at Thomas Covenant. And now we have 2 b extremely careful with all this psycho-babble about Foul being TC, etc...On the other hand the "Devil made me do it!" excuse doesn't hold water either. TC is outcast, completely alone, stuck inside his own head and Foul means 2 keep him that way. In that way Foul is a disease--but, in a way, Foul is more like alcoholism or drug addiction: "Stay in ur head!", "It's all about me", "Problem? I don't have a problem!", anger replacing fear, paranoia, can't let go of the past, can't grow up, not accepting responsibility, remain in statis. Where does this all lead? Suicide? Madness? TC must keep moving in order 2 survive--in that way doesn't Foul remind u of a mad scientist, or worse: a behavioral psychologist?
When I think about TC I sometimes hear The Smashing Pumpkins, "Despite all my rage I am still a rat in a cage..."It's almost as if Lord Foul is a Pavlov or a Skinner making TC ring bells and run through a maze after pre-ordained cheese. Survive or die--conditioned response. Like the psychologist Foul is seldom seen except at the end of both Chrons (experiments). Foul is more of a concept, a monkey on TC's back, an obsession--in this way Foul much more "EVIL" than if he is personified. Foul becomes an obsession and an addiction-in that way he is true "Evil", like "Faith" he can b felt, but not touched. The way Foul gets in2 TC's head and how his manipulations corrupt the beauty of the Land is abominable and an outright affront, 2 me.
Foul's danger is more internal, 2 me, as compared to the more "external" dangers of Sauron--i.e. TC is "pushed" whereas Frodo is "pulled". I'll stop 4 now and let y'all mull on this and let the Tolkien scholars chop me in2 little pieces. Mayb it's just the "psycho-drama" that really freaks me out--but in this way Foul really is the nastiest fantasy bad-guy I've ever come across. I have tons of other thoughts on the matter but ur critique and thought will allow me 2 congeal them more succinctly...
I'll leave u with 1 of the most important factors in this arguement, or rambling, 2 consider. If we're talking about evil and Foul running TC around, being an addiction, and the internal agitator (not being TC himself!!) then how and y is Kayseryn of Gyre so important 2 the nexus of this discussion? That's a subject I'll explore next--but I can't do it w/out ur thoughts!
Also think on this--if this really is an addiction problem--what does the addiction cause the addictee 2 crave? personal destruction, power, more of the same? TC is VERY good at fighting these things, or @least keeping himself ignorant of these things--what is the real high? Connection 2 the Land, 2 our world--health? Love? Solving his own paradox? What!!!??? If the brain were so simple we could understand it, we would be so simple we couldn't. Lyall Watson <i>Edited by: danlo60 at: 11/28/02 3:54:32 pm </i>
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