Post by Admin on Jan 2, 2021 22:07:56 GMT
Our theme for August is Oaths.
Even more serious than promises, oaths are something that can't be taken lightly. It was, after all, such an unbreakable oath that caused most of the grief in the Silmarillion.
Oaths bind not only individuals, but also whole nations. By an oath of fealty to a ruler, one becomes a vassal with all duties, but also rights coming with the status, as Pippin found out with Denethor. An oath given by Cirion, the steward of Gondor and Eorl, the first king of Rohan, bound the two nations as allies that help each other in times of need, and it was this oath that brought Théoden and his army to the field of Pelennor. It is known that Aragorn and Éomer renewed this oath after the war.
Aragorn's words to Frodo: "if by life or death I can save you, I will," can be also considered an oath that he intended to keep, even though it brought him before the very gates of Mordor.
Elrond was fostered by Maglor, who was bound by the terrible oath of his father, and so he knew the grave weight of such bonds, as we can see in his exchange with Gimli:
‘Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens,’ said Gimli.
‘Maybe,’ said Elrond, ‘but let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.’
‘Yet sworn word may strengthen quaking heart,’ said Gimli.
‘Or break it,’ said Elrond.‘
In a world where oaths had such a weight, often greater than life of the one who swore them, it is a promising topic for many interesting stories or pictures.
Even more serious than promises, oaths are something that can't be taken lightly. It was, after all, such an unbreakable oath that caused most of the grief in the Silmarillion.
Oaths bind not only individuals, but also whole nations. By an oath of fealty to a ruler, one becomes a vassal with all duties, but also rights coming with the status, as Pippin found out with Denethor. An oath given by Cirion, the steward of Gondor and Eorl, the first king of Rohan, bound the two nations as allies that help each other in times of need, and it was this oath that brought Théoden and his army to the field of Pelennor. It is known that Aragorn and Éomer renewed this oath after the war.
Aragorn's words to Frodo: "if by life or death I can save you, I will," can be also considered an oath that he intended to keep, even though it brought him before the very gates of Mordor.
Elrond was fostered by Maglor, who was bound by the terrible oath of his father, and so he knew the grave weight of such bonds, as we can see in his exchange with Gimli:
‘Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens,’ said Gimli.
‘Maybe,’ said Elrond, ‘but let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.’
‘Yet sworn word may strengthen quaking heart,’ said Gimli.
‘Or break it,’ said Elrond.‘
In a world where oaths had such a weight, often greater than life of the one who swore them, it is a promising topic for many interesting stories or pictures.