Beauty and Sorrow
February 16, 2020
The Ainulindalë—the “Music of the Ainur”—is the creation account of the world of Arda. Eru Ilúvatar—the God of Tolkien’s universe—first creates angelic beings called Ainur. Eru and the Ainur begin to sing, working together in harmony. The most powerful of the Ainur, Melkor, begins to break away from the rest and attempts to insert his own “themes” into the music. Eru is able to weave Melkor’s outbursts into the rest of the symphony, forming a comprehensive masterpiece.
And it seemed at last that there were two musics progressing at one time before the seat of Ilúvatar, and they were utterly at variance.
The one was deep and wide and beautiful, but slow and blended with an immeasurable sorrow, from which its beauty chiefly came.
The other had now achieved a unity of its own; but it was loud, and vain, and endlessly repeated; and it had little harmony, but rather a clamorous unison as of many trumpets braying upon a few notes
And it essayed to drown the other music by the violence of its voice, but it seemed that its most triumphant notes were taken by the other and woven into its own solemn patternAinulindalë, J.R.R Tolkien
Tolkien highlights that the beauty of Eru’s composition is primarily achieved through its sorrow. This establishes a common thread running throughout all of Tolkien’s works. Because of the discord sown into the Ainulindalë, the races of Middle-earth suffer greatly at the hands of Melkor and his servants. The greatest tragedies are immortalized in their own songs and verses, passed down from the Elder Days throughout the millenia. These legendary songs serve as the foundation of the history and lore for Middle-earth’s inhabitants. They frequently serve as inspiration and encouragement to the Fellowship of the Ring in their journeys frought with danger and despair.
Stripped of all misfortune, the tales of Middle-earth would amount to an immense collection of writings set in a fantastically molded universe. But this incredibly rich and detailed backdrop would be severely lacking in depth and potency. Arda’s profound beauty is not solely found in the silver pools beneath Telperion or the green gardens of Lórien. It is enriched by the Lay of Lúthien, the tragedy of Túrin Turambar, and the Lament for Boromir.
There is beauty in sorrow, and wisdom. There is hope in the midst of despair. The greatest tragedies can yet beget glory.