What did Tolkien Think?

[Anamatar IV]

I have a theory that Tolkien thought of the United States as a paradise sort of and a perfect world of undying bliss. Because if you looked at a map of arda Middle-earth is europe about and then Aman is the western most land. What do you guys think?

[Leto]

But then Aman was removed from the circles of the world, and the shape of Middle Earth was changed a great many times. I think he did not intend it to be parallel to anything that is now in the world. It's not even parallel to 'heaven' (that would be the dwelling of Eru, outside of time), or 'Eden', which would have been in the far east of Middle Earth, from whence Men first emerged.

[Lantarion]

I agree with Leto; although after the Middle-Ages and around the Renaissance I think there was some kind of mass-migration to the Americas, because it was gaining a reputation of becoming a superpower. But I doubt that Tolkien would want to call a land that is all but stripped of natural and nature-oriented values a paradise! :eek:

[Anamatar IV]

so much for theories;)

I guess I forgot about Aman going bye-bye. :o whoops;)

[Lady_of_Gondor]

Also if you recall, Tolkien distinctly hated allegory. Connecting America with Arda is allegory in its strictest form. Im not saying that the parallel cannot be drawn. However, I don't think Tolkien intended it so.

[Mrs. Maggott]

I don't know. There is a sort of Atlantean theme that runs through Tolkien's works. Not only is Numenor sunk beneath the waves, but large sections of Middle Earth are drowned as the seas are sundered and Valinor is removed from the "earthly plane" to exist somehow outside of time and space with the exception of the EOT (Elf Oceangoing Transport). Sometimes when I read these portions of the works it appears to be an amalgum of Atlantis and the Flat Earth Society since, of course, removing Valinor from any connection with Middle-earth while still permitting the elven ships to "sail" thereto sort of leaves us with a "flat" Middle-earth rather than our more familiar globe!

I would suspect that since Earendil is supposed to be sailing about the sky and the sun and moon leave and return to the Uttermost West without turning everyone into toast or creating huge tides, that this aspect of Tolkien's creation is more fabulous than illustrative. But what do I know?? :rolleyes: