j d worthington
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 9, 2006
- Messages
- 13,889
I'm in line with Ray here: it isn't the death or its manner itself which defines that life, but the life taken as a finished whole which defines it. That death is an important moment, and certainly whether it is a "good" death or a "bad" one (painful or tragic) will have its significance as far as estimating whether that life was a good one or not... but even the worst death by no means removes the significance of whatever good that person achieved during their life, particularly if that good continues to affect others long after that original person's death. Ditto, of course, for the bad they do.
Again, no single moment in someone's life is a "defining" moment for that life. It may have an immense emotional impact, but that is not the same thing, particularly when you are talking about that life as viewed by someone other than the person who lived it (and therefore is more able to keep a balanced view of the good or ill accrued). What was it Tolkien had Eru say to Melkor? "'And thou, Melkor, shall see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.'"
Again, no single moment in someone's life is a "defining" moment for that life. It may have an immense emotional impact, but that is not the same thing, particularly when you are talking about that life as viewed by someone other than the person who lived it (and therefore is more able to keep a balanced view of the good or ill accrued). What was it Tolkien had Eru say to Melkor? "'And thou, Melkor, shall see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.'"
