March 27, 2004
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“the end of the world” & other thoughts from Lord of the Rings & Ender’s Game
- While I was watching Two Towers, my roommate Cindy commented that it’s interesting how both Matrix and Lord of the Rings are about the battle to save mankind. She said, “I guess that’s man’s biggest fear – to be wiped out.” Strangely enough, I was also reading Ender’s Game simultaneously – and guess what the theme was? Yeah, Cindy nailed it straight on!! It is our biggest fear and well it should be. I don’t think we really should worry though, because it’s going to happen and no worrying, planning or great strategic maneuver is going to save us.Mankind is going to be decimated in the end. We’re all going to die! But our souls will either be on the victor’s side or the loser’s side.God is going to have his victory over Satan – no doubt about it. But which side will you be on? That’s all we have to decide!
- “There’s some good in the world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.”- Samwise, the Brave.
Have you figured out what that good thing is to fight for?
- “I’m afraid,” said Ender quietly, “But I’ll go with you.”
“Tell me again,” said Graff.
“It’s what I was born for, isn’t it? If I don’t go, why am I alive?”
“Not good enough,” said Graff.
“I don’t want to go,” said Ender, “but I will.”
To know what you were born for. To have a purpose greater than yourself. To throw yourself into it even if it pains you. I think we’re all looking for something like this. What’s your purpose, man?What were you born for?
- Aragorn left his love because he thought he knew what was better for her. He thought it was better for her to go back to her own. But what he didn’t realize is that women would rather die by the side of their man than have their hearts be broken by a seeming rejection from him that he doesn’t love her or want her.
But then love is such a mystery. How it is that two people are drawn together.And how it is that two people are willing to make such sacrifices for one another.It’s such a mystery to me.
- Smeagol was tormented by his “other side” until he told the voices adamantly and repeatedly, “Go away.” We can do the same, and that is all we have to do with the lies and the whispers that paralyze us day by day. The One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world.
- Lord of the Rings was great to watch a second time, but honestly, by the end of the movie, I was completely drawn away from the movie because I was hooked to Ender’s Game. Orson Scott Card is of the old school writers. He doesn’t just tell a story; he is able to weave together a captivating world full of symbolism and intrigue. Thanks, Jeanine, for shoving it into my hands and successfully getting me to read a book that I had been planning on reading for years.
Comments (3)
it's spelled "smeagol"
it's funny, elaine and i were just talking about what a versatile writer orson scott card is. he writes high fantasy and science fiction, and he even wrote a "trilogy" about sarah, rebecca, and rachel...i've only read half of the sarah book, but it's really good.
Did ya'll know that O.S. Card is a Mormon, and much of his work is in the field of Mormon children's books. He's an excellent writer, though, and I do appreciate his fiction and his commentary on child abuse/war--which Ender's Game definitely is. That is definitely my all time favorite science-fiction book. It's one of those books you just don't want to end. In fact, I've been afraid to read sci-fi since then because I'm afraid they'll be let-downs in comparison! I hear Ender's Shadow is really good, too, though--it's about Bean. Maybe I'll read that someday... In the meantime, I've spent better than four years trudging through Kim S. Robinson's Red Mars triology (the other two books titled Green Mars, and Blue Mars, respectively). I'm in the middle of book two, but while they're well written, these are a good deal more complicated and technical. :-
mmmm i loved lotr rotk....
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