Saturday, March 24, 2012

Samwise the Brave

"The one small garden of a free gardener was all his need and due, not a garden swollen to a realm; his own hands to use, not the hand of others to command."
-- J.R.R Tolkien on Samwise Gamgee


ah, where to begin on Tolkien? i wouldn't know where to begin-- there's just too much! but focusing on this quotation, i love this sustainability theme he throws in. i mean, its more about what coercive evil destroys (the individual having a place in the world), but its so cute to see that samwise represents all that is good and green. he is rooted, and finds power to be unattractive. he relies more on his own sense of direction to cultivate meaning in his life than a direction dictated by something bigger than himself. in that, he actually plays a complex and fascinating role. 


and its so relevant in today's world. corporate farming in america is at an all time high, as machines and money create a garden swollen to a realm of politics and ploys... then we have the resistance: the local farming, the small scale farming. that vulnerability is what makes it beautiful. 


i have to say, samwise is one of my favorite characters for that reason.




-Abi

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