The Mystery of Light

[Lalwendë]

Yesterday I watched a very interesting documentary about the properties of light and the search to define it, from being something divine to scientific understanding. The programme showed how the metaphysical and scientific properties of light are concepts which throughout history the church has tried to lay claim to, even to the point of imprisoning as a heretic one man who discovered what caused rainbows.

Descartes, sponsored by the Catholic Church, tried to show that the properties of light were mechanical, while Newton, a Protestant, was determined to prove him wrong. By way of various experiments, including staring at the sun for hours and thrusting a stick between his eyeball and skull, Newton eventually discovered that white light is composed of the seven colours of the rainbow. Amongst Newton’s critics were the Jesuits.

And Light is clearly of deep significance across many if not all religions. The old beliefs utilised the mysteries of light, as shown in the beam of light which enters the great passage grave at Newgrange on the shortest day. Light is particularly theologically significant to Christians and Moslems, and the idea of light has entered our collective consciousness as a universal symbol of the ‘good’ and the ‘wise’.

Here endeth my lesson. Of course, this has got me thinking about the nature of Light in Tolkien’s work. I posted on the CbC thread about Aragorn’s Light and what this might signify, but there are many other significant uses of Light within Tolkien’s work, including the Phial of Galadriel, the Two Trees (and interestingly, Ungoliant’s lust for that light) and the Silmarils. Why did Tolkien place so much significance on light? It cannot just be down to his Catholicism, as it is clearly a concept significant to all. I cannot in any way consider all these aspects here, so it might be a good topic for discussion, but I will start with the first thought which struck me.

In the light (sorry) of what was said about Newton on the documentary mentioned above, I immediately thought of Saruman and that rather enigmatic passage during The Council of Elrond where Saruman and Gandalf have their philosophical confrontation.

…For I am Saruman, the Wise, Saruman Ring-maker, Saruman of Many Colours!"

'I looked then and saw that his robes, which had seemed white, were not so, but were woven of all colours, and if he moved they shimmered and changed hue so that the eye was bewildered.

'"I liked white better," I said.

'"White!" he sneered. "It serves as a beginning. White cloth may be dyed. The white page can be overwritten; and the white light can be broken."

'"In which case it is no longer white," said I. "And he that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom."

In view of what I have just learned about Newton, I am now reading this with great interest. Tolkien is at the very least using those experiments as a metaphor here, perhaps one that is lost on most people. It is as though Saruman’s Light is being viewed by Gandalf through a prism.

But what has slightly worried me is that on the surface level it appears that Gandalf is saying that it is wrong to attempt such experiments as those which Newton carried out, and I’m not sure I entirely like that, as I do not necessarily view scientific knowledge as an obstacle to belief or faith.

Saruman (Newton) says that all colours are contained within the white Light, and that this very Light can be broken. Gandalf’s reply is that he is wrong, both morally, in attempting such an experiment, and scientifically, in that how can white be white if it is composed of other colours. What troubles me here is whether Tolkien himself is saying such a thing is wrong or if he is saying that it is wrong in the context of Middle Earth and the Divinity of Light there.

So, there’s a starter for ten on the significance of Light. Hopefully other ‘Downers are as interested in solving this mystery of Light as I am! Do you think I have interpreted this enigmatic passage about Saruman correctly or do you have another view? What other interesting references to Light are there? And finally, what is this thing about Light?



A few threads which I found to be relevant to this issue:

The Light in Frodo’s Face
http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthr...ight+spiritual

The Phial of Galadriel
http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthr...light+symbolic

CbC – Book 3, Chapter 2
http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthr...089#post363089

The link to a feature about the documentary I saw:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documen...es/light.shtml

Information about Newton:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/histori...on_isaac.shtml