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Dear_Prudence

(783 posts)
Mon Mar 25, 2024, 07:14 PM Mar 2024

Be a hobbit: courage without hope

Sh** happens. Some of us lose hope and are unable to recover. Those of us who remain are left bereft. Some of us, despite the odds, are able to hold on to hope and courage, and are able to trudge on. And some of us lose all hope, but, nevertheless, hold on to courage. We do what we are called to do; we consider it our duty, our calling, or our destiny.

Quoting from the article on Courage Without Hope (cited below):
In JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy,
"Sam was given the task of staying with Frodo and helping him along his journey, though he didn’t know exactly what it would cost him in the end. As the seemingly endless miles of their journey wore on, Sam grew weary -- as anyone would -- but his ability to hold onto courage despite having no hope of a return journey home is incredibly inspiring.

In the Return of the King, Tolkien writes: 
"But the bitter truth came home to him [Sam] at last: at best their provision would take them to their goal; and when the task was done, there they would come to an end, alone, houseless, foodless in the midst of a terrible desert. There could be no return.

'So that was the job I felt I had to do when I started,' thought Sam: 'to help Mr. Frodo to the last step and then die with him? Well, if that is the job then I must do it...
But even as hope died in Sam, or seemed to die, it was turned to a new strength. Sam's plain hobbit-face grew stern, almost grim, as the will hardened in him, and he felt through all his limbs a thrill, as if he was turning into some creature of stone and steel that neither despair nor weariness nor endless barren miles could subdue.” 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.teawithtolkien.com/podcast/trd2021%3fformat=amp

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Be a hobbit: courage without hope (Original Post) Dear_Prudence Mar 2024 OP
I am Sam duhneece Mar 2024 #1
Thank you. nt Dear_Prudence Mar 2024 #2
Thanks for posting this. nt limbicnuminousity Mar 2024 #3
We are Sam. And that is a beautiful story. MOMFUDSKI Mar 2024 #4
Thanks orangecrush Mar 2024 #5
But you don't mention the dark side of being a Hobbit ... Earth-shine Mar 2024 #6
FWIW, Tolkien differentiated two different kinds of hope, which are given different RockRaven Mar 2024 #7
Love learning something new Dear_Prudence Mar 2024 #9
There is still good in this world. It's worth fighting for. I like your DU handle, Dear_Prudence. ArkansasDemocrat1 Mar 2024 #8
Wanderlust Dear_Prudence Mar 2024 #11
Add to that patience and reasonable expectations. elocs Mar 2024 #10

RockRaven

(16,104 posts)
7. FWIW, Tolkien differentiated two different kinds of hope, which are given different
Mon Mar 25, 2024, 07:54 PM
Mar 2024

words in his invented elf languages.

The type of hope that seems to die in Sam there is the "amdir" type, literally translates as "looking up" but means "an expectation of good, which though uncertain has some foundation in what is known."

The other type of hope is "estel" which is "faith" or "trust" and would be recognizable to many as a sort of "God is good; He works in mysterious ways; It will all turn out for the best in the end, somehow" idea.

ArkansasDemocrat1

(3,128 posts)
8. There is still good in this world. It's worth fighting for. I like your DU handle, Dear_Prudence.
Mon Mar 25, 2024, 08:11 PM
Mar 2024

There is a non-Zero possibility you are a Beatles fan, Dear_Prudence. I am, too. Been one since I found my sister's records some 46 years ago.

[link:

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My wife and I are staying put and fighting for what we believe in. She was more determined to stay than me, she has spent far longer here than me and still has family near. But you do lose strong attachments to places when you're a military brat and move after every tour. I attended 7 different schools by age 13. It gave me lifetime wanderlust. Someone should do a study.

Dear_Prudence

(783 posts)
11. Wanderlust
Tue Mar 26, 2024, 08:13 AM
Mar 2024

My wanderlusting dad visited 6 continents after retirement. I was also moved throughout childhood, but just 7 states. I was left with homesickness but, like you, without strong attachment to a place. So, after seeing a Bollywood movie (Swades) about a homesick Indian, I decided to be homesick for India. I have studied every aspect of India, enjoyed the food and music, and can now affix my homesickness to somewhere. Maybe your wanderlust can also be soothed virtually with National Geographic? Maybe like my dad you will have to visit six continents. Well, I am glad you and your wife keep on keeping on, and thanks so much for the Beatle's song.

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