ForthDauntless3
Member
I just saw Blade Runner 2049 this weekend, and I was reading up on the positions of key people from the original Blade Runner on the question of "Is Deckard a replicant?"
Without wandering too close to spoiler territory, it struck me that Hampton Francher, who was the original screenwriter, doesn't like to answer that question. He's stated that it's an interesting question to ask, but it's not one that he cares to answer. Good art, in his opinion, art that stands the test of time, has to leave some questions ambiguous and open for debate.
It seems to me that Tolkien's reticence on this issue is of a piece with Francher's. Tolkien pointedly refused in his letters to identify what sort of being Tom is, saying that he has intentionally left Tom's nature enigmatic. Perhaps the truly great authors understand—whether intuitively or expressly—that great works of fiction needs some mysteries for fans to dig their teeth into and allow future generations to engage anew with the story.
What other sorts of story elements did Tolkien leave deliberately ambiguous? My vote is for: A) the exact function of the Ring and B) the exact relationship between Ents, Hobbits and the Children of Iluvatar .
Without wandering too close to spoiler territory, it struck me that Hampton Francher, who was the original screenwriter, doesn't like to answer that question. He's stated that it's an interesting question to ask, but it's not one that he cares to answer. Good art, in his opinion, art that stands the test of time, has to leave some questions ambiguous and open for debate.
It seems to me that Tolkien's reticence on this issue is of a piece with Francher's. Tolkien pointedly refused in his letters to identify what sort of being Tom is, saying that he has intentionally left Tom's nature enigmatic. Perhaps the truly great authors understand—whether intuitively or expressly—that great works of fiction needs some mysteries for fans to dig their teeth into and allow future generations to engage anew with the story.
What other sorts of story elements did Tolkien leave deliberately ambiguous? My vote is for: A) the exact function of the Ring and B) the exact relationship between Ents, Hobbits and the Children of Iluvatar .