Mother Music

Although mothers and children play relatively minor direct roles in Tolkien's legendarium, I will argue in this paper that certain of Tolkien's songs and music that were especially important to him depict maternal relationship themes indirectly, and that these themes play a significant part in establishing a mood of loss and longing and the threat to enchantment (Rosegrant, "Dialogue") in his works. I will further suggest that recognition of these themes may contribute to understanding the mixture of idealization and devaluation found in Tolkien's female characters, as well as what appears to have been an idealized view that he held of his mother.

I will be interrogating particular interpersonal relationships expressed in the songs and music rather than particular individuals who perform the songs or are sung about. By focusing on relationships rather than individuals, we can recognize forms of interacting that have characteristics of the mother-child relationship even if Tolkien depicts the particular musical exchange as taking place between male characters.¹ Of course not all relationships enacted in Tolkien's songs are maternal in nature, but maternal relationship themes appear to have been especially important to Tolkien because he used them prominently and/or repeatedly in his work. I will focus on two such themes: songs that demonstrate interpersonal disruption and repair and songs that enchant the individual self into oblivion or awareness.

Disruption and Repair

The importance to Tolkien of the theme of interpersonal disruption and repair is apparent as a central dynamic in "The Music of the Ainur," a foundational myth in Tolkien's legendarium. Because it was one of his first stories written, because it is chronologically the first story in the legendarium, and because it is a story about creation, it lies at the heart of Tolkien's creativity. McIntosh makes the case that Tolkien expressed fundamental aspects of his worldview in this work.

To create Arda, Ilúvatar reveals to the Ainur a great musical theme and requests that they join him in elaborating it with their own voices. Magnificent angelic music ensues until Melkor, envious of Ilúvatar's power, introduces a discordant theme. Ilúvatar responds by lifting his left hand and creating a second theme, more powerful than the first, that integrates Melkor's contribution. Melkor then creates even uglier discord, and Ilúvatar responds by lifting his right hand and creating a third theme, soft, sweet, powerful, and profound. This theme and Melkor's loud, vain, repetitive theme seem to war with each other, and Melkor's tries to drown Ilúvatar's music, but Ilúvatar's music weaves in even the most triumphant of Melkor's notes. Then Ilúvatar raises both hands, his face terrible to behold, and a final, utterly powerful chord ends the music. Ilúvatar then states that he himself is the uttermost source even of Melkor, and Melkor's efforts to alter the music from what was in the mind of Ilúvatar will only make it more beautiful. A specific example of this is that Melkor's bitter cold makes water more beautiful by creating ice and frost.

The relational theme in this story is one of striving to establish and maintain a sense of mutuality through cycles of disruption and repair. Ilúvatar does not want to create Arda by himself but with the free assistance of the Ainur. This shows a longing for mutuality wherein each being participates in a joint activity according to his or her own power, interest, and ability. Melkor consistently responds by trying to disrupt mutuality and aggrandize his individual self. Each time he does this, Ilúvatar attempts to reestablish mutuality by integrating Melkor's contributions into the larger theme.

This kind of interaction is prominent in human relationships throughout the lifespan; for example, when couples or friends who are generally in a mutually respectful and affectionate relationship find themselves at odds with one another and then try to find a way to see each other's point of view and heal the disruption. It is especially important in intensely meaningful relationships, such as those between parents and children, between...