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Ma3vis t1_j1ktgqg wrote

Reply to comment by dudinax in This is an excerpt from Cixin Liu's book "The Dark Forest", describing what happens to people when they lose all hope in Humanity by RobleViejo

> Tolkien expressed the idea of "Northern Courage", which is a bit chauvinist, but the idea is good: it's the courage to keep struggling even if you don't see any hope

Interesting insight. Is this a reference to Aragon and company suicidally charging the black gates of Mordor while not having clear knowledge but faith that frodo and sam will achieve their mission?

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dudinax t1_j1kx7lb wrote

In LotR, the two main bits of "Northern Courage" are the charge of Rohirrim. From their vantage, the attack was hopeless and would lead to defeat. But they attacked anyway, and it turned out to be necessary for victory.

Second, and I think the most important, is Frodo stabbing the foot of the Nazgul. Frodo had no chance of defeating the Nazgul, and the Nazgul still delivers a mortal blow, but Frodo's attack throws it off the mark and it doesn't kill Frodo fast enough.

Aragorn's attack on the black gate is something like that, but he had a plan for victory even if he thought his chances were slim. He knew the ring at least hadn't been found.

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DaveyAngel t1_j1l9nn6 wrote

I think that was Merry (or Pippin?) who stabbed the nazgul. Frodo was otherwise engaged in Mordor.

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dudinax t1_j1ladk1 wrote

I mean on Weathertop. Frodo stabs the Nazgul's foot, making him miss Frodo's heart.

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DaveyAngel t1_j1ldd9i wrote

Oh yeah! Silly me. Back to Tolkien school for me.

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dudinax t1_j1n5n69 wrote

That's not a bad example, though, since Eowyn couldn't have defeated the Witch King on her own and neither knew Merry's little dagger was good enough to actually hurt him.

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