I note that so far this month I have lost one pound. If this trend continues I will be weightless by 2029.
Last night I read a few pages from Faust, Part 2. Dearly Beloved looked up some of the classical allusions for me (we've got a lot of reference books). Since Part 2 is all about classical allusions it was pretty slow going.
I'm intrigued by Goethe's "Homonculus" character. I'm familiar with artificial beings like Pinoccio, Frankenstein's monster and Lt. Cmdr. Data. Homonculus is an artificial soul, a spirit without bodily form, created by alchemical process. He exists as a flicker of flame in a glass vial. Supernaturally aware of his surroundings, communicative, and mobile, he desires a body to house his spirit. I wonder at that. With a body would he not be limited? He would be subject to gravity, illness, and mortality. What an interesting concept.
I sought out Faust as part of my ongoing research into the concept of the accursed wanderer. Goethe's version of the scholar travels time and space with his devilish companion. Clearly an accused being, as his soul is in hock, Faust doesn't seem to care too much about this condition.
It's got me thinking about other accursed wanderers. The Wandering Jew, The Flying Dutchman, Elric, Peter Rugg -- these are all obvious examples. What about Frodo? His travels are usually seen, I think, as those of a hero on a quest. But what is it to bear the burden of the One Ring? It is an evil so great that it weighs down your soul. A tempter to you and those around you. A poison that weakens body and spirit. Surely Frodo is carrying the devil on his back. I think Frodo counts as a version of the accused wanderer, but a version unto himself. He willingly takes on the burden, not for his own benefit, but for the benefit of everyone else. Frodo is the redeemer of his world, the accused wanderer in imitation of Christ.
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2 comments:
Hi Glenn
Ah yes, but Frodo's wanderings are purposeful and bounded by the terminus of Mt. Doom. Doesn't this make him different from all those other damned guys? Just a thought.
What's this you say? A homonculus is incorporial? I thought it was a little leathery guy with bat-wings, like what Tom Baker made with leaves and blood in the Golden Voyage of Sinbad, or like the little cartoony looking guy from the Monster Manual. Now I'm going to have to go and consult Wikipedia.
Thanks for the Picard video BTW, that & the flowers will put me in solid with the wifey. Ta.
Oh certainly Frodo is different. The terminus isn't such a problem as several Accursed Wanderers have a limit to their wandering (Peter Rugg, Melmoth). The real problem is the purposefulness you site. Frodo was less of a wanderer and more of a traveler.
I think I did a poor job of describing the Homunculus of Goethe's Faust. He did actually have a physical form, that of a very small person, a manikin, in a glass vial. He is also a creature of flame and can fly and flare brightly. The standard Homunculus is created alchemically as you describe with blood other nasty stuff.
Good luck with the whole Valentine thing.
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