re: #30 Love-Child of Cassandra and Sisyphus

It’s one of the reasons that fascists like Tolkien. In his imaginary world the past was glorious (at least for the magical, all-white^* Elves), and life was better in the deep past.

It’s a theme Tolkien lifted from Genesis. It’s also an idea that is found in other religions/beliefs.

At the root is nostalgia, and at the root of nostalgia is the desire to return to childhood once we as adults figure out death is closer to us than our birth.

* Yes, I know that Tolkien never described all Elves as being white-skinned, but that is how many Tolkien fans believe he did.

Tolkien was just writing fantasy novels for his kids. He was not trying to make any political statements. That was CS Lewis.