I had high hopes as I began reading this article, but it's just more of the same old, same old.
When the grand gestures have been made, when the final battle fought, what then?We know these men, of course. At least, we know the men they become. They are the ones who thrive on turmoil and great causes and the excitement of a challenge. Everyday life is not their strong suit. Without an enemy to fight, they track other quarry, looking elsewhere for the thrills of yore. It's easy to be a big man when the stakes are high. Much harder to be the guy who grinds along day after day, taking pleasure in life's small victories.
Sad to say, it seems inevitable that they'd end up going out with their old pals too often, even if all they had in common was the old days.
After a few rounds it would be all "Hey, remember when you pushed the big ladder over on to the uruk-hai? That rocked!" and "My sword is sharper than your sword." And who knows how long it would take them in the bathroom every morning to keep their hair so luscious.
This is just so unfair and so wrong! I've been fortunate to know a few Eomers and Aragorns in my life and they're fine, decent men who fought in their country's wars with valor and served in peacetime and went to on to be things like high school math teachers. Their lives aren't centered around the past, they're here in the now with their wives and families and friends.
I guess it's easier to slyly bash men, no matter how noble, than to find something good.
Posted by Ith at January 18, 2003 5:19 PM