Lon Chaney's last words in this clip have a terrible truth that transcends cynicism or nihilism. Yet, they do not represent an answer. And, the lesson is always learned too late.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
The pagan Norsemen had a strange religion, summed up in the words one of the heroes utters in one of their epics: "I know that in the end the trolls and dwarfs will defeat the gods and heroes. But it is nobler to be on the side of the gods." Better noble defeat than ignominious surrender and slavery. I have a hunch that Julian of Norwich was right, and "all will be well and all manner of thing will be well."
ReplyDeleteSharp perception. You have sent me to Edith Hamilton's Mythology where, in Part Seven, I find this:
ReplyDelete"The world of Norse mythology is a strange world. Asgard, the home of the gods, is unlike any other heaven men have dreamed of. No radiance of joy is in it, no assurance of bliss. It is a grave and solemn place, over which hangs the threat of an inevitable doom. The gods know that a day will come when they will be destroyed. ...The cause the forces of good are fighting to defend against the forces of evil is hopeless. Nevertheless, the gods will fight for it to the end.
Necessarily the same is true of humanity..."