#Adar ≠ Adam

[gauntletgirlie]

"I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine...

... and rage the likes of which you would not believe.

If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other."

Quote by Adam, Frankenstein's monster; Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

I’ve read Frankenstein before and this quote has always resonated with me. I saw it again on Instagram today and it hit me that it was Adar coded too. It fits him so well.

He had so much rage against Sauron and so much love for his children. When he could not satisfy his rage for Sauron, he indulged his love for his children by offering to heal Middle Earth with Galadriel and then not fighting back when his children murdered him, because he loved them too much.

Here I was thinking I could not love him any more than I already do.

[baddybaddyadardaddy]

as it turns out, Ao3 saved this as a draft in the midst of today's meltdown, so here she is for those who wish to bookmark:

adamant light

[the tiniest possible glimpse of Adar with a ring of power]

The clamor and chaos of battle fades away as the ring of adamant falls at his feet.

Adar’s world shrinks down to the size of this one single, shining trinket, distinguishable from the muck and rubble and the bloodstained cobbles of the city streets by its ethereal sheen.

He stoops to take it in his hands, enraptured by its perfect light. It seems to him the very light of Cuiviénen, the light of the million stars to which he had awakened so many long centuries ago, shimmering and brilliant against a sky of velvet black.

The sight soothes his world-weary eyes—witnesses to the progression of unspeakable horrors that had begun with his imprisonment in Utumno and continued, battle after battle, slaughter and after slaughter, until the breaking of the very foundations of the earth itself.

On the eve of the siege of Eregion, he had found himself staring deep into the firelight, longing for the hour when his eyes might close forever, when his fëa might be at last released from the weathered cage of his body. Yet as he gazes down at the ring, cupping it carefully in his hands, he feels hope blaze to life within his breast.  

Nenya, Galadriel had called it—the word dripping from her lips like a powerful incantation, its mere mention casting a glow that filled the dingy uruk tent.

He had heard whispers of the power contained within the three elven rings, but now he feels it, flowing through his body like a swift current. His blood sings with promise as he slips the band onto his finger. Though he is certain that it had been forged to fit a hand far daintier than his own, he finds that it glides over his gnarled knuckle with ease, as though the band itself had stretched perfectly to fit him.

The light glows brighter, and though it is the dead of night and a wintry chill hangs over the battle, he feels suddenly enveloped by brilliant sunshine. His eyes close, his head tilting back on instinct, as though inclined toward the great orb—the same sun that he had set out to blot from the sky in the name of protecting his children.

They are far from their ashen home now, yet he feels the same exhilarating rush he’d felt when he’d heard the waters flowing off to awaken the fire-mountain.

This ring, he is certain, will provide him with the power that he alone lacks—the power to drive Sauron’s darkness from the world once and for all, the power to end the maia’s tyranny over his long-suffering children. The power of a god.

As if responding to his very desire, every sinew in his body seems to strengthen—the light is coming from within him now, as though there is a star being forged in the place of his heart, pulsing and threatening to burst him open with its incredible power.

He opens his eyes, expecting to see the ring on his mottled hand. Instead, he finds himself gazing at hands of alabaster white, unblemished, and he realizes that they are his own.

Astonished, he watches as the color of his black, tarnished, ill-fitting mail begins to change to the most radiant silver, his armor refashioning itself to fit his body in a way that his salvaged pieces could never have done.

He puts a hand to his cheek to find the familiar twist of scars replaced by delicate, unbroken skin.  

He raises his sword arm, transfixed at the sight of the now-shimmering blade, imbued with the adamant light of Nenya. With this blade, he will end Sauron, he will liberate his children forever…

A terrible cacophony of sound erupts from behind him as the rage of the battle breaks through.

He turns to see a cavalry of his sons and daughters charging toward him, crying death to the elves, and there is not a hint of recognition in their eyes.

[melithril]

[Adar] Protect Our Peace

♫ - Everything I Do I Do It For You - Bryan Adams

A/N: This was a request on AO3, and I know it sounds angsty but I promise it's all fluff! Enjoy! <3

Dúrnost was a glum place for the most part. The tower was made of carved stone and towered high up towards the clouds. The fortress was surrounded by baron fields, that once perhaps were full of nature. It lay in the North of Forodwaith, which was not a region most notable for its hearty weather. Instead, the weather here was rainy and cloudy mostly. So, when snow fell, it was quite the commodity.

You loved the snow, when winter fell it was your favourite view from your window. To be inside as the snowflakes covered the ground and brightened up the area, you could sit inside with a book and a hot tea and relax. Often times, in your husbands arms. 

Adar was a busy man, with his family of orcs he had to keep in check and safe. So, when you had days neither of you were too busy, you jumped at the chance to spend it with him. So little of your days allowed you to spend it idly as you once did, but now that day had come about and you were not about to waste it.

Waking up, you stretched and glanced over at the other side of the bed where your husband slept peacefully. In the glow of the morning light shining through the cracks of your window, he had never looked more beautiful. Deciding to let him rest longer, you left a soft kiss on his forehead and rose dressing before grabbing some tea from the kitchen and heading to the living room window; that was where the best views were. You gasped, noticing it was snowing. 

The landscape before you had you lost in your own mind, as your gaze focused on the few orcs already outside, most were children who were experiencing their first snowfall. Excited yet distant cheers were heard and you smiled to yourself, happy in your heart that they had somewhere to call a home for now. 

You were so lost in thought that you had failed to hear Adar rise, until two slender arms snaked their way around your waist and a kiss was laid on the side of your neck. Rolling your head back and leaning in, you closed your eyes for a few seconds to revel in the feeling.

"Good morning, my starlight," his morning voice was even raspier than usual. "What has caught your eye this morning?"

"Good morning, my love, look outside... it's snowing for the first time in forever."

He spun you around, pressing a kiss to your cheek. Adar's hands found their way to rest on your hips, and placing your cup down on the table, yours found home around his neck. For a few moments, you both stood and simply enjoyed each others presence. The world and its dangers had all but disappeared; for now,it was just the both of you, frozen in time.

Gentle hands took yours and soft lips kissed your knuckles, before Adar's bright eyes met yours and he smiled. Walking to the door, Adar grabbed your cloak and donned his own, helping you tie yours at the front with a dark flowered brooch he had given to you.

"What are you doing?" you questioned, as you were pulled towards the door by your husband.

"We are going to enjoy the snow, my darling. It is your favourite, after all."

You were whisked out of the door and the crunch of fresh snow underneath your soles gave you such a nostalgic feeling. You remembered the better times during your youth and sighed.

"Is something the matter?" Adar had asked, concern lacing his voice.

"Oh, no Adar, no, I was just thinking back to the times when I was a child and the weather was just like this."

"Then tell me." Adar took your hand and you both began to walk, as you told him the tales of your childhood. The uruk was listening to your every word; he loved when you talked, your voice alone brought him comfort.

"I just remember my village, and every year on the first day of snowfall, we would all be up at the break of day, children everywhere playing and throwing balls of it at each other. Simpler times were when there was nothing to worry about except where the next ammunition was coming from."

You chuckled and Adar joined in. He was so engrossed in your story, he had failed to see a small orc running towards him. The little boy almost ran into Adar's leg, but he was quick to scoop him up and hold him in his arms. He smiled down to the orc and patted his head.

"I am sorry, Lord Father," the boy stuttered out, but Adar simply laughed. 

"Do not apologise, my child," he placed him down onto the ground. "Go and play, enjoy the weather."

The child ran off and you were fixed into your spot, simply watching your husband and how he was with the children. It was a picture to watch him be a father in that aspect, and he was so good with the younger orcs. They looked up to him, and often you could find him in the small library on the lower floors reading with a few sprawled around him. Sometimes, he would indulge in their games. Little moments like the one just now always reminded you of why you had married him.

"You are so good to the babies," you mused, wrapping yourself around Adar's waist. He smiled a half smile, nodding.

"It is because they are only children, my light, they deserve to know not of the evils all around us. They should play, and laugh and run around. That is what childhood is about."

You glanced up and could clearly see the pain behind his eyes. Adar had never had a good upbringing, and you knew that was why he was so willing to give these children a place to have one, because he knew it was what every child should have. Adar was selfless in that aspect, and he was one of the kindest men you had ever known.

"Now," he stated, changing the subject. "I believe you had more to tell me of your growing up during this time of year."

As you set to continue, tales from all parts of your life were talked of, and Adar listened to each word. Finding a log to sit on, you both sat for a while and simply enjoyed each others company. Your head rested on his shoulder, holding one of his arms. Adar's hands held your own, and his thumb ran its way across your palm. He buried his nose into your hair, and you snuggled into him.

"This is all I have wanted, you know?" Adar whispered. "Somewhere everyone could call a home, no matter how dark or dire things might be."

"My sweet, you have always given them that. Look how happy they are."

You gestured out to the scenes in front of you, filled with joyous screams and laughter. Parents and elders watched on as the younglings enjoyed the weather, how everyone before you looked carefree. Adar sighed in content, proud he could make this happen. 

As you sat, Adar was briefly held in conversation with another orc, of what they spoke you didn't know. But it gave you time to slip away for half a moment, where you ran into a little orc you had known for a while.

"Hello, Murag," you greeted, and she giggled and hugged you. "Care to join me? I need your help with something."

Adar had finished his conversation, and turned back to where you were seated, only to find you gone. He shrugged, assuming you had disappeared somewhere, probably with one of the children. He played with his sleeve end, thinking deeply when all of a sudden, he was thrown out of his thoughts by a snowball to the side of his head. It wasn't hard, and it didn't hurt, but he glanced to his left to see where it had come from.

What he saw before him was not what he had expected. You were stood there, knelt down beside a young girl, pretending as though you hadn't seen him. Unfortunately, Murag gave you away by letting out a ferocious giggle, and your eyes locked with Adar's own. Slowly, Adar rose to his feet, and you picked Murag up and brought her close to you. With a few strides, he was facing you both.

"You," Adar smiled, taking the girl from your hands. "Run along, I know you are innocent." Murag ran off to her friends laughing, and Adar turned his whole body to you. "And you, will pay for what you have done."

You feigned ignorance. "Murag threw the snowballs!"

You stopped like a dear in headlights, realising the same thing Adar was about to say.

He smirked, touching his hand to your chin. "I never mentioned anything about a snowball."

You slyly grinned and took off, running a little into the forest, and Adar gave chase. Your laughter always gave you away, but you weren't really trying to get away. It didn't take long before you had been caught, his longer legs outran your stride by a lot. Adar tackled you lightly to the ground, pinning you down. 

"Throwing snowballs at the Lord Father, are we?" he joked. "What will I do with you now?" 

Shrugging your shoulders, you pretended to ponder. "You could kiss me."

"You are right, I could." 

Just when you thought he may agree to your suggestion, a hand full of snow was dumped onto your hair and fell down your face and shoulders. Your face shocked, Adar let out a hearty laugh. 

"Now we are even, starlight."

You giggled and pulled him to sit with you. Leaning in, you rested your forehead against his own, and Adar's arms once again found place around your waist.

"Now, about that offer of yours," he leaned in, and caught your lips in a breathtaking kiss. It felt like it had gone on forever. Pulling back, Adar ran his fingers through your locks of hair, brushing away any remaining dirt or snow. 

Once again finding solace in each other, you sat in silent company again, regaining your energies. Adar stared down at you, wondering in his heart how he had gotten so lucky. You looked at your husbands hand in your own, hoping that this would last forever. 

When the aura surrounding you both was at its most peaceful, you were both brought out of it by a bombardment of snowballs from behind you. This time they had hit you both. Confused, you both spun around to see Murag and a band of about four other children. She had a grin on her face and an army of ready made ammunition. 

You looked to Adar and smiled. As you both stood, the girl and her army took off, and the pair of you chased them back out into the field area. It was war now.

The eve had drawn in fast, and after everyone was fed and settled, you were awake still in your shared quarters, with a hot tea by the fire. For the first time in so long, you had spent the full day with Adar. You had played, fought, laughed and dined. After a bath, you were both curled up together in happiness. 

"Adar," you started quietly, not wanting to break the ambiance. He hummed. "Today has been one of the most special days to me for a long time. I want to thank you for making that happen."

He played with a strand of your hair and traced your hip with his fingers. "My light, I do what I can to make you happy, and if that means frolicking in a field of snow and losing a battle against four six year olds, then I would do that every day if I could."

You chuckled, remembering the antics of the morning. "They were a tough team though, there was no shame in our retreat."

Adar nodded in agreement, and you settled yourself between his legs, listening to the fire crackle before you. 

"I hope we have more of these moments, I hope it can stay this peaceful," you spoke, and Adar held you close. 

"For as long as I can, my love," he whispered. "I will protect our peace with everything I have in my heart."

Requests are open! Thank you for reading! <3

[pinkchaosnight]

• an eternity • (adar x fem!reader)

summary : your husband is adamant to go through his plans for Eregion and you are worried what will happen to him if he does.

pairing: adar x fem!reader

warning: s2 ep8 (do i need to say more?), angst, death

you wrap your hands across your husband's body, resting your head into the crook of his neck. the warmth of his body provided a little comfort to the fact that tomorrow might change everything.

"do you really plan to go tomorrow forward with your plan?" you ask as you feel the beat of his pulse against your cheek, calming your anxiety.

"hmmm" he replies as he continues going through the plan he has drawn. you lay there quietly, relishing in the silence before everything turns to clamour and war noises tomorrow. after a few quiet minutes, he places it in the table, your silence troubling him.

"whats the matter, my love?" he questions as he gently clutch your jaw in his hand, making your troubled eyes meet his.

"nothing, i was just worried. about the fact that we don't know what will happen tomorrow. who will win or lose? and mainly, who all will remain ?"

"are you doubting you me?" his hands let go off your chin as you rise your head from his chest.

"no i am not doubting you my dear. if i ever had any doubt about you, do you think i would abandoned my family and people to come here and stay with you? marry you? be your wife? no it's simply because i am afraid, that something wrong might happen to you. i can't lose you." you say as you caress your hands along the cheeks you so love to kiss.

adar smiles, a warm genuine smile reserved only for you in your private times. "i know, i am sorry for asking . besides i am sure my children won't disappoint me. i have faith in them and their strength. and don't even think about asking me about that topic earlier, i know that look. i absolutely forbid it"

"adar please allow me to fight alongside with you. i was raised as warrior, a swordswoman . please allow me to protect you too. it's the least i can do---"

" what do you mean by 'the least you can do'? you are the one who sacrificed your family and yourself for me. and i never expect anything in return expect for your love. my life has been bleak before i met you. now i have you who i can return to after the sun sets each day, you whose warm lap i can sleep on safely without feeling scared and alone, you who let me change myself for the better. let me protect you and this family, our family, so that in the future we can be safe and happy" he says as he places his hands on the slight curve of your belly.

tears fall down from your eyes, as you watch your husband tenderly touching your belly. it made your heart beat in such a way that makes your chest hurt a little.

adar wipes away your tears as he picks you up in bridal style, carrying you all the way to your shared bed. he lays down, with you resting your head on top of his torso. he wraps his arms around you , as he places a soft kiss in your head.

" nothing bad will happen tomorrow my love. i will return back victorious. you shouldn't cry over this trivial matter, its bad for you and the baby. "

"you are not a trivial matter. i just wish i can stay with you all the time. be with you. share all your worries and ease your pains." you whisper as you kisses his chest, his heartbeat faint against your lips.

" we have all the time in the world after tomorrow's battle. we will have time to see the plains, to gaze upon the wonderful seas. and when our child arrives, we will go on a tour for a whole month. i will consider one month of vacation for ourselves after all this ends. we will be happy again, for eternity. " he says as he trails kisses from your head to your ears.

" you promise me? that you will return to me safely? "

" i promise "

you both lay there in an comfortable silence, the promise of a new era hanging over as it lulls us back to sleep in the comfort of each other's arms.

your intuition was tingling; you could sense something bad was about to happen to your husband, the moment you stepped out into the woods, with your sword in your hands.

the sound of swords clashing and arrows being fired rang in the air, but you couldn't do anything. you refuse to draw arms against the elves, after all you are one yourself. so you go through the woods, avoiding everyone, until a voice catches your attention. your husband's voice. you nudges closer, your hand tightening the handle of the sword and ready to swing at anybody.

you relaxed when you see his orcs surrounding him, your hands loosening slighty. as you walk towards them, horror strickes as fear grasps you.

the orcs were stabbing him, his orcs whom he so loved. "nooooo" a guttural scream came from you as you swing the sword at the orc, decapitating his head. as your eyes found him, laying on the ground with his blood all over him, you couldn't stop the tears gushing from your eyes.

before the orc would stab him more, you places yourself between them, as you plunge the sword in it's heart. but not before it strikes you in the chest, causing you a searing pain that began to spread across ypur body. the orcs try to stab adar in admist of this as his blood splashes across your face. before the next strike occurs, you lie on top of him as you clutch his face searching for any life in them.

you could see a faint eye movement as you looked into his eyes, while your body got another set of stabs before it stabs altogether. you clutch your stomach as you feel an intense pain there, from the stab wound you got. you could feel your child die inside you, making you scream in helplessness. tears and blood mixed together and ran down your face as you didn't have the strength nor the time to govern which one is what.

"please-----adar--my love-----" you croak as a gush of blood rushes out from your mouth.

your husband briefly rises his hand and caress your tears away and you cry more, as you know this will be the last time he does so. you could see sauron and galadriel in your peripheral vision but they didn't matter. nobody and nothing matters , except your husband. nothing else, not even the searing pain and the world closing in on you as you feel your consciousness start to slip.

"i am sorry i.... couldn't fulfil the promise i made. i am sorry i couldn't..see what you were saying and i am sorry i started this war and dragging you to your death too. i wish we could have gone back to the simpler times, when we all had to worry was what to do spare the boredom. i-----" adar chokes as he spits more blood, his breathing slowing down each moment. his hands slowly moves to your stomach, craddling it as if to keep the child safe, making your heart ache. you could feel his heartbeat began to faint against your own chest, mirroring yours.

" did you remember our vows? 'not even death can part us' ? atleast we got that right." you say as you lie on his chest, with your vision blurring each minute.

you can feel him smiling with what energy is left on him. " i love you, my love......i just wish we had gotten more time. i wish we had eternity to raise our child with love that neither of us got. i wish we had the time to travel and revel in the simple beauty of this world. i wish ----" his word's get stuck as he chokes on his blood, his hands caressing your cheek.

" the only good thing is you will be the last thing i see, when my life leaves this scarred body. thank you for giving me chance to love you. i hope you can give it in the next life too." he whisper as he kisses you in your lips.

you kiss him back, tears and blood mixing together. for a minute you feel his hands and mouth on you, before both goes limp and hits the floor, lifelessly.

and just like that he is gone. gone from you, gone from your unborn child you will never see the light of the world and gone from the world that have treated him too cruelly. the hands, the mouth, the soul, the rest of him which you so loved - has left you, has left this plane of existence.

" my love, my husband please come back to me" you scream, as you feel your strength failing you. you fall over his lifeless body, sobbing and clutching. just like you were lying on him yesterday night - but without the faint rising of his chest and the beat of his heart which you so craved for. his eyes is glassy, lifeless as you close it for one last time before pressing a kiss.

" i love you so much that it pains me to leave you. please love me in next life and all the lives after too, my husband." is the last thing you remember whispering in his ears as you closes your eyes for the last time, falling into an eternal slumber in his arms, just like yesterday.

notes - i wrote this after ep 8 (no surprises there), i couldn't handle it so this happened as a part of my coping mechanism 🥹 i am so sorry yall

[myfavouritelunatic]

More Painful Sacrifices

Had a last minute theory... if the above hand turns out to be Halbrand/Sauron's... so I wrote this! We're manifesting, fam.

As soon as Galadriel removes the ring of adamant, she feels a shift deep within her. Like a part of her is missing. Like she left something behind before she faced the orcs and stared Adar down the length of her drawn bow. 

She feels… vulnerable. 

And it’s not because she is prisoner.

Taken into the Moriondor’s camp, a moveable fortress to protect his children from the light of day, Galadriel knows she will not be harmed here. She knows Adar will need her, might use her. Otherwise she would’ve been slain where she lay in the elven earth, now sullied by the trodding of orc feet.

He leaves her alone. Isolates her. Psychological games is it? She thinks, until a random orc wanders in with a bowl of slop, chucking it at her feet, laughing as some of it splashes up onto her face. “Bring me your leader, foul thing.”

“He’s busy.” The creature growls.

“Bring him to me or I will kill you where you stand.”

The orc simply laughs again and leaves her, knowing full well despite her threats, she cannot do much while shackled.

The noble elf stared down at the bowl filled with murky green and brown, chunks here and there, with no way to tell what kind of meat it is until she passes it between her lips.

Suddenly, a voice in her mind.

“It’s not poisoned, if that’s your concern.”

A memory. A sorrow.

“Not for humans anyway.”

But you were not human.

“No. As much as you desired it, that I shall never be.”

A chill passes through her at the sound of his voice next to her. In her mind no longer. Outside of her. 

“But… the other things you desired of me… those can still be.”

She felt him on the edge of her vision. Breathing heavily, she refused to look at him. Refused to acknowledge him. Summoning all the strength within herself, she willed him to be gone.

But all he did was laugh.

“You know that won’t work… not now that the silver band is gone from your flesh. It was a shield, Galadriel. A locked door.” He spoke ominously, terrifying her more with each syllable. She saw his legs come into her vision, the blue of the elven outfit she had gifted him. Only now, it was torn, frayed at the edges. 

Then he knelt down, and Halbrand gazed at her. Weary and scarred, but betraying none of that in his hazel eyes. 

Only darkness.

“And now that door is open. I’m not going anywhere. Not when you need me.”

Tears slipped unbidden from her pained eyes as she gazed on the face of her friend- no, her enemy, and she felt as if he grasped her brother’s now unmade dagger, twisting it to widen the tear in her heart.

“What have you done to Celebrimbor.” She hissed at him with aching words, attempting to ignore her own torment by focusing on that of another. “I know you have ensnared him.”

Halbrand reached over to tuck some errant strands of blonde behind her ear, and she flinched away from him. “Do not touch me, Deceiver!”

“But you have touched the darkness, Galadriel. It is only fair that I touch the light…”

“No!”

She recoiled, but with nowhere to go, the elf had no choice but to receive his hand on her face. And as it held her, she was filled with an ease she had not known for so long. She surrendered to him. Not because she was weak, or not in control, but because she wanted to.

“You see me, Galadriel? See what Adar did to me, after you rejected me… abandoned me… cast me out like I said you would.”

“Halbrand… I…”

Sauron. He is Sauron. Know he is deceiving you.

Another chuckle from the dark lord. “My name does not matter.” He stated, knowing her thought. “Only who I am does. And that is a being who would throw themselves at your mercy. Adar is going to extend a partnership to you. I would ask you to refuse him.”

“Why? You are our enemy.”

“Because he is our enemy, Galadriel, and he will only betray you. He will take the first opportunity to do so.” She watched his eyes wander a moment, as if focusing on a haunted memory. “And if you do refuse him, if you come to me… I will see to Celebrimbor remaining unharmed.”

Galadriel scoffed. “Unharmed? Surely it is too late for that. What you did to me… I can only imagine the corruption you have wrought upon him.”

“I assure you, elf. He will live. If you come to me. Be at my side, like you should have remained, and spare Eregion of its fate.”

“War is certain. The orcs have invaded our lands. No doubt Elrond and Gil-galad are marching east to you right now. If I were you… I would leave now. Please, Halbrand.” She used his false name, appealing to his ruse and to the wound in her heart, the part of her that clung onto something good within him. The part of her that shamefully did not wish for him to suffer.

“Come to me!” She continued. “Rescue me from our enemy, if you wish to be at my side so urgently.”

Halbrand flinched. He hadn’t expected her to say that. 

The game was up.

His tender hold of her face swiftly became a vice-like grip of her chin. “Galadriel!” He bellowed her name, pronouncing it not in his Southlander accent. “Come to me!”

Galadriel spoke softly through his rough grasp. “No… Halbrand… If you mean your words... if… if I ever meant anything to you, you will leave Eregion behind. And maybe together, we can save as many as we can. You want to save Middle-earth, yes? This is how you begin.”

The dark lord’s face was contorted by his unshakeable darkness, veins protruding outward from his snake-like eyes. Just as he had done with her once before. “I will not bend to you, elf! Nor to anyone!” He spat at her, outraged.

“Then I shall see you on the battlefield.”

She smirked, bravely. She knew their reunion was inevitable. The ring had shown her that much. 

And it had also shown her much more… painful sacrifices that she did not ask to see. But, she knew the ring was guiding her. It had lead her to Adar for a reason. 

Soon, it would lead her to Sauron.

The deceiver threw her head away, the force knocking her to the ground. When next she opened her eyes, Galadriel could only see that untouched bowl of gruel, the spoon now lying in the dirt. 

Sauron was gone.

Feeling faint, she reached out one of her shackled hands to grasp the utensil, and mercifully, before she could take the first gulp of putrid food, two orcs entered, pulling her to her feet.

“Lord father will see you now.” 

[apoloadonisandnarcissus]

"Evil Takes Root": The Temptation and Fall of Galadriel

How many Christian references do you want in Sauron and Galadriel’s scene in 2x08? Yes! Because this is Tolkien, and Christian-Catholic message is the core of his legendarium.

“The Original sin” (or “The Fall") is central to Tolkien world-building: “The dislocation of sex-instinct is one of the chief symptoms of the Fall [of Adam and Eve]” (Tolkien Letter 43). Lust is the “original sin”, and the gateway to sin, and from where all other sins originate.  

St. Paul writes "cupiditas radix malorum": “the root of all evil is cupidity". “Cupidity” is greedy and lustful desire. This is motivated by the fact that Eve ate the forbidden fruit because "she saw it, was beautiful". This explains why Christians have such a bad view of sex, especially when it’s not restrained by marriage.

There is lust for the forbidden fruit (the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil that Adam and Eve were instructed not to eat in the Garden of Eden). This is when “sin” is first introduced into the world, leading to their banishment from paradise. The themes here are: disobedience to God, and succumbing to temptation (evil).

And it’s the serpent that inflames Eve's lust, and "Rings of Power" wasn't even being subtle here (even the OST for this scene is called "The Fall of Galadriel"): 

“Lust”, in its biblical/catholic sense, is the misuse of the body, sexually. The opposite of “lust” is “temperance” and “chastity”. “Lust” is disorderly sexual desire, and the subordinated enjoyment of sexual pleasure (against God’s law). It’s not just promiscuity, but extra-marital sex, as well.

In the Bible, “lust” is thematized by adultery (because marriage is a sacred sacrament, and acting against it, it’s breaking God’s laws, hence being a “deadly sin”). We also see this sin in connection with “idolatry” (one of Sauron’s crimes in Tolkien lore), when characters (such as Solomon) take foreign wives, symbolizing the forsaking of one’s partner for another.

Freudian symbolism: a crown (clitorical symbol) penetrating a sword (phallic symbol). That’s symbolic penetrative sex for you.

I’m not saying they are symbolically f*cking here, but they probably are.

And this serpent has a name, and a history of its own: his name is Samael (“poison of God”), the accuser or adversary, the seducer; and he’s mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible, connected to Jewish tradition and early Christianity. Described as handsome and angelic, he’s one of the several angels who rebelled against God, and descend upon Earth to fornicate with women. He’s the prince of all demons, and a sorcerer. In the Jewish Kabbalah, he’s known as the “great serpent” who coils around creation and injects his venom into it. He’s associated with fire, and represents the Dark side of the Sun.

The devil is endlessly ingenious, and sex is his favorite subject. He is as good every bit at catching you through generous romantic or tender motives, as through baser or more animal ones. Tolkien Letter 43

Samael is associated with the Garden of Eden, and with Original sin myth; because he’s the planter of the tree (or vine) of knowledge, the one with the forbidden fruit Eve will eventually eat.

Are they not the seeds you planted?

He has a bride: Lilith: a raven-haired demon cursed by her sin of rebelliousness. She’s Adam’s first wife, who rebels against him and against God, and flees from the Garden of Eden. She’s known for her dark, uncontrollable and dangerous sexuality; she’s the mother of demons. God tries to get her back, but she has slept with Samael already. With him, she creates a host of demon children.

Now you know the meaning of the wine on *that* peak. And there you have it, folks: the queer couple of “Rings of Power” is Sauron and Adar, and this should surprise no one, really. Adar was obviously the spiteful ex-lover on a personal vendetta, and the show even went with the “bury your gays” trope with him. And Sauron is the queerest character to ever queer, so there’s that.

What this Uruk right here is saying is that he ate the “forbidden fruit”, too. Because he “saw it, it was beautiful”.

Back to Samael and the Garden of Eden; in some versions he’s the serpent itself, while in others he rides the serpent. Either way, he’s involved. He tempts Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, the original sin, lust. In one text, Samael actually had sex with Eve and impregnated her; he’s the father of Cain. God eventually castrated Samael to prevent him from filling the world with his demonic offspring.

Both of these demons are connected to another: Asmodeus (“wrath-demon”). The demon of lust (“original sin”), the king of demons, the prince of pleasures, the patron of passions, and the lord of luxury. He’s the Devil’s wingman, who’s known as a trickster, a shapeshifter, and a seducer who deceives people, causing them to stray from God’s path. He whispers into peoples’ ears, and inflames their passions and desires. He’s connected to power, seduction and testing of wills. While Lilith seduces men; Asmodeus seduces women. He’s known for being beautiful, charming and for his engaging nature.

In Lurianic Kabbalah, these three demons - Lilith, Samael, and Asmodeus - are connected, and interact with each other, in cooperation, to create a powerful force of evil to challenge God and humanity.

Which means, it’s possible to draw inspiration from these myths to create one single character. Which explains why Sauron has elements of both Samael (although I would argue this is more Morgoth coded), Asmodeus, and even Lilith when he was at Morgoth’s side and seduced Adar. Right now he’s on his “Asmodeus era”, so he seduces and wants women (Mirdania and Galadriel).

Evil takes root: Full-on penetration, followed by ejaculation (blood binding; the crown ejaculates Sauron’s blood into Galadriel’s chest).

But Eve wanted to eat the forbidden fruit. She wanted to bite into it, it was consensual. She was tempted, and she succumbed to temptation, to lust. Like Adar drank the red wine Sauron gave him. He drank it all.

So whatever is happening here is meant to be seen as consensual. No idea why they decided to make it look so brutal, then. However, and playing the Devil’s advocate here; why would Galadriel surrender her chest for stabbing, in the first place? Which leads me to next religious reference at play in this scene:

“Rings of Power” also went all the way with the The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa/Galadriel reference, by having her orgasm after getting stabbed in the chest by the spear of an angel of fire.

And Galadriel "ate the forbidden fruit", too. And she's about to join Sauron/the serpent.

But she snaps out of it (via Nenya), and jumps off the cliff. But it's too late, because evil already took root:

[marilynshamu]

Amazon recasting Adar with Sam Hazeldine has cause an unholy hyperfixation that I have not felt since Adam Driver was cast as Kylo Ren in 2013.

I am unwell.

[nikinikori]

Here's what I thought about how Galadriel couldn't move or do anything to save Adar bcs i keep seeing people ask it so i might as well let my thoughts out too:

In her shoes, I thought how it was very much FUCKED to see a man's children kill him in cold blood, especially if said man's been adamant about protecting them from the start and thinking they can be good.

The moment she got her ring back, Gal had thought that maybe it would work: Peace between Elf & Uruk. But what she sees makes her realise that the reach of Sauron's power is insanely destructive it makes loyal creatures betray their masters so easily.

Gal and Brimby had no masters, so she wouldn't know what offer would be so great that they would do that to their Lord father. She doesnt get the chance to know, only the realisation that again, she's failed to stop it before it happened.

Not saving him wasn't a choice: it was extreme fear, not for the self but for what had possessed them to do it, seeing how it affected the Uruk so greatly especially how she had hope that maybe they weren't mindless vermin.

ALSO not saying that Galadriel not being able to save Adar had been the best, just saying that its a very traumatic experience for her, she's seeing a sneak peek into the future if Sauron is successful with his plans.

And maybe I just feel bad for her that she had to see that happen again, especially to someone who had been through so much and the moment a flicker of hope/light is there, Sauron just immediately shuts it off.

Still, it woulda been nice to have kept him a little more longer :'))

[blahahala]

Watching Sam Hazeldine's Movies, part 2:

I've added three more of Sam Hazeldine's films to my watched list: The Machine (2013), Persuasion (2007), and The Last Duel (2021).

First up, I really enjoyed The Machine; it's a solid 90-minute AI thriller. Sam's role in it is fairly small, and it's actually one of the critiques I have of the movie - I would've liked a little more of his character. Besides that, the movie is filled with solid performances including those of Caity Lotz (who is excellent), Toby Stephens, and Denis Lawson. It's nothing life-changing, but is a solidly engaging film. It can be found for free on tubi.

Next, I watched Persuasion. I'll be honest that I was completely unfamiliar with this story, having never read the book or seen any other adaptation. I enjoyed the film and Sam's performance as Charles Musgrove; he reminded me a bit of Hugh Laurie in the role. This movie is very Adar heavy as Joseph Mawle is also in it! Really enjoyed him in his role. Overall, I can't say it's my favorite movie in the world, but I'm glad I watched it; there was a lot of running towards the end 😂 It can be watched on Peacock.

Most recently, I watched The Last Duel. This is a movie I'd been meaning to watch since it came out in 2021, so I was glad to finally sit down with it. Firstly regarding Sam's role - I spotted him a couple of times sitting next to several of the main supporting characters at the duel, but I didn't spot him anywhere else in the film? I'm not sure if I just missed him, or if most of his scenes were cut... given where he is sitting in the opening scene, I expected to see more of him.

Here he is in the opening scene:

The movie as a whole is good - I think I'd give it a 7.5/10. Jodie Comer is excellent in her role and Adam Driver also gives a solid performance. Where I came away a bit puzzled, though, was with Matt Damon and, in particular, Ben Affleck. Neither of their performances were bad, but they just seemed to be really odd casting. It didn't necessarily take away from the film (though good lord what was going on with Ben Affleck's hair) but I do think that some different actors might have added a bit to it. Jodie Comer was, in my opinion, the highlight of the film.

A few of my favorite clips:

Ben Affleck's fantastically protracted proclamation of "cuuunt!":

Adam Driver's epically devious cape swish in front of the king:

Jodie Comer's delightfully delivered "sow!":

This movie is available to rent online, though I got the DVD from my library (and ugh the DVD is so frustrating to navigate; I accidentally hit the scene back button and I swear it went back 20 minutes). Please read a bit about the content of this film if you are going to watch it, as it is very violent.

-------

I'm not sure what is up next - any recommendations? I'm also thinking of delving into Charles Edwards' filmography; I've seen a few things he is in, but there is a lot left to discover so I'd also be grateful for recommendations there!

✨

[eretzyisrael]

Former Miss Iraq pays sympathy visit to site of Hamas slaughter

Sarah Idan (left), former Miss Iraq, on a visit to the site of Kfar Aza, one of the sites ravaged by Hamas terrorists on 7 October

“I visited Kfar Aza, a place where the heart-wrenching horror of Hamas’s infiltration led to a massacre of innocent Israeli families right in their homes,” tweeted Idan, a Democrat running to represent California’s 30th congressional district in place of Adam Schiff, who is vying to enter the U.S. Senate in 2024.

“Located just a mile from Gaza, we stood witness as the Iron Dome intercepted rockets launched by Hamas. I brought my old uniform from Iraq to be mentally prepared, but I was still shocked and at a loss for words. Never in my life, not even amidst the terror of ISIS, have I seen such barbarity. What was once a vibrant community now echoes with a haunting silence of tragedy,” she continued.

By “uniform,” Idan means the camouflage pants, T-shirt reading “Fight Back” and combat boots that she wore as a translator for U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq.

“I don’t care what’s your religion if your God permits you to do this in his name then your God is wrong. My mind is still traumatized by the scene, the smell of the dead bodies. Shame on those pretending the massacre didn’t happen,” she tweeted.

More than a hundred civilians were murdered and others were kidnapped from Kfar Aza when 3,000 heavily armed Hamas terrorists forced their way across the border and rampaged across the northwestern Negev, murdering around 1,200 persons in total, mostly civilians, wounding thousands more and taking some 240 hostages back to Gaza.

Idan and her family were forced to flee Iraq after she posed for a selfie with Miss Israel Adar Gandelsman at the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas in 2017 and wearing a bikini in a swimsuit competition.

Her Iraqi citizenship revoked, Idan immigrated to the United States in 2017.

On May 19, she filed her candidacy for the California seat, which includes the cities of Burbank and West Hollywood, and parts of Glendale and Pasadena.

Read article in full

Iraq beauty queen:’people in Israel looked like my people’

Miss Iraq rebuilding relations between Arabs and Jews

Brave Iraqis get awards for advocating normalisation

[thecorycrow]

ROP OC Designs & Concepts

Because no one stopped me. Please don’t take it too seriously. Characters under the cut.

Naneth: Mother of Uruks

The idea was born after I learned about Adar; in my head he was something like the Adam of the Uruk, so I made him an Eve

She’s a second generation elf from the ones who awoke at Cuiviénen; her given name was Êluin (“of the stars“)

She`s an Avari

Has white freckles

She and her brother (her younger twin) are blessed by Eru Iluvátar himself

She was one of the 13 Moriondor - Morgoth especially wanted her, because he wanted to destroy someone Eru himself blessed

Her and Adar were held together; the night before he was brought to that nameless peak he had told her his name

She did not accept Sauron‘s or Morgoth‘s offerings, which didn’t matter because Morgoth turned her into an Uruk regardless

She accepted her fate and stayed with Adar, making his goals (a home for their “children“) her own

The Uruk called her “Moredhel“ (Dark Elf), before they gave her the name Naneth

She almost lost her left eye in capture and when she turned the darkness corrupted it, yet gave her her sight back somewhat

Núincýron: High Advisor of High King Gil Galad

The younger twin of Naneth/Êluin

Has white freckles

His given name is Núindûel (“under the black sky“) which he changed later to his current name, which means “under the new moon“

Before he became an advisor of Gil Galad, he worked in the library of Lindon, where he soon became Head Librarian

He does not like fighting, but is pretty good with bow and arrow (practice calms his mind)

He wears blue as a tribute to his sister, who he hopes she died because he can only feel pain through their strong bond

Workaholic

Very good friend of the King

Has the gift of foresight

Míthanor: Captain of the Guard in Eregion/Personal Guard of Celebrimbor

Celebrimbor is my favourite, so obviously he got an OC at his side too

He personally chose her as his guard

The red markings in her face are makeup

He calls her “Ruin“ (red flame)

Míthanor means “to kiss the sun“

Her grandmother was a smith and worked alongside Fëanor

When Fëanor made the Silmaril her grandmother had been pregnant with Ruin‘s mother (also a smith later), who got influenced by the magic of the Silmaril which accumulated and was inherited by Ruin (I know the Silmaril don’t give their owners powers but let me have this)

Thanks to this she is unnaturally resistant to heat, her sometimes look like flames and she can’t be easily swayed by the darkness

She followed the path of her father, however, and became a soldier rather than a smith

She takes her duty very seriously and is completely devoted to her lord and the city

She‘d follow her lord to the Halls of Mandos without hesitation

Lórëlen: Herald of Queen Varda

Her name means “dream of the stars“

She is a Maia and the Herald of Queen Varda

She calls herself the voice of the stars

She‘s my oracle (quite the strong foresight)

Sticks her nose in everyone’s business, who she knows the fate of

“Fate is water in a river, you can change it`s course.“

“But where death waits, death takes.“ (Meaning you can save one but another takes their place)

She wanders far and wide but always returns to those she holds dear

Elrond gave her the name “Ránëlen“ (Wandering Star)

She loves often and freely

She also has white freckles

She waltzed into Adar‘s camp once because she was curious

The Uruks call her bright thing

She knew Sauron as Mairon, when he was still a student of Aulë

She prays in form of playing songs on a flute/ocarina/etc

Bonus:

Swapped Fate AU: where Núindûel got caught by Morgoth and Êluin changed her name to Elrhûn (“East Star“) and became a Commander of Gil Galad‘s soldiers.

[annahiril]

I am the previous anon and I agree with everything you said!

I have been creating OC's in various fandoms the last two years and I have noticed that the people who hate OC's are either people who generally find OC's and any type of shipping cringe or like you said people who ship two canon characters together and they tend to view OC's as obstacles.

Also i completely agree with your opinion about Haladriel.The actor who portrays Sauron has also made it clear that Sauron doesn't have romantic feelings about her and even Adam's actor confirmed that Adar was seduced and in a way loved Sauron too not only Galadriel XD.As for Galadriel given the fact that she has a husband and in the future a child i think that she may have been enamored by Halbrand but she always has her actual husband in her heart.

Anyways have a great day/night☺️ and thanks a lot for your input 🖤✨

I'm glad to see you back ! 😁

Same. I have been posting fandoms OC since 2014 (on Instagram), and 90% of the time people get mad because OC are ship with their favorite characters or are an obstacle to their favorite pairings...

I can understand that some people are more jealous than others, but it is not a reason to spread such kind of hate. And I hope you never had any problems of this kind with your OC BTW.

I'm glad to see you share the same opinion as me on haladriel/saurondriel. Yes, Charlie made it clear that they aren't in love (at least, that's what I understand from his interviews).

I even find the relationship between Sauron/Annatar and Celebrimbor more captivating than the one with Galadriel. The time they shared on screen was intense! And yes, Adar is also sharing a connection with Sauron as Galadriel does. Which make Sauron and Galadriel's dynamic not so unique in my point of view...

I haven't talked much about Celeborn, but let's recall that he is Galadriel's husband. And maybe he will come back (well I hope so, since they have Celebrian together...). I would be so happy to see him in the series! 🤍

But as I said in my previous answer, I'm not against haladriel/saurondriel shippers. They are welcome here and everybody is free to have their own interpretation of this duo 😊

But in my case, I don't see any romantic connection at all, sorry...

Thank you again for your ask ✨️

It was a real pleasure to exchange with you again 🥰

I wish you a wonderful day/night ✨️

[baddybaddyadardaddy]

Adar Fic Master-Post

Awake, Arise or Be For Ever Fall'n, 140K, COMPLETE

A tale chronicling the life of Adar, from his awakening at Cuivienen to the Battle of the Last Alliance (hence, now technically a Fix-It AU where Adar doesn't die at Eregion!). Featuring First Age battles, the creation of the orcs, lots of uruks with names and hearts, a much longer and more complex history between Adar and Arondir, and insane amounts of Tolkienian angst.

Rating: M

A Knife in the Dark, 14K, WIP

Angsty/smutty AU set in the Awake, Arise-verse. Erenyë, Adar's partner who awakened beside him at Cuivienen and later perished in Utumno is reembodied and sent back to Middle Earth, though her memories of torment are veiled. She arrives in the Southlands to find a world turned to ashes and whispers of a terrifying figure who calls himself Adar.

Rating: M

Son of the Darkness, one-shot, COMPLETE

The one-shot that started it all: a sketch of Adar, one of the first awakened elves, and how he became Lord-Father of the uruks.

Rating: T

In the Halls of Awaiting, one-shot, COMPLETE

Short, lyrical POV from Erenyë--spouse of Adar and one of the first to perish at the hand of Morgoth-- as she awaits her husband's arrival in the halls of Mandos.

Rating: G

A Last Alliance, one-shot, COMPLETE

A glimpse of how that confrontation between Galadriel, Adar and Sauron should have gone down...

Rating: G

Adamant Light, one-shot, COMPLETE

Almost canon-compliant glimpse of Adar the moment he takes possession of Nenya.

Rating: G

To Fell a Common Foe, one-shot, COMPLETE

AU glimpse of what it would have been like if Adar realized Damrod was a catastrophic mistake and teamed up with Arondir to take him down.

Rating: G

Memories of Dancing, one-shot, COMPLETE

AU glimpse of what it would have been like if Adar had turned out to be... well... much closely connected to Galadriel than he ultimately turned out to be.

Rating: G

Sister Golden Hair, WIP

AdarxMirdania. AU glimpse of what might happen if Adar met a certain blonde on the battlefield during the siege of Eregion. No, not *that* blonde.

Rating: G for now, T if I write more

[uruuk]

[hold] for sender to slide their hand into receiver's.

THE SHOW OF AFFECTION AMID SUCH INNER TURMOIL AND EMOTION WAS NOT UNJUSTIFIED, NOR SURPRISED ADAR IN ITSELF. the wind whipping inky black strands, unconfined or restricted as it brushes over his shoulders . . . laden with the grime and blood-tainted curls of THE HERALD. the forehead of whom rests in its scrunched defeat and profound disappointment in the seeming betrayal of a friend . . . inhales he can tell the young elf tries to control softly fanning beneath his armour. ADAR'S HAND IS SECURED TIGHTLY TO THE BACK OF ELROND'S NECK WHILE HE STARES AT THE BREACHED WALL, WITH HIS OTHER TO HIS SIDE. ring safe, in a place where the elf's sticky fingers could not reach undetected. not foolish enough to allow him close while capable of such sleight of hand, nor to hand off to one of his sons to carry...

HE AND THE SILVAN . . . HE GIVES THEM EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SMART DECISIONS. EVEN SO MUCH AS TELL THEM OUTRIGHT. HOWEVER, EACH TIME THEY ONLY PLAY INTO HIS HANDS. BOTH LEARNED A HARD LESSON TODAY. NOT TO LET THEIR PREJUDICE BLIND THEM. the judgement of his kin or his purpose met with some measure of justice, in the adamant refusal to concede to the truths that are right in front of you.

"a courtier, still..." his wispy voice speaks against the wind of ost-in-edhil. A BITTER, PERHAPS CALLOUS REMINDER WHEN ONE CONTEMPLATES THE SHARED MOMENTS BETWEEN THEM. his tone maintains a command as he has earned, YET RETAINS SOME SOFTNESS HE HAD ONCE RESERVED FOR THE HALF-ELF. JAW CLENCHING, AND EXPRESSION TIGHTENING AS A SOFT HAND SLIPS INTO HIS OWN. his eyes squinting softly as his chin raises. PALE FINGERS CURLING AROUND THE PINK ONES WITHIN.

"but you lived, commander elrond." it's a whisper, JUST LOUD ENOUGH FOR THE HERALD TO HEAR. trembled from his lips somberly. as if he had just realized that they may have all but missed their chance, in this life. THE STENCH OF BLOOD AND DEATH IS A STARK AND VISCERAL REMINDER, AS IT NAUSEATES HIM. CLOAKING THEM, IN THE GROANS OF THE HALF-SPENT AND THE RUIN OF THE REALM'S CAPITOL. barren battleground of scattered corpses punctuated by snarls of kin beyond the wall.

@elr0nds. soft touch.

[daz4i]

?

passover is tomorrow! originally, the month it occurs in - nisan - was the beginning of the new year (bc i mean. spring and new life of nature etc), however chazal said that adam was created in tishrei, and thus the jewish new year was moved to tishrei, which was originally the seventh month in the calendar

another interesting thing abt the jewish calendar is that every few years we get an extra month - or rather, we double the month of adar lol. if you're ever curious about how, for example, passover was at the end of march last year, but is at the end of april now, this is why!

[doriangray1789]

Bir adam yağmalanmış bir şehrin ganimetlerinden eşi bulunmaz bir halıyı satmaya çalışıyordu. 

-“Bu halı için kim yüz altın verir? diye bağırarak tüm kenti dolaştı. 

Satış tamamlandıktan sonra birisi satıcıya yanaşarak, 

-“Bu paha biçilmez halı için niye daha fazla istemedin?” diye sordu. 

Satıcı karşılık verdi: 

-“Yüzden büyük sayı var mı?” 

Bu hikayede halı satıcısına güler geçeriz, Oysa çok da farklı değiliz..20. yüzyıl insanı, çağa egemen olan teknoloji dininin tutsağıdır. Teknoloji dini maksimum üretim, sınırsız kar ve bencillik üzerine kurulan kapitalist kültürün gerçek adıdır. Teknoloji dini ruhsuz ve sevgisizdir. Bir anne gibi şefkat ve ilgi göstermese de, yavrularının ihtiyaçlarını karşılamaya çalışır. Gerçekte bu anne yavrularının kanıyla beslenen bir vampirden farksızdır. İşin ilginç yanı bu insanlar, “ne kadar tüketirsen o kadar insansın” anlayışının egemenliği altında kendi varlıklarına yabancılaşmaktadır. Bu tür insanlar derin bir varoluşsal boşlukta yaşarlar. Nasıl oluyor da insan içinde bulunduğu, gördüğü, dokunduğu, hissettiği “gerçekliğe” ve onun aşkın boyutuna yabancılaşır?

Nasıl olur da bütün dinlerde Tanrı��nın yeryüzünde temsilcisi olmak üzere donatılmış varlığını tümüyle tüketime, bedensel hazlara adar? Nasıl olur da en görkemli sanat eserlerini oluşturacak; en anlaşılmaz olayların, olguların yasalarını çözebilecek yeteneklerle donatılmışken hayatını ucuz gösterilerin nesnesi haline getirir? Evrenle, onun tüm sırlarıyla uyum sağlayacak bilgelik araçlarıyla donatılmış beyni salt günübirlik hayata uyum sağlama aracına dönüştürülebilir? O sadece bir tek dil biliyor: “daha fazla”. O her zaman boş, o her zaman bir dilenci. Belki burada Irvin D. Yalom’un tespitlerini paylaşmam gerekli: Hayatın düzenleri içinde dişe dokunur bir gaye bulabilme yönünde sürüp giden arayışımız, çoğu durumda bunalıma sürükler bizi. Hayatta bir gayeye sahip olma konusundaki kaygılarından dolayı terapiye başvuran insanların sayısı, genellikle terapistlerin sandığından daha fazladır. Söz gelimi Jung’un tahminine göre hastaların üçte biri ona bu nedenle gelmekteydi; “Ama şikayetleri çok farklı biçimlere bürünmüş olabilir. Mesela “Hayatımda bütünlük, tutarlılık yok”, “Hiçbir şeye istek duymuyorum”, “Neden yaşıyorum ben? Ne için? Hayatın daha derin anlamı olmalı mutlaka”, “Büyük bir boşluk içindeyim. Her akşam TV izleye izleye kendimi çok anlamsız, işe yaramaz hisseder oldum”, “Elli yaşıma geldim, büyüyünce ne olmak istediğimi hala bilmiyorum.” Bilmek zorundayız. Kendi varlığı ve çevresinde olup bitenler üzerine düşünebilen tek canlı biziz. Yalom bir konferansında şöyle bir karikatürden söz eder; birkaç kareden oluşuyordu, her karesinde bir canlı türü yer alıyordu. Solucan, balık, kuş, yılan, inek gibi. Her karedeki yaratık aynı nakaratı tekrarlıyordu: “Ye, iç, yaşa, üre. Ye, iç, yaşa, üre”. Son karede ise Rodin’in Düşünen Adam’ı pozunda bir insan vardı. Ve o da şöyle söylenip duruyordu: “Bütün bunların anlamı  ne? Bütün bunların anlamı ne?” Öyle görünüyor ki bütün canlılar meselenin özünü kavramış ama biz insanların bir türlü aklı almıyor. Aklımızın alacağı bir noktaya geldik. Yazının girişinde W. James’ten alıntılayarak işaret ettiğim büyük devrim; insanların zihinlerinin içlerini değiştirerek hayatlarının da değişebileceği gerçeğinin keşfedilmesidir. Bu keşif bize hangi kapıları açıyor? Bunun üzerinde düşünmeliyiz. İnsana onun hayatta kalmasını sağlayacak bir zekâ verilmiştir. Fakat hayatta kalması garantilenmemiştir. Beden verilmiştir fakat bedenin beslenmesini devam ettirme verilmemiştir. Ona akıl verilmiştir aklının içeriği verilmemiştir. Başka bir deyişle insan iradeye dayalı bilinçli bir varlıktır. Aklı otomatik olarak çalışmaz; düşünme mekanik bir işlem değildir, mantık bağlantıları içgüdüyle yapılmaz. Kendi dönüşüm araçlarını kendi içinde taşımayan olumsuz süreç yoktur, gerçeğini bugün görmenin tam zamanı. Modernleşme bizi bir başka noktaya daha getirdi. Kapitalist kültür bir taraftan insan aklını tutsak ederken diğer yandan da özgür bilim adamlarının yetişmesine, özgür üniversitelerin kurulmasına yol açtı. Özgür bilim adamları ve özgür kurumlar da bir çoğumuzun haberdar olmadığı bir gerçeği gün yüzüne çıkardılar:” İnsanlar zihinlerinin içini,  içeriğini değiştirerek hayatlarını değiştirebilirler.” Bu gerçeği çok iyi kullanan medya ve sermaye arzu ettikleri insan tipini; bu insan tipinin neleri sevmesi gerektiğine, nelere karşı olacağına, hangi ürünleri tüketeceğine, nasıl yaşayacağına, neye inanacağına da karar verdiler. Başka bir deyişle insanı ve onun hayatının belirleyicisi olacak temel soruların cevabını doğrudan ya da dolaylı biçimde oluşturdular. Doğrudan ya da dolaylı bir şekilde insanlık koşullandırıldı. Bugün Amerikan emperyalizminin dünyada egemenlik kurmasının öncülerinin kültür araçları olduğunu hepimiz biliyoruz.