In the previous post, we had put forth Tolkien's view that all of us tend toward domination of relationships on some level. That this is part of the fallen nature of humanity recalls the story of the first humans in the book of Genesis. The fruit of the tree of knowledge is a temptation to Adam and Eve only when it becomes enframed for them, a tool to some end that had not previously been a part of their reality (see "Enframing in Tolkien" post below for an introduction to this discussion). There is no suggestion in the biblical text that they are in need of the fruit for sustenance. Likewise, there is no mention of malicious intent on the part of the serpent: it is simply referred to as crafty (translated from the Greek word meaning “understanding associated w. insight and wisdom, sensible, thoughtful, prudent, wise”[1]). In fact, the serpent isn’t even lying; he creates desire in the first humans where it had not existed, and then quite simply presents the facts in a slightly twisted way so as to offer justification for the newly born human desire. The fruit of the tree was no longer a prohibited but un-needed part of their world with which their primary relationship was to enjoy its beauty in and of itself, but was rather a device for their becoming “like God, knowing good from evil.”[2] The tragedy born by this creation myth is twofold: the relationship between creature and Creator was changed, as well as that between humanity and nature.
To stop here, however, leaves us with the notion that it is knowledge, or perhaps even wisdom that began the downward spiral of humanity. If the serpent is wise and in fact does have new information for Adam and Eve, it needs also to be said that this information is only true in a particular sense; it remains incomplete. The serpent informs Eve that she and Adam will not die; and it is right in a literal sense, for God does not put them to death. But in another sense, death is indeed the product of the altered relationship between God and humanity, especially if we consider (as much of scripture alludes to) that life is properly defined as right relationship with the Creator. The tree of life, which was not said to have been prohibited before, was now inaccessible through expulsion from its presence. Since we are not told that the serpent tried to deceive the humans with his wisdom, which again was not incorrect as stated, it was the use made of the wisdom, its purpose, if you will, that soured the relationships at hand.
(Ken, the two paragraphs above could introduce the looks at both the Palantir and Galadriel's mirror. That's a lot of stuff - could be either a long post or a two-parter. I'd hate to leave either one hanging, though - unexpounded, so to speak.)
[1] Bauer, Danker. A Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000)
[2] Genesis 3:5, NRSV translation
