The Good Catastrophe: Tolkien on the Consolation of the Happy Ending John Stanifer Morehead State University

Inklings Forever Volume 9 A Collection of Essays Presented at the Ninth Frances White Ewbank Colloquium on C.S. Lewis & Article 16 Friends

5-29-2014 The Good Catastrophe: Tolkien on the Consolation of the Happy Ending John Stanifer Morehead State University

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INKLINGS FOREVER, Volume IX

A Collection of Essays Presented at the Ninth FRANCES WHITE EWBANK COLLOQUIUM on C.S. LEWIS & FRIENDS

Taylor University 2014 Upland, Indiana

The Good Catastrophe: Tolkien on the Consolation of the Happy Ending

John Stanifer Morehead State University

Stanifer, John. “The Good Catastrophe: Tolkien on the Consolation of the Happy Ending.” Inklings Forever 9 (2014) www.taylor.edu/cslewis

The Good Catastrophe: Tolkien on the Consolation of the Happy Ending

John Stanifer Morehead State University

When evaluating any writer’s legacy, to that happy ending. Eucatastrophe is “a the most rewarding questions to ask are not sudden and miraculous grace: never to be always the obvious ones. Questions like counted on to recur” (86). Tolkien insisted “What is the meaning of such-and-such that the joy this sudden turn invites in the work?” and “How did this or that event in the reader “is not essentially ‘escapist,’ nor writer’s life influence their writing?” are ‘fugitive’ . . . It does not deny the existence of . helpful, but such questions have a tendency to . . sorrow and failure: the possibility of these keep the reader’s attention focused internally is necessary to the joy of deliverance” (86). on the writer or the work itself. Just as Much has been made of Tolkien’s important are the external questions that description of the eucatastrophe concept and explicitly call our attention to the world of how it helps us understand the effect a outside of the writer. Examples of external good story can have on the reader. Richard questions include “How does this writer help Fehrenbacher argues that eucatastrophe is us to better appreciate the works of other the “major narrative trope” in The Lord of the writers?” and “How does this writer’s Rings and cites “Gandalf’s resurrection after worldview equip us to face the world at his duel with the Balrog” and “Sam and large?” Frodo’s rescue by eagles on the slopes of Scholars have been asking such Mount Doom,” among other episodes from questions about J.R.R. Tolkien for decades. In the text, in laying out his case (104-105).1 his oft-quoted and much-discussed essay “On This is not to say that Tolkien’s description of Fairy-stories,” Tolkien coined a term that has eucatastrophe is easy to grasp in its fullness, enabled a deeper understanding of what much less is it the final word on the subject. makes fairy-stories—and other types of Derek Shank insists that “the eucatastrophe is stories, for that matter—so attractive and so precisely the point where words fail us, powerful. The term is “eucatastrophe” and where any attempt at explication by the critic consists of the Greek prefix “eu” meaning is in vain. All Tolkien can hope to accomplish “good” and the word “catastrophe” meaning is to re-create . . . the same effect that he “catastrophe.” It is tempting to define this himself has felt” (158). In spite of this so- term by resorting to a more familiar phrase called impossibility of explaining the like “happily ever after” or simply “happy eucatastrophe, critics continue to apply the ending,” but Tolkien does not quite allow us term to more recent literary bestsellers such to get away with this. “Eucatastrophe” refers as J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Susan not to the ending of a fairy-story in and of Johnston calls the structure of eucatastrophe itself, but to the “sudden, joyous turn” leading “essentially Christian” and echoes Tolkien’s The Good Catastrophe · John Stanifer own statements that connect the novel, Blackmore offers a short explanation of eucatastrophe of the fairy-story with “the the genre he chose: mere Christianity of the Inklings, which takes the narrative of Christ’s Incarnation, Passion, This work is called a “romance,” and Resurrection as explicitly a structure of because the incidents, characters, hope” (68). Johnston labels the Harry Potter time, and scenery, are alike series as “fundamentally hopeful, in a very romantic. And in shaping this old specific Christian sense” (69). tale, the Writer neither dares, nor Such arguments are helpful but have desires, to claim for it the dignity or tended as a whole to focus on a very narrow cumber it with the difficulty of an range of literature. The eucatastrophe may historic novel. be present in the best fairy-stories, and it may And yet he thinks that the be present in The Lord of the Rings, The outlines are filled in more carefully, Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter. What and the situations (however simple) is the curious scholar to do with other genres more warmly coloured and and mediums that Tolkien was either unable quickened, than a reader would or unwilling to consider for his readers? expect to find in what is called a What of film and television? If we dare to “legend.” (3) venture a short distance outside the box of Western literature and civilization, will we Lorna Doone is a romance in the vein of Sir find the eucatastrophe in the popular Walter Scott’s novel Waverley. It is thus a entertainment of the East? I believe the mixture of history and fabrication. There are answer to that last question is a resounding no elves or wizards or fairy godmothers here yes. The eucatastrophe is a device well- except in the folklore of the locals. What known to cultures around the globe. While it readers do get is a major eucatastrophe. The may not be known by that name, it is a main thread of Lorna Doone is the love story literary rose that smells as sweet, whether between John Ridd the farmer and Lorna, the found in the West or the East. Of course, last surviving member of an aristocratic there is not enough time or space in this family. After many trials, John succeeds in context to prove that the eucatastrophe is a rescuing Lorna from the Doones, the tribe of device that is universally acknowledged. On robbers who kidnapped Lorna as a child. For the other hand, it is possible to demonstrate his bravery in clearing out the Doone that the eucatastrophe is present in a much stronghold, John is rewarded with a wider cultural context than Tolkien gave it. knighthood enabling him to marry the Fairy-stories and fantasy novels are just the highborn Lorna. The eucatastrophe comes in beginning. I will use select examples from when Carver Doone, John’s rival for Lorna’s Japanese film and Korean TV drama to show affections, shoots Lorna at the altar on her the extreme versatility of the eucatastrophe wedding day. Everyone assumes Lorna is or “sudden happy turn” as Tolkien defined it. dead—all except John’s cousin Ruth, who First, I think it is important to immediately leaps to Lorna’s aid with her establish that the eucatastrophe is not limited medical expertise. After a miserable period of by genre. One example, a little closer to waiting, the turn comes at last thanks to Tolkien’s geographical context than Japan or Ruth’s ministrations. The eucatastrophe in Korea, is the 1869 novel Lorna Doone by Lorna Doone is explicitly Christian. First, British writer R.D. Blackmore. Lorna Doone is when Lorna is shot, John refers to her as “the not a fairy-story or a fantasy novel, at least in young death in my arms” and describes her the sense that is apparently intended by using several other images of death (649, ch. Tolkien in “On Fairy-stories” and in his LXXIV). When Ruth takes over, one of her personal correspondence with his son first actions is to call for Spanish wine and Christopher.2 In his original preface to the pour it into Lorna’s mouth using a christening The Good Catastrophe · John Stanifer spoon, all while Lorna lies senseless on the on the true story of a 22-year-old geek or door of the church pulpit (656, ch. LXXIV). “otaku” who decided to break out of his When Lorna begins to show signs of recovery, antisocial cocoon and intervene one night on John expresses his feelings in terms of his the subway when a drunken businessman religious faith: “I felt my life come back, and began harassing the other passengers, glow; I felt my trust in God revive; I felt the including a young office woman. The young joy of living and of loving dearer things than woman expresses her gratitude for Train life; who feels can never tell of it” (661, ch. Man’s assistance by sending him a set of LXXV). “Who feels can never tell of it” recalls expensive Hermes tea cups. Lacking the Shank’s assertion that the eucatastrophe confidence to interact with women, Train cannot be adequately pinned down with Man seeks advice from the denizens of his words alone. For the last few decades, favorite Internet chat room. From shaving scholars have largely ignored Lorna Doone, cream and hair salons to sport coats and though it once enjoyed a wide readership. dress shoes, Train Man learns the ropes from Still, Max Keith Sutton has noted this his anonymous benefactors and gathers up important similarity between Blackmore and the courage to invite the young woman to Tolkien: “Promising disaster, with quotations dinner. The relationship proceeds smoothly from Greek tragedy sometimes on the title until Train Man reaches the point where he page, [Blackmore’s] stories move from relies so much on the advice of his online ominous beginnings and acts of violence peers that he loses his confidence and tells toward providential ends—the ‘eu- the woman—always referred to as Hermes catastrophe’ or good turn of fortune that J.R.R. and never by her real name—that he just Tolkien admired in fairy tales and brilliantly doesn’t think their relationship is going to created at the climax of The Lord of the Rings” work out. In the climax of the film adaptation, (38). after Train Man’s friends have lectured him It is outside the scope of the present into believing that he might still have a argument to discuss why Tolkien chose to chance with Hermes, he pursues her into embed such an intriguing concept as the Akihabara, the Japanese equivalent of Silicon eucatastrophe within an article specifically Valley. As in fairy-story, Train Man believes devoted to fairy-stories, leaving out so many that sorrow and failure are very real other literary genres and mediums. Suffice it possibilities. Train Man begins to comb the to say that we need feel no obligation to keep innumerable electronics stores of Akihabara, the concept strictly within the confines of since he knows that Hermes has gone out to fairy land. Now that I have shown a buy a computer using advice he had compelling example of how the eucatastrophe previously offered her. His lowest point can spill over from one genre to another, I comes when he loses his glasses and trips would like to extend the argument further by over a bicycle lying in the road, landing on his using examples from popular Japanese films face. Train Man stays on the ground, and Korean television series to affirm the assuming final defeat until a familiar pair of amazing cultural and geographical dexterity women’s shoes enters the frame and pauses of the concept Tolkien so eloquently codified. in front of his prostrate form. This leads into The first example I have chosen is the a scene in which both parties confess their 2005 Japanese film Train Man. Hector Garcia true feelings and Train Man admits that he classifies Train Man as a “worldwide Japanese had always assumed he would die alone, pop culture phenomenon” and charts the never getting close to another human being. story from its humble beginnings as a “series Though all of this bears an undeniable of messages on the largest Internet forum in resemblance to the framework of countless Japan” to a film, a TV series, multiple literary romantic comedies in film and literature, the and graphic novel adaptations, a stage play, marks of the eucatastrophe are clearly and so on (125). Train Man is allegedly based present. Train Man’s defeated mindset The Good Catastrophe · John Stanifer leading into his final pursuit of Hermes and the life of its protagonist. The initial response his providential encounter with her in the to Train Man suggests that the story hit a streets of Tokyo’s densely packed Akihabara nerve: “The [Train Man] phenomenon district are nothing if not a sudden joyous spurred spin-off events and discussions on turn, a miraculous grace never to be counted the Internet and television shows and was the on to recur. After thinking he had lost the topic of numerous feature articles in weekly greatest opportunity of his life, Train Man is and monthly magazines, many of which rewarded with the fulfillment of his hopes, suggested a need to reevaluate the negative and the story closes in happiness. view of otaku practices” (Fisch 133). Christophe Thouny has pointed out Directors and scriptwriters in the one of Train Man’s mythological dimensions, Korean television industry have a similar which contributes to the effect of the fascination with the eucatastrophe. The eucatastrophe at the end: “The story starts in “Hallyu” or “Korean Wave” is a term that the space of transit . . . the commuter train refers to the increasing popularity of Korean that gives its name to [Train Man] and brings pop culture overseas. “Javabeans” and the goddess Hermes, the messenger of the “Girlfriday,” the online names for two Korean- gods” (122). The sheer unlikelihood of American women who blog regularly about locating a specific person in the absurdly Korean culture—especially Korean TV crowded Akihabara district of Tokyo may dramas—have written a book that clarifies lead some to accuse the filmmakers of using a many aspects of the Korean TV drama or “K- deus ex machina to reunite Train Man and Drama” phenomenon. In the introduction to Hermes. Jeffrey Allinson, in his exploration of this book, it is explained, “By the early 2000s, how the eucatastrophe has been used the Korean Wave had amassed a huge through film, would likely deny the truth of international following, and now grosses this accusation. In the Encyclopedia of billions of dollars annually . . . online access to Religion and Film, Allinson asserts the content has enabled an immediacy of following: consumption abroad, to the point where international fan response is practically in Eucatastrophe is not real time with Korean response” (ch. I). The synonymous with deus ex 2011 K-Drama City Hunter contains a typical machina . . . which is an implausible example of the use of the eucatastrophe in or inept plot device used to escape a this medium. The series consists of twenty storytelling quagmire, nor is it used episodes that follow the trials of a South merely for commercial appeal. Korean black ops agent who is hell-bent on Rather, eucatastrophe makes the taking revenge for the lives of his men who bold claim that the arc of human were assassinated by their own government history ultimately curves towards during a raid on North Korea. The agent justice, restoration, and hope. intends to kill the men who are responsible From this perspective, rescue comes for ordering the assassination, but his not from a conveniently inserted adopted son argues that a far more effective god but is part of the very fabric of a plan would be to expose the crimes of these fictive world. The approach is easily men publicly so that the citizens of Korea will distinguished from films that seek to know the truth and punish the men demonstrate the gritty reality of accordingly without necessarily killing them human existence, such as one might and starting a cycle of needless revenge. In find in film noir. (175) the final episode, the black ops agent makes an assassination attempt on the South Korean At heart, Train Man is a film of hope and president—who happens to be one of the five restoration, allowing for sudden unlikely officials who ordered the killing of the agent’s turns and a series of major transformations in men—and the agent’s adopted son throws The Good Catastrophe · John Stanifer himself in the path of the bullet to save the actress begins to sob, just before what one president. The closing frames of the climactic online reviewer described as “the kiss of the shooting scene depict the father and his century” takes place (hjlyon). Again, the adopted son in a bloody circle symbolizing, words of Tolkien are relevant in this context: among other things, the end of their quest for “It is the mark of a good fairy-story . . . that revenge, and at first the viewer is left however wild its events . . . it can give to child pondering the possibility that both have died. or man that hears it, when the ‘turn’ comes, a In the epilogue, the adopted son’s love catch of the breath . . . near to (or indeed interest is seen strolling through Incheon accompanied by) tears as keen as that given International Airport, presumably preparing by any form of literary art” (86). In what for a flight out of the country. Suddenly, she should probably be read as a forecasting of turns around and finds herself face-to-face the joy the main characters experience in the with the man she loves, who is alive and well ending—as well as an apt definition of the despite the bullet he took to the chest. The eucatastrophe’s effect on the audience—the violence of the preceding shooting and the actress’s apartment contains a couch with unexpected survival of the son instantly several pillows that the audience glimpses morphs the tone of the finale from utter during many scenes set there. On these bleakness to redemption and the possibility pillows are sewn the words of the prayer of of future happiness, as is reflected not-so- Moses from the Old Testament book of subtly in the smiles exchanged between the Numbers: two young people. To borrow Tolkien’s words from “On Fairy-stories,” this kind of The LORD bless you and keep you; ending “denies . . . in the face of much the LORD make his face shine on you evidence . . . universal final defeat . . . giving a and be gracious to you; fleeting glimpse of Joy, Joy beyond the walls the LORD turn his face toward you of the world, poignant as grief” (86). Death and give you peace. (Num 6.24-26) gives way to life, sorrow to joy, in an unexpected act of grace on the part of God— Grace and peace are exactly what most of the or in this case, the screenwriter or sub- characters are left with in The Lord of the creator. Rings, Lorna Doone, Train Man, City Hunter, Such eucatastrophic endings abound and You Who Came from the Stars. The in the realm of Korean TV drama. I will eucatastrophe is a device that exceeds not mention one more very quickly. The 2013 only the fairy-story genre; it also exceeds the drama You Who Came from the Stars features geographical and cultural bounds of Western the romance between an actress and a man literature to embrace non-Western film and from another planet who takes the form of a television. That sudden turn, that catch of the human being. The tension in the series breath, and that beat of the heart revolves around the man’s impending accompanied by tears and the Consolation of departure to his home planet, since delaying the Happy Ending is a powerful and versatile that departure apparently means giving up device capable of touching hearts and minds the opportunity to return home altogether. all over the world. Numerous twists and characters spice up the basic plot, but in the end, the significant point is that the man is forced to return to his planet or die. The actress who loves him is devastated, naturally. Three years go by, and the actress is attending an award ceremony, when she looks into the crowd and sees her lover approaching. Somehow, he has gained the ability to return from his planet. The The Good Catastrophe · John Stanifer

1 Fehrenbacher notes the obvious parallels Johnston, Susan. "Harry Potter, between Beowulf and the Rohan sections of Eucatastrophe, and Christian Hope." The Lord of the Rings, but he also points out Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought an intriguing difference. Where the and Culture 14.1 (2011): 66-90. worldview of Beowulf’s Danish warrior Project MUSE. Web. 25 May 2014. society is essentially pessimistic, foretelling Shank, Derek. "'The Web of Story': death and destruction, Rohan experiences the Structuralism in Tolkien’s 'On Fairy- eucatastrophic trajectory of Tolkien’s vision, stories.'" Tolkien Studies 10 (2013): becoming almost an anti-Beowulf symbol by 147-65. Project MUSE. Web. 25 May end of story. 2014. Sutton, Max Keith. R.D. Blackmore. Boston: 2 See Tolkien’s letter to his son on October 28, Twayne, 1979. Print. Twayne's 1944, for a discussion of the eucatastrophe English Authors 265. that is very similar to the content of “On Thouny, Christophe. "Waiting for the Messiah: Fairy-stories.” The letter can be read in the The Becoming-Myth of Evangelion collection of Tolkien’s correspondence edited and Densha otoko." Mechademia 4 by Humphrey Carpenter (98-102). (2009): 111-29. Print. Tolkien, J.R.R. Letter to Christopher Tolkien. Works Cited 28 Oct. 1944. The Letters of J.R.R.

Tolkien. Ed. Humphrey Carpenter. Allinson, Jeffrey. "Eucatastrophe." Boston: Houghton Milfflin, 1981. 98- Encyclopedia of Religion and Film. Ed. 102. Print. Eric Michael Mazur. Santa Barbara: - - -. "On Fairy-Stories." 1964. The Tolkien ABC-CLIO, 2011. 174-76. Print. Reader. New York: Del Rey-Random Blackmore, R.D. Lorna Doone. 1989. Ed. Sally House, 1966. 33-99. Print. Shuttleworth. Oxford: Oxford UP, Train Man: Densha Otoko. Dir. Shosuke 2008. Print. Oxford World's Classics. Murakami. 2005. VIZ Pictures, 2006. DVD. City Hunter. Dir. Hyuk Jin. YA Entertainment, You Who Came from the Stars. Dir. Tae-yoo 2011. DVD. Jang. SBS. 18 Dec. 2013. DramaFever. Fehrenbacher, Richard. "Beowulf as Fairy- Web. 21 May 2014. story: Enchanting the Elegiac in The Two Towers." Tolkien Studies 3 (2006): 101-15. Project MUSE. Web. 25 May 2014. Fisch, Michael. "War by Metaphor in Densha otoko." Mechademia 4 (2009): 131-46. Print. Garcia, Hector. A Geek in Japan. Tokyo: Tuttle, 2010. Print. Hjlyon. "Final Review – My Love from Another Star." Heidi's Kdramaland. WordPress.com, 28 Feb. 2014. Web. 20 Aug. 2014. The Holy Bible. Colorado Springs: Biblica, 2011. New Intl. Vers. Bible Gateway. Web. 21 May 2014. Javabeans, and Girlfriday. Why Do Dramas Do That? Part 1. Dimension Four, 2013. N. pag. Kindle file.