Review: The Silmarillion – Ainulindalë: The Music of the Ainur

Introduction

The Ainulindalë ("The Music of the Ainur") is the opening chapter of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion, a work that lays the foundation for the entire mythos of Middle-earth. Often overshadowed by The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, The Silmarillion provides a rich, ancient history of the world, steeped in divine intervention, creation, and cosmic struggle. In Ainulindalë, Tolkien weaves a tale of the creation of the universe, presenting a cosmic symphony directed by Eru Ilúvatar, the supreme deity of Middle-earth, and performed by the Ainur, the holy spirits. It is a creation myth of extraordinary depth and complexity, and in many ways, it serves as the philosophical heart of Tolkien's legendarium.

評論：《精靈寶鑽》— 埃努的大樂章

引言

《埃努的大樂章》（Ainulindalë，即「艾努爾之音」）是J.R.R. 托爾金《精靈寶鑽》中的開篇章節，也是整個中土世界神話的起源之一。這部作品通常被《魔戒》三部曲和《哈比人》所掩蓋，但它實際上為整個中土的歷史奠定了基礎，充滿了神性介入、創世和宇宙間的鬥爭。在《埃努的大樂章》中，托爾金編織了一個有關宇宙創造的故事，呈現出由至高神伊露維塔（Eru Ilúvatar）主導的宇宙交響曲，並由他的聖靈——艾努爾（Ainur）演奏。這是一個極具深度和複雜性的創世神話，從某種角度來看，它是托爾金整個傳說體系的哲學核心。

Cosmic Origins: The Creation of the Ainur

At the very beginning of the Ainulindalë, Eru Ilúvatar is introduced as the One, the ultimate creator of all things. The Ainur, the holy and powerful spirits, are his first creations. These beings exist beyond the material realm and represent aspects of Ilúvatar’s mind. Their existence is not physical, but rather metaphysical, embodying his wisdom, beauty, strength, and various other traits.

Eru presents the Ainur with a grand vision of the universe. The Ainur are each given the gift of music, a symbolic tool that represents their ability to shape the world through creativity. Each spirit creates its own melody, and through their music, they are able to express their individual powers, personalities, and inclinations. This act of creation through music is not only a literal act of crafting the world but also a symbolic representation of the deep connection between art, thought, and existence in Tolkien’s worldview.

宇宙的起源：艾努爾的創造

在《埃努的大樂章》的一開始，伊露維塔（Eru Ilúvatar）被介紹為唯一的創造者，萬物的終極創造者。艾努爾（Ainur），這些神聖且強大的靈體，是他最初的創造物。這些存在超越了物質的領域，代表了伊露維塔心靈的各個面向。他們的存在並非物理性的，而是形而上的，具體表現出伊露維塔的智慧、美麗、力量和其他各種特徵。

伊露維塔向艾努爾展示了一個宏大的宇宙願景。每一位艾努爾都獲得了音樂的禮物，這是一個象徵性的工具，代表了他們通過創造力塑造世界的能力。每個靈體創作出自己獨特的旋律，並且透過他們的音樂，表達了各自的力量、個性和傾向。這一創造過程通過音樂的表現，不僅是字面上塑造世界的行為，也是托爾金世界觀中藝術、思想和存在之間深刻聯繫的象徵表現。

The Great Music: Harmony and Discord

The most striking feature of Ainulindalë is the way Tolkien explores the power of music as a creative force. The Ainur’s music is initially harmonious, reflecting the divine purpose of Eru Ilúvatar. However, the introduction of Melkor, the most powerful of the Ainur, leads to discord. Melkor, desiring to craft his own themes and seeking dominion over the music, introduces a counterpoint that disrupts the harmony. This act of discord mirrors Melkor’s eventual fall from grace and his desire for control, power, and separation from Eru’s design.

The tension between harmony and discord is central to the chapter, representing the eternal conflict between good and evil, order and chaos. Eru Ilúvatar does not intervene directly but allows the Ainur to continue their music, both accepting and correcting the discord. This creates a new and more complex harmony, where the music becomes richer and more nuanced. This idea of good emerging through struggle and conflict is a recurring theme throughout Tolkien’s works.

偉大的音樂：和諧與不和諧

《埃努的大樂章》最引人注目的特點之一，是托爾金如何探索音樂作為創造性力量的力量。最初，艾努爾的音樂是和諧的，反映出伊露維塔（Eru Ilúvatar）的神聖目的。然而，當艾努爾中最強大的存在米爾寇（Melkor）出現時，這份和諧被打破。米爾寇渴望創作屬於自己的主題，並尋求控制音樂，進而引入了對位，破壞了音樂的和諧。這一不和諧的行為，預示著米爾寇最終的墮落，以及他對控制、權力和與伊露維塔設計的分離的渴望。

和諧與不和諧之間的張力是本章的核心，代表著善與惡、秩序與混沌之間的永恆衝突。伊露維塔並未直接介入，而是允許艾努爾繼續他們的音樂，既接受又糾正這種不和諧。這樣產生了一種全新的、更複雜的和諧，使得音樂變得更加豐富和細緻。這種善良通過鬥爭和衝突而誕生的理念，貫穿了托爾金的作品，成為一個反覆出現的主題。

The Vision of the World: The Creation of Eä

As the music progresses, it takes form, and the vision of the world, known as Eä, begins to emerge. This vision is not a mere reflection of the Ainur’s thoughts, but a fully realized universe, with its physical properties, landscapes, and the potential for life. The world that is created is imperfect and subject to change, which makes it unique within the scope of Eru Ilúvatar’s divine creation.

Eru Ilúvatar reveals to the Ainur that the world they have shaped through their music is to be made real. He bids them enter into it, and the Ainur who are willing to descend into the world do so, becoming the Valar (the Powers of the World) and the Maiar (lesser spirits who serve them). Through their continued influence, the world will grow and evolve, with each of them playing a role in the shaping of history.

This transition from abstract music to tangible creation emphasizes Tolkien’s view of the world as a place of ongoing growth and struggle, where even the divine beings must adapt to the material realm. It also underscores the idea that all things, even the most divine and immortal, are bound to the fate of the world.

世界的願景：埃亞的創造

隨著音樂的發展，宇宙逐漸成形，世界的願景——埃亞（Eä）開始浮現。這個願景並非僅僅是艾努爾（Ainur）思想的反映，而是一個完全實現的宇宙，擁有其物理特性、景觀和生命的潛力。這個創造出來的世界並不完美，並且會隨著時間改變，這使得它在伊露維塔（Eru Ilúvatar）神聖創造的範疇中顯得獨特。

伊露維塔向艾努爾顯示，他們通過音樂塑造的這個世界將成為現實。他命令他們進入這個世界，願意降臨的艾努爾便進入其中，成為了維拉（Valar，世界的力量）和邁雅（Maiar，服侍維拉的較低等靈體）。通過他們持續的影響，這個世界將不斷成長與演變，每一位艾努爾都在塑造歷史的過程中扮演著重要的角色。

這一從抽象音樂到具象創造的過渡，強調了托爾金對世界的看法，認為這是一個不斷成長與掙扎的地方，甚至連神聖的存在也必須適應物質領域。它同時強調了一個觀點：所有事物，甚至最神聖與不朽的存在，都註定要與這個世界的命運緊密相連。

Themes and Symbolism: The Role of Free Will and Providence

A central theme in Ainulindalë is the concept of free will versus providence. Eru Ilúvatar, while being the ultimate creator, allows his creations, particularly the Ainur, the freedom to act and influence the world. This freedom leads to both beauty and tragedy, as Melkor’s desire for autonomy leads to the introduction of evil into the world. The tension between destiny and free will is explored in depth, as Melkor’s discordant themes do not disrupt the greater plan of the universe but rather add to its complexity and depth.

This idea is reflective of the larger themes that would later permeate The Silmarillion and Tolkien’s other works, where characters must struggle against their own desires, flaws, and fate. It is through this struggle that true greatness, whether in a hero or a villain, is often revealed. The inclusion of Melkor’s fall is an essential aspect of Tolkien’s moral framework, illustrating how the misuse of power can lead to corruption, yet also highlighting the ultimate victory of the greater good.

主題與象徵：自由意志與命運的角色

《埃努的大樂章》中的一個核心主題是自由意志與命運之間的對立。伊露維塔（Eru Ilúvatar）作為至高無上的創造者，雖然創造了所有事物，但他允許他的創造物，特別是艾努爾（Ainur），擁有行動與影響世界的自由。這種自由帶來了美麗與悲劇，因為米爾寇（Melkor）對自主的渴望使得邪惡進入了這個世界。命運與自由意志之間的緊張關係被深入探討，米爾寇的不協和音符雖然打破了宇宙的和諧，但並沒有擾亂整體的宇宙計劃，而是使其更加複雜和深刻。

這一觀點反映了托爾金在《精靈寶鑽》（The Silmarillion）及其他作品中探討的更大主題，那就是角色們必須與自己的慾望、缺陷和命運作鬥爭。正是通過這場掙扎，無論是英雄還是反派，真正的偉大才得以顯現。米爾寇的墮落是托爾金道德框架中的一個關鍵部分，這不僅展示了權力的誤用如何導致腐化，也突顯了最終善良的勝利。

Conclusion: A Mythological Foundation

Ainulindalë is a profound introduction to The Silmarillion, setting the stage for the expansive mythology of Middle-earth. Through the use of music, Tolkien offers a poetic and philosophical lens through which to view creation, conflict, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. The Ainulindalë does not just serve as a creation myth but as a theological exploration of free will, destiny, and the interconnection between all beings.

In a broader sense, Ainulindalë encapsulates the essence of Tolkien’s writing: a blending of mythology, philosophy, and language. Its symbolism resonates deeply with readers, offering a timeless reflection on the complexities of creation, the nature of power, and the inevitability of change. It is a story that speaks not only to the creation of a world but to the ongoing creation of meaning itself in the lives of its inhabitants.

In essence, Ainulindalë is the heart of The Silmarillion, a musical expression of Tolkien’s belief in the power of narrative to shape the universe, both in fiction and in the real world. Through its music, the universe of Middle-earth is born, with all its joys, sorrows, triumphs, and tragedies.

結論：神話的基礎

《埃努的大樂章》是《精靈寶鑽》（The Silmarillion）的深刻引子，為中土世界的廣大神話奠定了基礎。通過音樂的運用，托爾金提供了一個詩意和哲學的視角，讓讀者得以觀看創造、衝突，以及善與惡之間永恆鬥爭的故事。《埃努的大樂章》不僅僅是創世神話，還是一場對自由意志、命運和所有生物之間相互聯繫的神學探索。

從更廣泛的角度來看，《埃努的大樂章》概括了托爾金寫作的精髓：神話、哲學與語言的融合。其象徵意涵深深共鳴於讀者心中，並提供了對創造的複雜性、權力的本質以及變化的必然性的一種永恆反思。這不僅是一個講述世界創造的故事，更是對其居民生活中意義不斷創造的探討。

本質上，《埃努的大樂章》是《精靈寶鑽》的核心，是托爾金相信敘事力量的音樂表達，這種力量能夠塑造宇宙，無論是在虛構世界中還是在現實世界中。通過這首音樂，中土的宇宙誕生了，並帶來了所有的喜悅、悲傷、勝利與悲劇。