Tolkien’s ‘Silmarillion’ and the problem of evil

In the opening pages of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Silmarillion, we meet the character of Eru, also called Ilúvatar, (representing God in Tolkien’s universe) who creates a great theme of music in which he allows the Ainur, (representing the angels in Tolkien’s universe) his first creations to partake in. In this great theme there is a beautiful harmony. There is a great harmony until one of the Ainur, Melkor, (representing Satan in Tolkien’s universe) who had been given the greatest gifts of knowledge and power, creates a discord within the theme by adding his own:

“But as the theme progressed, it came into the heart of Melkor to interweave matters of his own imagining that were not in accord with the theme of Ilúvatar…” (4)

Eventually, the discord of Melkor becomes even greater and seemed to drown out the original theme of Ilúvatar:

“Then the discord of Melkor spread ever wider, and the melodies which had been heard before foundered in a sea of turbulent sound.” (5)

It is interesting to note that when the theme of Melkor tries to drown out the theme of Ilúvatar, “…it seemed that its most triumphant notes were taken by the other [the theme of Ilúvatar] and woven into its own solemn pattern.” (5)

This brief section of the Silmarillion is a beautiful parallel to the Christian understanding of why God permits evil in the world. The theme of Ilúvatar is a harmony and can represent our life or God’s will for us. The theme of Melkor represents all of the bad things that happen to us. We are often tempted to ask God why He could allow evil or bad things to happen to us, or even allow them to exist in the world? The Catechism of the Catholic Church offers us a very concise answer to this question:

“In time we can discover that God in his almighty providence can bring a good from the consequences of evil, even a moral evil caused by his creatures…” (CCC 312)

Thus, God allows evil so that He might bring about a greater good. There is no evil that Satan can cause that God cannot bring about a greater good because of it. As St. Paul tells us, “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” (Rom. 5:20) We find a rather famous example of this in the Old Testament when we see Joseph sold into slavery to Egypt by his own brothers. God used this evil that had befallen Joseph to help him interpret the dreams of Pharoah, become the second most important person in Egypt, and save his family! (see Genesis 37; 39-45) In the Silmarillion, Ilúvatar tells Melkor this very fact:

“And thou Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine  instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.” (6)

In conclusion, God can take the discord that Satan puts in our lives and weave it into His own theme, His will for us. The greatest example of this is the Death of Jesus on the Cross. The greatest evil this world has ever faced is when humanity killed God. What was the good that came from His sacrificial death? The Redemption of the human race.