Niggle the Artist

[Bainespal]

Last week I read Tolkien's short story "Leaf By Niggle," published in the book Tree and Leaf. I'd read the essay "On Fairy Stories" from Tree and Leaf a couple years ago, but I hadn't made time to read "Leaf By Niggle" before I returned the library's copy. I think I must have been crazy for not having read it before, but at any rate, it now has spoken deeply to me -- probably more deeply than it would have before.

Here's the characterization of Niggle:

Niggle was a painter. Not a very successful one, partly because he had many other things to do. Most of these things he thought were a nuisance; but he did them fairly well, when he could not get out of them: which (in his opinion) was far too often. [...] ...he was sometimes just idle, and did nothing at all. [...] ...he was kindhearted, in a way. You know the sort of kind heart: it made him uncomfortable more often than it made him do anything; and even when he did anything, it did not prevent him from grumbling, losing his temper, and swearing (mostly to himself).

(from the 1965 edition of Tree and Leaf, p.87)

I may not be a painter, but I feel like I'm finally understood.

And later, when Niggle's unfinished and unappreciated vision turns out to have a tangible and terribly real truth, I cried.

[Kristen]

That's fantastic. I have a character who's an artist, and this could describe him as well.

[metalikhan]

I finally got the library copy of Tree and Leaf last week (had a hold request on it half of forever!) and really enjoyed it. Sad and strange and wonderful.

[tris]

I've always loved Leaf by Niggle. Such an excellent tale and very comforting for the exact reason you stated, Bainspal! Our stories are part of something greater--we just can't see it yet. Our business is to write (or paint, or sing, or cook, or whatever it is that captures our passion and vision.