I have finally gotten around treading The New Shadow and oh boy I have thoughts.
Of all of the works Tolkien ever wrote, this one feels the most... Human. It reminds me of the late Númenor in a way, with Borlas representing the Faithful - an echo of the days of past glory, one who remembers the old struggle and keeps his ideals; with Gondor as the ever-beautiful Númenor even after the corruption; with Saelon representing the corruption, how fast the time passes for mortal Men - how much can change in such a short time, how easy it is to forget the past struggles when all you've ever known is peace.
Saelon feels so very human, because he could be any of us. We did not grow up in times of epic songs and ballads and legends that would be remembered for thousands of years, with our homes being destroyed and the land of shadow right next to us, constantly surrounded by enemies - not like Borlas. No, we (or at least I assume for the most part) grew up in peaceful times, with corrupt politicians, and bad economical situation, but we did not have the embodiment of evil on our doorstep.
And how many people in our world ended like Saelon? How many people fall in with the wrong sort and become like them, whether they want to or not? How many do not realize they are hurting themselves, others - or do not care until it's too late, if any care is left in them at all? Saelon doesn't realize how careless he is with throwing words around and speaks lightly of things others are terrified of - because he had never known those things. He had never known better. And he is young - he wants to be useful. To prove himself. In any way.
To be clear, the text never specified Saelon joined with Herumor, but it's pretty clear he is in contact with him.
And the story of the fruit? To me, it seemed as if Borlas and Saelon both were looking at the matter from a very different point of view. It's just a fruit, thinks Saelon, but Borlas learned to cherish such things - and honestly, the fruit could easily parallel other things. The thought that immediately came to my mind was children and their loss of naivety and innocence, children in war; the innocent having their worldview broken.
And Borlas represents the rest of us, the on-lookers - those who see the corruption and lies of the world but are either too afraid to do anything, or lost hope they'll achieve anything, or try their hardest but it's not enough.
The theme is so much darker than LotR, than The Hobbit, and even many parts of The Silmarillion - because we know what happened before, how LotR ended, how the characters lived afterwards. And seeing it all crumble under human nature is devasting - even as good and hope prevail in little things, in details, waiting in the corner to sprung out and punch the darkness in the face.
Christopher Tolkien saying he wished his father finished writing this is very much valid and I agree.
