Lord of the Rings: A Completed Circle or a Collection of Arcs - Essay Example

Lord of the Rings: A completed circle or a collection of arcs? J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic adventure collectively entitled The Lord of the Rings has been examined by critics and fans alike from a variety of viewpoints, approaches and assumptions. It has been argued that he was writing a religious adventure, with parallels drawn between Tolkien’s Catholic faith and the biblical analogies made throughout the text. It has also been argued, as convincingly, that his goal was to bring attention to environmental concerns, illustrating the dichotomy between the nature-nurturing elves that remained a force of good and the nature-destroying and nature-altering evil of Sauron’s armies. Still others have pointed to Tolkien’s wonderfully descriptive term ‘eucatastrophe’ as a means of both describing the ending of the tale as well as to highlight a theme that runs throughout the novel. Political concepts related to the novel have abounded, including everything from an examination of the relationship of steward/king to kingdom and an analogy drawn between the events of the trilogy and the personalities of Joseph Stalin and the West. While this tendency to analyze the work from such isolated viewpoints reveals a wealth of detailed information, the practice also promotes a sense that that trilogy is little more than a pastiche of fragments. However, each of these elements – religion, environment, ‘eucatastrophe’ and the political question of a king vs. a steward – can be seen to provide an important detail that contributes to the cohesiveness of the work as a whole. The overall Christian concept of original sin and the fall of man, especially as it is emphasized within the Catholic tradition, is first suggested in the greater ability of the race of hobbits to resist the pull of the One Ring over that of the humans, who have presumably already fallen out of the Garden of Eden and therefore have already demonstrated a greater susceptibility to evil. This is primarily shown through the quick seduction of Isildur and then Boromir by the ring versus the slow working of it upon Frodo and even Bilbo. However, the hobbits remain connected, however distantly, with humans and are susceptible to the ring if exposed to it for long periods of time, which is exemplified in the Gollum and traced through the effect seen on even good hobbits such as Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. The idea that mankind has fallen is also illustrated in the near-collapsed state of Gondor, a once-great nation, as well as the sad state of affairs to be found in Rohan. The nations of men are about to collapse despite the fact that the elves are in the process of leaving Middle Earth to them. Despite the help offered by the Elves, man is still not capable of redeeming himself. Gondor and Rohan are failing states while Elves are evolving to their next level and hobbits are enjoying a carefree, idyllic life free of harm or concern. If man is to have a hope of a future, they must depend on the strong heart and determined will of a small hobbit just as Christians have faith and hope thanks to the strong heart and determined will of a single man. A final example of the ability of humans to fall to evil can be found in the turning of the Lord Sauron, who wasn’t always evil, but becomes perhaps the most dangerous figures in the trilogy and the wizard Saruman, who had once headed the good wizard’s council. Quoting Elrond the Elf, “… as long as it [the one ring] is in the world it will be a danger even to the Wise. For nothing is evil in the beginning. Even Sauron was not so” (Fellowship, 351). This image suggests Sauron is, like Satan, a being once envisioning great good that fell to the lure of power and greed. This understanding of the story from a Christian context helps to explain the necessity for the several races of hominids as well as establishes the philosophical underpinnings of the political context and necessitates a nature-affirming perspective. In support of the Christian concept and therefore the veneration of things in the natural world as manifestations of God’s work, environment plays a large role in the world of Middle Earth as well as providing a clue as to the political leanings of the characters involved. The House of Elrond, for instance, is described to have been built in such a way as to take greatest advantage of the beautiful scenery around it. Vistas overlooking the river, gardens topping the steep banks, terraces that afford optimal observance of the sunrise and courtyards full of the sounds of falling water are among the natural terms used to describe the Elven homes and the important role of nature in contributing to their beauty and richness. The hobbits live in “a well-ordered and well-farmed countryside … They do not and did not understand or like machines more complicated than a forge-bellows, a water-mill, or a handloom, though they were skillful with tools” (Fellowship, 20). These two races are considered to be the most resistant to the evils of the ring and are the two races living closest to nature. Mankind is shown to have made an attempt to live in close harmony with nature, as in the horsemen of Rohan or the elaborately carved city of Gondor, but continue to enforce their will upon nature rather than working in collaboration with it. The condition of the land and the association the race of man enjoys with it is directly related to the health of the community. Finally, those forces associated with evil can be seen to have no respect at all for nature. This is most evident in the acts of desecration committed by Saruman at the White Tower that finally angers nature to such an extent that it fights back in the form of the awakened Ents. Nature, as an expression of God as well as of justice, is shown to be an unstoppable force, unleashing vast destruction on the armies of Saruman while proving able to withstand the floods they’ve unleashed just as the volcano of Sauron’s land destroys his people completely once his power over it has been broken in the destruction of the ring within the heat of its inner fires. The natural order of things as established by the religious context of the trilogy and as it has been illustrated with the conception of the environment is shown to have significant political effects within the story. When the natural order is upset, the land of men does not work properly. Gondor is seen as a failing city, widely recognized to be in its final days and long past its glory. It has been unable or unwilling to come to the aid of its neighbors in Rohan in honor of long-held treaty agreements. The reason for this general decay is attributed to the ineffective leadership of its steward, Denethor. While this ineffective leadership is only vaguely hinted at throughout much of the series, it is when the travelers arrive in Gondor and see the true nature of the man himself, seeming to teeter on the edge of sanity, that his true incompetence is understood. Likewise, his heir, Boromir, demonstrates a similar weakness of spirit in his capitulation to the temptation of the ring. Boromir’s actions can be seen as heroic and brave, yet he is almost able to justify forcibly taking the ring from Frodo in the wood of Amon Hen despite what he’s learned about the ring thus far in his travels: “True-hearted Men, they will not be corrupted … It [the ring] is a gift, I say; a gift to the foes of Mordor. It is mad not to use it, to use the power of the Enemy against him. The fearless, the ruthless, these alone will achieve victory. What could not a warrior do in this hour, a great leader? … The Ring would give me power of Command. How I would drive the hosts of Mordor, and all men would flock to my banner!” (Fellowship, 515). Only Aragorn, the rightful, true-born king of Gondor, can effectively take control of the city and lead the troops. Likewise, the neighboring community of Rohan can be seen to be in shambles as the result of King Theoden’s enchantment by Saruman. The soldiers are only able to work effectively when Theoden is restored to his right mind, again emphasizing the need for maintaining the natural order of things. The symbiotic relationship between the various elements of Tolkien’s trilogy, the political, environmental and religious concerns for example, make it possible for him to introduce the eucatastrophy, the sudden and surprising happy ending, which he brings about for his characters. Aragorn and the rest of the fellowship is saved from certain death when the Mordor hordes suddenly disperse in fear and dismay at the timely defeat of Sauron, a natural reaction as nature herself fights back against the control that has been forced on her. Frodo and Sam are saved by their lucky discovery of a high rock that elevates them above the lava flows and the equally timely arrival of Gandalf with the Eagles who remain strong enough to carry the hobbits away emphasizing again the higher power from above that can redeem. Even the sudden appearance of Gollum, who had been assumed to be dropped out of the story, is timely as he makes his final desperate act the act of salvation as he plunges into the forge with the ring in his hand. Whether Gollum’s fall is seen as his last evil act as his bites off Frodo’s finger in greed for possession of the ring or as his final act of salvation realizing that Frodo has finally succumbed to its power as well and accurately assesses the only possibility for peace, neither interpretation is without its political, environmental and religious elements. While this sudden happy ending to the story is necessary to fulfill Tolkien’s conception of the trilogy as a message of hope and fulfillment to an otherwise troubled world, it is not possible without the full development of the other elements as well. While The Lord of the Rings trilogy can be seen to develop several different elements and theories with great detail and insight, this discussion has illustrated how each of these elements is necessary to the overall multi-faceted message Tolkien intended. His goal was not to present a world of fractured parts, each playing their own role independently of the other parts, but rather to demonstrate the interactivity and symbiotic relationship that existed within each one. Politics without religious conceptions tended to create monsters with insatiable lusts for power and control. Religious conceptions without an understanding of the natural order of things lead to false assumptions and an equal propensity for falling into evil. Disturbing the natural order of things necessarily distances one from religious conceptions and has a similar capacity for throwing politics and the welfare of the nations out of balance. Once all of these elements are brought into proper perspective and balance with one another, it is finally possible for sudden shifts in action that bring about the ultimate happy ending. It may not be the ending that was expected, as in the case of Frodo who was never able to find the peace he sought back in the Shire once his adventures were through, but even this is shown to be all right as he is now able to accompany the Elves on their next journey to the far shore. Pulling the pieces apart helps to develop a more complete understanding of Tolkien’s ideas; however, it is only when they are put back together again as a whole that his true genius and message can be revealed. Works Cited Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1991. Read More