This will sound strange, but Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Toward the end of the “The Two Towers,” Samwise makes an incredible speech when all hope seems lost, where he says there will be a dawn and it will be brighter than ever, and that we do these things because there is good in the world that must be saved and preserved.
As he says this, he’s looking at Frodo who is beginning to feel the terrible burden of the ring, but you get the sense that he has finally concluded that even Gollum has good in him.
So agree!
I have always felt that “The Lord of the rings“ trilogy is imbued with conservative values.
It showcases the fact that evil does exist, pure evil, not evil that has been created by the policies of a government or society.
That loyalty means something, it isn’t just a platitude for suckers.
That there are rules in place for good reasons, and breaking those rules can and should have consequences.
That nobody ever thinks that, in their comfortable lives, they will be called on to defend against evil in terrible times. There will always be that mindset of “Why did this have to happen to us, why didn’t it happen to some other generation?”
And also that in those terrible times, ordinary people may be called on, and often do extraordinary things.
But most of all, the conservative value I think that is part and parcel of that whole story is that doing the hardest and most unpalatable task is often the only right way to resolve a situation and that terrible task may fall to you, and you alone. It is your responsibility to accept it and carry it out, even at the loss of everything you hold dear including your property, your loved ones, and even your own life.
Yes, I agree. There are a lot of conservative messages in that Tolkien story. It is regrettable that in conservative circles, that work is giving short shrift has some kind of liberal fantasy. I have always thought it was very useful as a messenger of conservative values.
“...even Gollum has good in him...” Whereas, the demolibs do NOT. Just sayin’. Happy 4th!
P.S. Loved the movies and the books.
1000% agree