'Lord of the Rings' a fairy tale but can teach lessons of life

SLC Tribune ^ | December 28, 2003 | Ed Firmage Jr.

[Chi-townChief]

The final installment of Peter Jackson's magisterial adaptation of The Lord of the Rings has sparked a lot of discussion about the meaning of J.R.R. Tolkien's story.

Incredulous that an Oxford don would devote the better part of his life to thinking and writing about an imaginary world filled with elves, dragons, sorcerers and the like, many readers suppose that in the guise of a fairy story, Tolkien is talking allegorically about something more "serious," something such as World War II (where Sauron is Hitler), nuclear weapons (where the ring is the atom bomb), or the like.

Tolkien, never an admirer of allegory, even in the writing of friends such as C.S. Lewis, flatly rejected any allegorical interpretation.

The value of a fairy story, in Tolkien's view, lies in the fact that it helps us to create and then participate in the life of an alternative world. We become creators, as well as heroic participants. In a good story, and The Lord of the Rings is about as good as fairy stories get, the sense of being part of that other world is complete.

And yet, paradoxically, the more complete the illusion of that world -- the more real it feels to people of this world -- the more the story speaks to us as part of this world. That's the essential power of myth. That is also why allegorical (mis)interpretations sometimes seem plausible.

As an imaginative (as opposed to didactic or allegorical) exercise, a good fairy story has no point, no moral. It is not reducible to a sermon. (When was the last time, for example, you were inclined to sit through a 3 1/2-hour sermon?)

In this respect, too, it seems real, for that's how life is. Life is more complicated and more interesting than any of the platitudes to which moralists and theologians are inclined to reduce it. This does not mean that one cannot derive lessons from a fairy story. One can, and they may even be good lessons.

Our present administration might do well to heed Gandalf's caution that there is no way to defeat evil militarily. Good lesson. What makes that lesson meaningful, however, in Tolkien as in life is coming to such a realization not through preachment but through experience, even if the latter is only vicarious in the case of stories.

Hopefully, we emerge from our experience in fairy land not armed with ready sermonettes, but, like the hobbits on their return to the Shire, wiser for having had an adventure and returning to tell about it.

Ed Firmage Jr. is a fine-art photographer based in Salt Lake City.

[goldstategop]

Peter Jackson has no interest in making The Hobbit. The LOTR is a work of a lifetime. When you spend close to 10 years on something like it, that's it. Counting all the hours in post-production, it feels more like 20. Its a staggering achievement in cinematic history for I can't think of a director who produced and directed three movies at the same time let alone a cast who devoted a part of their lives to bringing it off. Jackson thought someone else would film it, but when no else stepped forward, he decided to do it himself. Its said Tolkien's novel is "unfilmable" and in Jackson's hands, he brings the author's world to life in a way Tolkien never dreamed of, although I suspect he would have approved.

[little jeremiah]

I agree, virtues might be a better word. I haven't seen the ROTK yet. Will wait until the extended version comes out. I don't like crowded theaters, nor do I like the chopped versions. But it is really exciting to see it on the big screen....

[microgood]

Great moment in that film. There were so many. The funniest was what Gimli said after Legolas brought down that attack elephant. Something like "it still only counts as one".

[Nan48]

I know the author's father, Ed Firmage, Sr. He's a liberal poli-sci professor at the Univeristy of Utah.

[keri]

Luis, I thought I was the only one who really thought that scene one of the best in the movie. I have never, ever, gotten chills in a theatre before, but when King Theoden gave his brief speech and the Rohirrim rode, I was charged too. It was awesome. (and I mean awesome) Aragorn had the words for the best speech, but Theoden had the emotion.

[baseballfanjm]

Same here. My assumption was based on the fairly heavy environmental theme of the film. Doesn't seem to be the type of movie Freepers will get excited over. I shouldn't assume and generalize though.

[PurVirgo]

Really?? Now that would be pretty cool.

I think it's interesting that he would make the Hobbit AFTER the LOTR...

[bobo1]

Right on!

Read Tolkien's books, and found them to be very upright and moral. Good post.

Blessings, Bobo

[ThinkDifferent]

when King Theoden gave his brief speech and the Rohirrim rode, I was charged too. It was awesomee. (and I mean awesome) Aragorn had the words for the best speech, but Theoden had the emotion.

Ditto that, it was amazing.

[little jeremiah]

In addition, Tolkien was a Catholic, and apparently help his good friend C.S. Lewis convert to belief in God from atheism. Someone with strong religious beliefs such as Tolkien plus his incredible intellect and scholarship - and the long years he dedicated to his writing - would not, IMHO, write a pointless meaningless tale.

[CaptIsaacDavis]

The rings, in my interpretation, are as they are described::"rings of power" -- representations of various balance of power arrangements (world orders), which are so central to any proper understanding of political and world history. They also help to interpret the influences underpinning the plot line. Tolkien did change his tune on this after early comments in letters that were quite clear about the contemporary political influences (which is distinct from claiming intentional allegories). In this case, the heroes (symbolic English, Celts, Finns, French, White Russians, Germans, Americans, and others) are fighting to destroy the symbolic representation of a balance of power under one ring -- Bolshevism and its thirst for world conquest (aided by soldiers of India, etc. -- the revolutionary "East").

We also can see in the Shire an England, Orcs (mutated men) as Bolsheviks (with Golem-like mud soldiers as squad leaders), Sauron as a representation of militarism in general (not specifically Hitler), Gondor as Germany/Silesia (under seige, with the films showing battles that look reminiscent of Berlin or Warsaw), soldiers of the South for India (complete with elephants), tree people for white Russians/Russian Peasants (once called drevlianie, or forest people), Dwarves as Celts or possibly Poles/Czechs (miners of Carpathia/EE), Elves as anti-Soviet Finns or Swedes?, Gandolf (white/grey) as St. Michael?, Aragorn as the Merovingian heresy -- the blood line/sangreal claim to the Kingdom of Christ, Rohan as France (there actually was a kingdom in France by that name way back when), Helm's Deep as Konigsburg or the Maginot Line?, Eagles as Americans....etc. etc.

Western Civilization vs. Militarism and Bolshevism -- seems pretty blatant, even if the character representations/symbols cited above are off some. In the final installment in theaters Aragorn is shown rallying "men of the West" in a headlong charge against the barbarians and communists -- a glorious moment!

[Skywalk]

The Rohirrim get the best charges ;)

I just wish they had somehow been able to work into dialogue, "Rohan had come at last" into the movie, that would have been perfect.

I truly get a religious feeling when I see Gandalf leading the Rohirrim down the hillside in Two Towers, when Sam picks up Frodo(WHAT MUSIC!!) on Mount Doom, and when Aragorn turns to say 'for Frodo' before charging by himself at Sauron's armies in front of the black gates.

Oh and when Aragorn sings that bit after his coronation, beautiful. Despite it actually being a proclamation of Elendil of his kingship after sailing from Numenor, it somehow has spiritual echoes of the loss, the sacrifice and the valor that the armies of Light had shown. Viggo came up with the melody for that part.

[Skywalk]

I'd say you're a bit specific in your intepretation, BUT there is some truth to what you say.

1) The One Ring is no mere "ring of power" but is the emodiment of the allure of power, of Sauron's will to "dominate all life," which is indeed what Tolkien says in some of his writings. Sauron doesn't believe that he is evil, he merely wishes to order Creation to fulfill his pride and ego.

2) The LotR saga is written for England, but the "men of the West" definitely refers to a deeper sense by Tolkien that the highest in civilization was indeed Western and that, while not intrinsically evil, that the men of the South and East did not understand what it was they were attempting to destroy.

3) Saruman's ruffian society in the Shire after the fall of Sauron DEFINITELY is socialism in action, specifically it seems, the wave of British socialism that had taken root in his beloved country.

Tolkien is definitely anti-totalitarian, and while I'm sure he missed the green countrysides of his youth, he likely would not feel much kinship with "environmentalists" as he would despise their Sauron/Saruman-like motivations and love of power over others.

[radiohead]

...eventually, Sauron was going to come knocking on their doors.

Kinda like izlamofacists, but I am reading too much into the stories...

[Byron_the_Aussie]

Having now seen the first two movies (in company with my two young sons, who drank deeply of the positive messages within) I wish Deb was around, to receive our plaudits and garlands for her involvement with the series. But I guess her career's gone stratospheric after this, and her company's no longer for the likes of us (insert poignant whimper of loss.)

[HairOfTheDog]

There has been talk that RoTK will be nominated for Best Picture. As much as I would thrill to that news, IMHO, it cannot be.

Oh it will be definately be nominated, as the other two were. And Peter Jackson will be nominated for Best Director.

I forgave the first two movies being passed over for the ~winning~ of those awards... because I understood that they would not want to set a precedent for the films dominating awards three years running, or award the early film and not the last. I fully hope and expect for the academy to award Best Film and Best Director for this one as a way of acknowledging all three.

I think it deserves it, and I think the actors will want to award the studio and the Director for going to the sheer dollars, attention and effort these guys went to just to give actors a grand environment to act in. Sure, they have already been rewarded with money... but I think they will always want the accolades of their peers, and Hollywood will want to encourage other studios to spend big money on "big" epic movies.

That's my theory anyway, and why I will have my fingers crossed.

[HairOfTheDog]

Peter Jackson has no interest in making The Hobbit. The LOTR is a work of a lifetime. When you spend close to 10 years on something like it, that's it...

Actually he is interested in it, after a break to do other films.

There is legal hurdles... but they are negotiating for the rights. There were better stories.... All I can find quickly now is an Annanova story. Ananova - Peter Jackson keen on making The Hobbit

Ananova: 

Peter Jackson keen on making The Hobbit

Lord Of The Rings director Peter Jackson says he would be interested in making a movie of The Hobbit.

LOTR production company New Line Cinema are reportedly in talks to buy the film rights for JRR Tolkien's book.

Jackson said he would be keen to get involved after he finishes remaking King Kong in 2006, reports Teletext.

He said: "New Line haven't actually talked to me about The Hobbit. I know there's difficulty about the rights.

"Certainly, if they want to talk to me about it, I'd be keen. It would be wonderful to complete the set of films."

The Hobbit sets the scene for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and tells the story of how Bilbo Baggins came by the ring.

Story filed: 13:46 Tuesday 2nd December 2003

[Chi-townChief]

I basically agree as far as emotional impact but, to me, the most poignant moments in the book didn't make it to the movie perhaps because they wouldn't translate well to film; for example:

- The entire chapter "The Choices of Master Samwise" is left out. I suppose that this would be a Hamlet-like monologue in the movie but it summarizes the entire quest in a nutshell and the triumph of Sam's common sense over the power of the Ring.
- The debate at the Black Gate which recalls somewhat the Passion of St. John.
- The scene where Frodo fights off Gollum ("Down, you creeping thing!") on Mount Doom and Sam intends to kill him but, at the last moment, is merciful.
- The release of Frodo, Sam, and Gollum by Faramir at the Gondor/Mordor border as Faramir declares his doom. The movie badly misplayed this with Faramir bringing them to Minas Tirith.
- And, of course, the best line not used: "By Elbereth and Luthien the Fair, you shall have neither the Ring nor me!" and the breaking of Frodo's sword.

[Chi-townChief]

Years ago, I had also considered Rohan as France with Theoden's malaise paralleling the defeatism of Marshal Petain and the Vichy boys. But you really need to go far, far back (possibly to Charles Martel) to view the French as a once-noble nation of horsemen.

The other thing that I wish would have been in the movie is how "the Men of Rhún and of Harad, Easterling and Southron, saw the ruin of their war and the great majesty and glory of the Captains of the West. And those that were deepest and longest in evil servitude, hating the West, and yet were men proud and bold, in their turn now gathered themselves for a last stand of desperate battle" after the destruction of the Ring.

[keri]

Yes, Jackson left out lots of things and completely changed other things, (the Ents march to Isengard and war, for example) but I don't really think if one hasn't read the books the changes take much from the movies. With these movies, Peter Jackson has opened up a whole new world for those who aren't acquainted with Middle Earth.

I think Tolkien's books are wonderful, despite the criticism of the learned elite. I can't help but wonder what this humble man would think knowing his imagination has had such an impact on millions of people. IIRC, he thought, at one time, that he was writing about Middle Earth only for himself and a few others, and that no one else would be much interested.