Half a century after the Lord of the Rings first appeared, Tolkien's popularity still shows no signs of diminishing. More so, his works have gained an even greater enthusiastic following especially in the last few years since the release of Peter Jackson’s film version of the Lord of the Rings. However, as most great books, the Lord of the Rings prompted as much critical hostility as it did popular acclaim. Many are hesitant and even completely refuse to accept that such a creative work that includes mythic figures, magic rings, and supernatural themes have anything to do with the Catholic faith.
Last August 31, I received an e-mail from my friend regarding an interview of Professor Bradley Birzer on his views on how Tolkien grounded the myth of the Lord of the Rings in Christian reality. Enlightened by this article, I rushed to see if there were any other similar books published on Tolkien, and was ecstatic to find so many on the bookshelves: Tolkien: Man and Myth, J.R.R. Tolkien’s Sanctifying Myth, Finding God in the Lord of the Rings, and so on. The most important theme these books point to is that in order to understand the working of Tolkien’s mind, one must first understand his concept of "myth."
Birzer writes that, "For most modern critics a myth is merely another word for a lie or falsehood, something which is intrinsically not true." For Tolkien, myth had virtually the opposite meaning. In his own words, "I believe that legends and myths are largely made of ‘truth’ and indeed present aspects of it can only be received in this mode." Birzer continues, "Myth was the only way that certain transcendent truths could be expressed in intelligible form. This paradoxical philosophy was destined to have a decisive and profound influence on C.S. Lewis, facilitating his conversion to Christianity. It is interesting – indeed astonishing – to note that without J.R.R. Tolkien there might not have been a C.S. Lewis (author of the Chronicles of Narnia), at least not the C.S. Lewis that has come to be known and loved throughout the world as the formidable Christian apologist and author of sublime Christian myths."
However, Catholic or not, all of us can learn from the lessons on life Tolkien’s legacy leaves us with, as shared by authors Bruner, Ware, Birzer, and Pearce.
"The evil of Sauron," Gandalf laments, "cannot be wholly cured." The gulags, holocaust camps, and killing fields of the 20th century refute utopian optimism.
Each person has a role, a set amount of time, and a number of gifts. He can choose to fight for the common good, he can use his gifts for avarice, or he can ignore them altogether.
When Frodo complains of living in an evil, burdensome time, Gandalf replies: "So do I…and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
Recognizing that our small stories serve a much larger purpose can turn ordinary details of the daily grind into scenes of an extraordinary adventure.
Bilbo Baggins did not seek, and only reluctantly accepted the invitation to adventure that launched his extraordinary tale of risk and reward. As Gandalf expressed to Bilbo in the closing conversation of The Hobbit, his quest had been orchestrated by another for a greater purpose. This realization elevated rather than minimized the importance of his part.
Every adventure has a beginning. Unfortunately, that beginning isn’t always pleasant.
"This ring!...How, how on earth did it come to me?" – Frodo to Gandalf
Evil is neither passive nor complacent. It is personal, and it is actively determined to dominate our lives.
"But we must do something, soon. The Enemy is moving." – Gandalf to Frodo
We become wise when we humble ourselves to heed the counsel of those who have gone before.
"Do be careful of that Ring, Frodo." – Gandalf to Frodo. The collective wisdom of Gandalf, Aragorn, Elrond, and Galadriel gave Frodo the direction needed to carry out a quest that would ultimately place this simple hobbit among the greatest heroes in the history of Middle-Earth.
Look closely! Good and Evil seldom come clearly labeled.
"All that is gold does not glitter. Not all those who wander are lost." – LOTR Book 1, Chapter 10
We were made to be heroic.
"There is a seed of courage hidden…waiting for some final and desperate danger to make it grow." – LOTR Book 1, Chapter 8. The quest of the Ring showed everyone that even the smallest, least likely person was made for more than comfort and safety. Have you ever wondered why our favorite stories tend to include an ordinary person overcoming great odds to accomplish something extraordinary? Our hearts thrill when a young, inexperienced Luke Skywalker destroys the plans of the mighty Darth Vader. From a simpleton named Forrest Gump to a braveheart named William Wallace, we love to see the unlikely underdog beat the odds, hoping our own heroic nature would emerge if facing a similar challenge.
We were not made to bear the burden and experience the joys of life’s journey alone.
"So all my plan is spoilt!...It’s no good trying to escape you. But I’m glad, Sam. I cannot tell you how glad." – Frodo to Sam
The greatest task is given to the smallest people, and the nameless are called to protect the renowned.
"We always seem to have got left out of the old lists, and the old stories." – Merry to Treebeard
Only the active influence of good can conquer the advance of evil.
"If we stayed at home and did nothing, doom would find us anyway, sooner or later." – Treebeard
An Evil heart is mystified by the ways of the Good.
"That we should try to destroy the Ring itself has not yet entered into his darkest dream." – Gandalf to the Company. How could such a thought ever have suggested itself to the mind of Sauron? That anyone should have such power within his grasp and decline to use it – that, to a soul so completely darkened by the desire for self-aggrandizement, was absolutely inconceivable.
Evil is not possessed, but possessing.
"Malice eats it like a canker, and the evil is growing." – Faramir to Frodo. Frodo had seen the effects of that mastering desire. He knew very well that this thing had completely dominated poor Smeagol, that it had become his very life, stretching him fine and thin, nearly snapping him, depleting him of all feeling except a consuming passion for the "Precious."
Often the scenes we least desire are those most important to the story being told.
"We hear about those as just went on – and not all to a good end, mind you; at least not to what folk inside a story and not outside it call a good end." – Sam to Frodo. The big drama is about more than comfort and safety. It is about whether ordinary men and women can stubbornly cling to their faith no matter what the scenes of life may bring.
It is never so dark that we cannot sing.
"And then softly, to his own surprise, there at the vain end of his long journey and his grief, moved by what thought in his heart he could not tell, Sam began to sing." – LOTR Book VI, Chapter I
We are ruled by what we believe. Whether it’s true or not.
"Do not believe him! He has lost all power, save his voice that can still daunt you and deceive you, if you let it." – Frodo
Self-sacrifice is the essence of every hero and the ultimate means of redemption.
"It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: Some one has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them." – Frodo to Sam. Frodo had been chosen to carry a load none other could bear and fulfill a task none other could endure. Though Frodo was only one of many who had given up something for the greater good, none had suffered such direct confrontation by the terrifying, possessing power of Sauron. Such was his role – to lose so that others might gain.
There is always hope. Above all shadows rides the Sun.
Even deep in Mordor, "Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty forever beyond its reach."
Sam’s Song
Though here at journey’s end I lie
in darkness buried deep,
beyond all towers strong and high,
beyond all mountains steep,
above all shadows rides the Sun
and Stars forever dwell:
I will not say the Day is done,
nor bid the Stars farewell.
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