Parallels and Opposites in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R.Tolkien - Term Paper Example

Parallels and Opposites in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien Introduction The three Lord of the Rings novels of J.R.R. Tolkien have been first written and published over 40 years ago, but the themes of the book remain universal and relatable to this day. Although the story is obviously a fictionalized tale featuring hobbits, dwarves, elves, and other mythical beings, the struggles it has managed to portray depict human, and very much current disputes, of good versus evil; failures versus triumphs; and man against nature. With these analogies, it is appropriate to now review Tolkien’s creative use of parallels and opposites to communicate the major themes of his mythology. This paper shall explore three examples of parallels and/or opposites in the trilogy which I find compelling in successfully defining the human struggle that lie at the very heart of the quest myth. It shall also explain why the examples I have chosen reinforce Tolkien’s vision of the mythic impulse that drives the individual to discover the true meaning of human existence. Quotes and examples from the book shall be chosen to expand on the discussion. Discussion: First Parallel: World War II and Lord of the Rings The struggle between good and evil can easily be seen in the Second World War as in the themes of the book. The book was said to be written by Tolkien right before the Second World War and was published after. The struggle between good and evil is seen in general as the struggle between the Allied and the Axis powers. Such struggles are paralleled by Frodo and his fellowship, along with the forces of Gondor, the Dwarfs, the hobbits, the Elves, and the men of Rohan. They represent the Allied powers or the ‘good’ side. On the other hand, the violence, the greed, and the domination exerted by the forces of Mordor, of Sauron, of Sauruman, the goblins, the orcs, the Haradrim, and other creatures who were allies to Sauron and Saruman represent the ‘evil’ side. Sauron is a parallel for Hitler. As Hitler wanted to establish world dominance and to carry out ethnic cleansing, so did Sauron. Sauron also wanted to conquer the world of men and of the Elves, the dwarves, and the other inhabitants of Middle Earth. And he wanted to exterminate all the other creatures and beings of Middle Earth in order to achieve his own brand of ethnic cleansing. The rings of power, and especially the ‘one Ring to rule them all’ which Sauron coveted above all is a parallel for limitless power and dominance. Hitler sought this ‘one ring’ – the power and dominance to rule over people and territories and the power to unobtrusively infest the world and to make them bow to his will. Frodo resisted the power of the ring, and such resistance can be paralleled to the resistance manifested by the Allied powers against Hitler’s power. The resistance of Gondor and of the fellowship of humans, elves, and dwarves is a parallel for the resistance and struggle shown by the Allied powers against Germany and its allies. The many battles fought by the fellowship on the way to Mordor are a strong parallel to the many battles which were fought by the Allied troops on the way to Germany. On the way to Germany, the allied troops faced German troops occupying different countries in Europe – just as Frodo and his fellowship also battled orcs, goblins, and the Haradrim on their way to Mordor. Saruman is a strong parallel to Italy’s Mussolini. Mussolini saw himself as an ally of Hitler and he saw the possibility of gaining power and territories through the attacks it also carried out against Allied troops in different parts of Europe. Saruman allied himself with Sauron because he too wanted power and he saw Sauron as a ticket to gaining that power. And so he carried out Sauron’s orders and he went along with the plot to spoil the world of men and make it habitable for the dark forces. Mussolini was Hitler’s puppet – he was very like Saruman in carrying out Hitler’s plans and schemes. He had an ulterior motive in the world that Hitler wanted to build – just as Saruman had his own selfish motives. Parallel 2: Jesus Christ’s resurrection and Gandalf’s return from death after battling the Balrog The return of Gandalf from the dead after fighting and defeating the Balrog is a strong parallel for Jesus Christ’s death and subsequent resurrection and divinity. The bible accounts for how Jesus Christ died on the cross, making the ultimate sacrifice for man and for our salvation. Jesus Christ fought the forces of evil in the form of his executioners and the rest of the doubting and faithless Israelites. In the end, he faced his death and his mortality. He accepted such death and in the end was able to triumph over his death. In the end, he gained his divinity and he gained his father’s side in heaven. His death gave him more power, a deeper wisdom, and a more profound understanding of life. Gandalf also went through many hardships and sufferings before he was killed. He was sent to Middle Earth from Valar in order to help men and the people of Middle Earth fight the growing evil of Mordor. Frodo mentions in the book that “Gandalf was our guide, and he led us through Moria; and when our escape seemed beyond hope he saved us, and he fell” (Tolkien). Jesus too was sent to us in order to help us fight our own evils and the evils of the world. Gandalf fought the ultimate evil and he fought one of his greatest fears – a creature of the deep and dark – the Balrog. He also faced his own mortality and successfully triumphed over both challenges. In the end, he too, like Jesus Christ gained more power, more divinity, and more enlightenment. The book mentions that “Gandalf sacrificed himself…[and] in his condition, it was a sacrifice for him to perish on the bridge in defense of his companions…and in sacrificing himself he is ...enhanced in power.” There is also a parallel which can be drawn from Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for man, for his act of dying for our sins in order to ensure for us eternal life. Gandalf too sacrificed his life for other people – for the fellowship and for the all of the good left in Middle Earth. He knew that the power to battle the Balrog was a feat only he could pull off. And he took on the challenge, knowing that he may not come out of it alive. Even in seeming defeat, he still fought the beast and he fought his fears, and his sacrifice now gave him greater power over evil and over the other challenges Middle Earth was yet to face. Parallel 3: Frodo and Jesus Christ There is also a parallel which can be drawn from the life of Jesus Christ and the life of Frodo. Jesus Christ carried the burden of the world’s sins on his shoulders and on his cross. Frodo carried the burden of evil and power in the ‘one ring.’ Frodo mentions that it is “so heavy that none could it on another. I do not lay it on you. But if you take it freely, I will say that your choice is right” (Tolkien). At various points in Christ’s life, he knew that he would have to bear all the sins of man and carry it as a burden. He bore such burdens with remarkable strength and he too went through the process of doubt and of weakness. But his love for man conquered all such doubts and moments of weakness. Frodo also bore his burden and the burden of Middle Earth’s salvation in his heart and on his shoulders. And he undertook his quest out of love – for the Shire, for his friends, and for all things good and beautiful in Middle Earth. Jesus Christ, through his cross, bore such burdens on the way to Calvary. In a distinct parallel, Frodo too carried such a cross in the form of the ring he wore around his neck. Mount Doom was the Calvary he had to climb. And just as Jesus Christ often stumbled from the burden of his cross and the burden of the sins of the world on his shoulders, Frodo stumbled many times on his way to Mount Doom. “All this last day Frodo had not spoken, but had walked behind half-bowed, often stumbling, as if his eyes no longer saw the way before his feet. Sam guessed that among all their pains he bore the worst, the growing weight of the Ring, a burden on the The weight of the cross seemed heavier the longer Jesus carried it and for Frodo, it seemed that the closer he was to Mount Doom, the heavier the ring seemed to be. “In fact with every step towards the gates of Mordor, Frodo felt the Ring on its chain about his neck grow more and more burdensome. He was now beginning to feel it as an actual weight dragging him earthwards (Tolkien). The parallel between the actual weight of the ring and Christ’s cross bears an even stronger similarity when Sam temporarily bore the weight of the ringbearer around his neck. “He bent his neck and put the chain upon it, and at once his head was bowed to the ground with the weight of the Ring, as if a great stone had been strung on him” (Tolkien). Conclusion The parallels discussed above set forth how Tolkien was largely influenced by the various elements existent in his life at the time he was writing the Lord of the Rings. The strong parallel between the story of Lord of the Rings and of World War II depicts how the war affected and impacted on his life. The battle between the Allied and the Axis forces during the Second World War mirrors the battle between the forces of Mordor, Sauron, Saruman, and their allies and against the forces of Gondor and their allies. These are clear battles between good and evil – of power and greed versus goodness and beauty. There is also a strong parallel between Christ’s resurrection and Gandalf’s resurrection. Christ gained greater divinity with his death and his sacrifice ensured our eternal salvation. Gandalf’s sacrifice also saved the fellowship and he in turn gained his divinity by his death and resurrection. Finally, Frodo and Jesus Christ lived parallel lives. Frodo’s cross was the ring – one that he had to bear alone just as Jesus had to bear his cross and his burden alone. Read More