|
|
 Have
you read The Lord of the Rings?
What is your take on the Tolkien trilogy?
Commentary
by Greg Wright |
|
|
|
The
Return of the King, Book VI
|
|
In
April, 2004, this web page was annotated to address errors in the
text. Click on highlighted text to review errata.
|
|
|
Cirith
Ungol
Having taken on the burden of the Ring at the supposed death of his
Master and friend, Sam finds himself confronted with a greater burden
yet: the sudden knowledge that Frodo is not dead at all, merely poisoned,
and has fallen into the hands of the Enemy.
|
|
|
Mount
Doom
So Sam rescues Frodo from Cirith Ungol, and the two resume their inexorable
march toward their fate, and toward Mount Doom. Their part of the
story is not done yet, and won't be until they reach the very furnaces
of Orodruin. Even the skulking Gollum will yet resurface, and play
his own part in fulfilling the fate of the Ring.
|
|
|
Before
the Black Gate
Having achieved victory on the Pelennor, the Princes of the West march
on Mordor itself, knowing full well that Gandalf has been right: they
cannot expect to win this battle by military might. Their worst fears
are confirmed when parley fails, and the full host of Mordor descends
upon them. More is needed, indeed. "They will be restrengthened, they
will rise up on the wing, like eagles, they will run and not grow
weary." (Isaiah 40:31, paraphrased)
|
|
|
The
Return of the King Finally
Aragorn can claim his rightful place as King. The King has returned,
as foretold in prophecy, and during his reign truly becomes the "Prince
of Peace." The title of the third volume of The Lord of the Rings,
of course, betrays the climax of the story, so it comes as no surprise.
It is interesting, though, that Aragorn is not the only Christ figure
in the story. Gandalf, Frodo and Sam can also be seen in that light,
and even Éowyn has been seen as a parallel to the Mother in Revelation.
Tolkien was not a fan of allegory, so it is only natural that Aragorn
would not be the only figure in the story to compare favorably to
Christ. In stating that the trilogy was very Catholic in its very
conception and form, perhaps this is what Tolkien meant: that it is
a fiction in which we can see Christ, in some small way, in everyone.
A very Christian concept indeed!!
|
|
|
The
King and His Bride
Aragorn finally claims his bride, after deliverance from the Paths
of the Dead, achieving victory over his enemies, and ascending to
his rightful throne. In the same way, Jesus won his bride, the Church,
only after rising victorious from the grave and ascending to his throne
in heaven.
|
|
|
The
Fate of the Bride
Arwen, Aragorn's bride, is Half-Elven. As such, she shares Elrond's
fate to choose between mortality (to be human) and immortality (to
be Elvish). In marrying Aragorn, she chooses to share the fate of
her husband, and ultimately gives up her own life for him. In the
same way, in becoming the bride of Christ, the Church gives up its
life for Christ.
|
|
|
The
Grey Havens
After
the Scouring of the Shire, time passes and eventually the weight
of having borne the Ring drains both the energy and joy from Frodo.
He joins Bilbo and Gandalf aboard an Elvish ship at the Grey Havens,
bound directly for the blessed land in the West to live in immortality.
It is with great sorrow that Sam bids Frodo goodbye, as Merry and
Pippin look on.
|
|
|
A
Few of Gandalf's Concluding Words
"I am with you at present, but soon I shall not be. I am not coming
to the Shire. You must settle its affairs yourselves; that is what
you have been trained for. Do you not yet understand? My time is over:
it is no longer my task to set things to rights, nor to help folk
do so. And as for you, my dear friends, you will need no help."
|
|
|
A
Few of Jesus' Concluding Words
"I am with you a little while longer... Where I go you cannot follow
me now, but you shall follow later... He who believes in me, the works
that I do, he shall do also; and greater works than these he shall
do... And I will ask the father and he will give you another helper...
that is, the Spirit of truth... In that day you shall know that I
am in my father, and you in me, and I in you..." John 13:33-14:20,
NASB .
|
|
|
So
what gives?
Did this spiritual imagery find its way into The Lord of the Rings
by design? Or was it simply part of Tolkien's cultural fabric, accidentally
creeping into the text? And what about the magic and wizardry? Is
this really healthy spirituality that Tolkien presents? |
| LOTR Coverage Index here
E-mail Greg Wright here
|
OFFICIAL
SITE
The Lord of the Rings © 1999-2004 New Line Cinema. All Rights Reserved.
|
| |
|
|
