LOTR has a message in the story?

[Novatian]

Does LOTR Lord of the Rings have a message in the story?

Can we detect a moral or theme that stands out?

Did Tolkien have his own Gospel?

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

Does LOTR Lord of the Rings have a message in the story?

Can we detect a moral or theme that stands out?

Did Tolkien have his own Gospel?

I feel there are various messages within Lord of the Rings.

Yet at the same time, I feel I enjoy Lord of the Rings more when taking it as just a story.

 

[Novatian]

I feel there are various messages within Lord of the Rings.

Yet at the same time, I feel I enjoy Lord of the Rings more when taking it as just a story.

A good story like this seems to take one away from the common world to another place, and changes one's mood.

 

[sun rise]

J. R. R. Tolkien was a devout Roman Catholic from boyhood, and he described The Lord of the Rings in particular as a "fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision". While he insisted it was not an allegory, it contains numerous themes from Christian theology.

Christianity in Middle-earth - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Elliott]

I've only seen the movies and admittedly i don't want to read the books because they will ruin the movies for me. I am willing to read the Silmarillion just because the stories predate the movie stories.
The two lessons that stick out the most for me is the importance of loyalty and the importance of fighting one's demons.

 

[The Hammer]

I'm pretty sure the entire story is an allegory of the industrialization of England. With the Orcs representing that dark and oppressive force sweeping across and destroying the idyllic countryside.

 

[The Hammer]

Themes of The Lord of the Rings - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I could be wrong though

 

[Revoltingest]

Obviously, the Elves represent libertarians.
The Orcs are Republicans. And the Goblins
are Democrats.
Hobbits are Revoltistanians.

 

[McBell]

Does LOTR Lord of the Rings have a message in the story?

Seems the main message in the story is that it is best to walk everywhere.
Even the trees were walking...

Can we detect a moral or theme that stands out?

I am sure if you look hard enough you can find whatever moral/ethical point you want.

Did Tolkien have his own Gospel?

I have heard a few, but I have no idea how true and or accurate they are.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

If I remember right, Tolkien urged readers to not look for allegory in Lord of the Rings. Of course, it's going to happen. Humans are meaning-makers.

I do know he loved trees and hated their destruction and how industry misuses resources, and that can easily be read in his writing.

 

[IndigoChild5559]

Does LOTR Lord of the Rings have a message in the story?

Can we detect a moral or theme that stands out?

Did Tolkien have his own Gospel?

Although the LOTR is not explicitly Catholic, Tolkien wrote it in a way that it is in the same universe as the Catholic universe. It's just ages before Catholicism. It has the same morals as Catholics, and the same cosmology.

The LOTR has MANY moral messages. Let's look at just six (otherwise the post is way too long):

1. There is a conversation about the death penalty between Gandalf and Frodo. Frodo says of Gollum, "It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance." Gandalf replies, "Pity? It was pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need...Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends".

2. Tolkien discusses the reason for living, and for fighting evil even when things look hopeless. Frodo is despairing because the world is so full of evil. Sam replies, "It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something." Frodo replies "What are we holding on to, Sam?" And Sam says,"That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for."

3. There is an occasion where Tolkien discussion the interplay between predestination and free will during Galadriel's speech: "This is the Mirror of Galadriel. I have brought you here so that you may look in it, if you will. The Mirror shows many things: things that were, things that are, and some things that have not yet come to pass. I will not give you counsel, saying do this, or do that. For not even the wisest can see all ends. For the Mirror shows many things, and not all have yet come to pass. Some never come to be, unless those that behold the visions turn aside from their path to prevent them. The Mirror is dangerous as a guide of deeds."

4. Tolkien discusses the responsibility that all of us have to fight evil. Frodo says, "I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened." Gandalf replies "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 to us."

5. Tolkien discusses his belief in the afterlife in the scene where Gandalf and some of the others are about to depart Middle Earth for the heavenly place across the sea. Pippin says, "I didn’t think it would end this way." Gandalf replies, "End? No, the journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it."

6. Tolkien discusses the good reasons for war compared to the bad reasons for war. Faramir says, "I do not wish for such triumphs, Frodo son of Drogo. Neither did the council, nor do I intend to. War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend: the city of the Men of Númenor; and I would have her loved for her memory, her ancientry, her beauty, and her present wisdom. Not feared, save as men may fear the dignity of a man, old and wise."

 

[IndigoChild5559]

I've only seen the movies and admittedly i don't want to read the books because they will ruin the movies for me. I am willing to read the Silmarillion just because the stories predate the movie stories.
The two lessons that stick out the most for me is the importance of loyalty and the importance of fighting one's demons.

This speech is not in the books. It is the one instance where I think the movie did a better job. Aragorn and the army are standing before the Black Gate, and they are terrified. Aragorn rallies them, "Sons of Gondor! Of Rohan! My brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!"

 

[IndigoChild5559]

I'm pretty sure the entire story is an allegory of the industrialization of England. With the Orcs representing that dark and oppressive force sweeping across and destroying the idyllic countryside.

Tolkien explicitly stated it was not an allegory. However, it has many moral lessons and similarities to a number of real historical events, such as the one you mentioned. The theme of technology destroying the good of the nature world is a very strong one.

 

[ChristineM]

I did a little work on the LOTR film so i saw clips long before the film was released. To be honest, when i did see the full move the main thing i got from it is, it's a story of a long walk.

 

[rocala]

I'm pretty sure the entire story is an allegory of the industrialization of England. With the Orcs representing that dark and oppressive force sweeping across and destroying the idyllic countryside.

I could be wrong though

There may be something in such an idea. The following is from the 'themes'.

Tolkien's environmentalism and his criticism of technology has been observed by several authors. Anne Pienciak notes that technology is only employed by the forces of evil in Tolkien's works, and that he found it to be one of "the evils of the modern world: ugliness, depersonalization, and the separation of man from nature"

 

[The Hammer]

Although the LOTR is not explicitly Catholic, Tolkien wrote it in a way that it is in the same universe as the Catholic universe. It's just ages before Catholicism. It has the same morals as Catholics, and the same cosmology.

The LOTR has MANY moral messages. Let's look at just six (otherwise the post is way too long):

1. There is a conversation about the death penalty between Gandalf and Frodo. Frodo says of Gollum, "It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance." Gandalf replies, "Pity? It was pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need...Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends".

2. Tolkien discusses the reason for living, and for fighting evil even when things look hopeless. Frodo is despairing because the world is so full of evil. Sam replies, "It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something." Frodo replies "What are we holding on to, Sam?" And Sam says,"That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for."

3. There is an occasion where Tolkien discussion the interplay between predestination and free will during Galadriel's speech: "This is the Mirror of Galadriel. I have brought you here so that you may look in it, if you will. The Mirror shows many things: things that were, things that are, and some things that have not yet come to pass. I will not give you counsel, saying do this, or do that. For not even the wisest can see all ends. For the Mirror shows many things, and not all have yet come to pass. Some never come to be, unless those that behold the visions turn aside from their path to prevent them. The Mirror is dangerous as a guide of deeds."

4. Tolkien discusses the responsibility that all of us have to fight evil. Frodo says, "I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened." Gandalf replies "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 to us."

5. Tolkien discusses his belief in the afterlife in the scene where Gandalf and some of the others are about to depart Middle Earth for the heavenly place across the sea. Pippin says, "I didn’t think it would end this way." Gandalf replies, "End? No, the journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it."

6. Tolkien discusses the good reasons for war compared to the bad reasons for war. Faramir says, "I do not wish for such triumphs, Frodo son of Drogo. Neither did the council, nor do I intend to. War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend: the city of the Men of Númenor; and I would have her loved for her memory, her ancientry, her beauty, and her present wisdom. Not feared, save as men may fear the dignity of a man, old and wise."

I'm not sure if any of this is particularly Catholic. Not in my experience. But I can't deny it's influence on him.