Everyone knows the Lord of the Rings by now. Whether you’ve read the books (I have, several times) or watched the movies (I have, several times) you know the story, and your view of it is probably the Peter Jackson one. In fact, the next time I read it I will most likely be seeing the characters as they were in the movies, which is kind of sad to think.
That’s not to say the movies were bad, far from it. I’m a big fan of them. Rather, I’m more thinking about how the story has been taken over by the big screen. In fifty years someone will talk about Tolkien and the movie images are what will pop into everyone’s mind. Just like the Game of Thrones books have been taken over by the television show. I guess it’s the price of success.
What are the books about?
Yeah, no point doing a recap. Hobbit has ring, hobbit is chased, hobbit destroys ring (spoiler!). These books are the granddaddy of the fantasy genre. Sure, there were fantasy books before them, but nowadays virtually every fantasy story will point to LOTR in some way or another.
The ideas behind the story have been widely debated, and I’m not going to get into them either. The thought of one thing controlling all others in the world is ridiculous. Even the suggestion that it’s a metaphor for money falls short once you realize that concentrating money in one hand actually destroys its utility (something billionaires don’t want to understand).
Take away the ring itself, which I think is probably just a plot device, and you get a number of interesting themes. We’ll visit them below, but apart from a fun story, it’s the themes which are the true takeaways from the books.
The Themes of the Lord of the Rings
The Power of Friendship and Loyalty
Everything in the Lord of the Rings is about friendship. There is a Fellowship which highlights the wider loyalty of a group (and the importance of it when people fall to the wayside) but the friendship of the four hobbits is, to me, the core of the story. They work together to reinforce each other even in the darkest moments. The unwavering support of these friends is what makes it possible to successfully conclude their mission.
The Corruption of Power
The One Ring symbolizes power, of course, and the desire of every one of them to attain it. Gollum sits there as a reminder of what it will do to you, but each character imagines themselves to be the one who won’t be affected by it. This couldn’t be any clearer as a cautionary tale, showing readers the perils of unchecked ambition.
Resilience and Heroism
I imagine Tolkien trying to show that even the tiniest person (or hobbit) can make the biggest difference in the world, as long as they stick to their task. Anyone who has the courage to keep going against overwhelming odds can inspire readers to stand up for what they believe in.
A Character of Great Interest
I assume we’re supposed to think of Frodo here, the star of the entire journey. Ultimately though he’s really a kind of blank character, isn’t he? The one who everyone else puts themselves into. He doesn’t stand for much other than being the ring bearer. Most everything he does could be done by a different character and you wouldn’t necessarily notice.
The character I prefer to take an interest in is Boromir. Tasked with defending his land and people, he believes he has found the weapon to do so in the One Ring. After being refused, he pledges fealty to Frodo, but it is clear to us that he means to find an opportunity to take and use the ring if he can. Sure enough, he tries to convince Frodo to help his people, then turns on him when he refuses. At his death he fights valiantly to protect the other hobbits and restore his honor.
I liken Boromir to Petr, another honorable fighting man who just wants to do the best he can for his people. Throughout the Kingsmoot series he is seen as smart but unbending. We see others try to turn him to their side, and we wonder when or if that will happen.
What is it that will take an honorable person and twist them to the other side? For Boromir it was the hope of the Ring to save his people. For Petr? I think the hardest tests are yet to come.
But forget about a single character. It’s possible to take multiple characters from the Lord of the Rings and compare them with other books. Tolkien created a wide range of archetypes which are still in use today. You could read my books and find something in every one of them which reminds you of his characters.
Other series to read
What do you read after you’ve read the greatest fantasy series of all? It’s hard to think of which way to go. Do you continue with epic journeys? Look for characters who fulfill similar themes? Or delve into a little magic?
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien: Is it cheating to recommend this? You should probably read it before Lord of the Rings, so you know more of the backstory. Bilbo’s adventures are what triggers the entire bigger series, after all.
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin: This is the modern day version, right? The epic fantasy with dozens of characters. I think the only difference is the less diverse cast of species, but even then they’re used in certain places.
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan: I’m still struggling to recommend this series, but it touches many of the same themes. I think I might have to go back and read it again myself.
In Conclusion
The Lord of the Rings is the greatest fantasy series of all time. Others come close but I don’t think any have resonated quite as much. There is really something in there for everyone to think about as they read (or watch). That’s why it continues to have a lasting impact on the genre, even today.