My last article was on "Lord of the Rings" and on it's effect in my life. This time I'll talk about another aspect of "Lord of the Rings."
Some may not know that Tolkien was a Catholic. In fact, it was something I myself didn't know of for quite some time. And not only did it play a vastly important part of his personal life, it played a part in his writing as well. Even though I have read "Lord of the Rings" many times, it was years before I found out how much Tolkien's Catholicism played a part in the construction of Middle Earth and the stories Tolkien wrote.
Joseph Pearce wrote an incredible book on the subject. It's called "Frodo's Journey: Discover the Hidden Meaning of the Lord of the Rings." He gives a deep insight into Tolkien's life and faith before showing the deeper meaning behind Tolkien's writing. I highly recommend you give it a look if you really want to understand the mind of one of the greatest writers of our time. And not only did Joseph Pearce write a book on "Lord of the Rings," but he wrote one analyzing "The Hobbit" as well. But "The Hobbit" is a topic for another article.
Tolkien's Catholicism reaches through not only "Lord of the Rings," but through all of Tolkien's works. The construction of Middle Earth itself points towards his faith. The creation account in the Silmarillion mirrors elements in Genesis. It's also one of the most beautiful things I've ever read.
I'll give a short example of what Pearce talks about in his book, but there's such a great deal of hidden depth in "Lord of the Rings" that I couldn't possibly contain it all in one article. There's too much beauty and meaning in every part of the text for that.
The One Ring is a symbol of sin and is clearly stated as being tied to evil. The Ring of Power was destroyed on March 25th. Now remember that Tolkien is a Catholic. One of the most important events in the Catholic liturgical calendar is Christmas, the day Christ was born. But what happened nine months before Christmas? The Word, the Lord God Himself, was made Flesh at the Incarnation. God became man. This is an important date, as life begins at conception.
However, March 25th is not only the date of the Annunciation, when the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and the Incarnation took place, but it is the date of the Crucifixion of Christ, as well. What a fitting date for the defeat of evil in Middle Earth! It is the same as the date of Satan's defeat in our own world! This was no accident, but was carefully planned by Tolkien, just as the other Catholic elements of "Lord of the Rings" took place by design.
Not only does "Lord of the Rings" contain elements of Catholicism, but also of Tolkien's other beliefs as well. For example, Tolkien was a Luddite. This means he was wary of technology and the direction it was taking. He was disapproving of the Industrial Revolution and its effects on the economy and on society. His feelings on the subject make an appearance in "Lord of the Rings." They're particularly evident in the comparison of Isengard and the Shire.
Isengard is meant to represent the Industrial Revolution. The machines and the filth are Tolkien's view of industrial towns. The Shire, on the other hand, is supposed to show what England is meant to be. The Hobbits live in harmony with their surroundings. The grass is green and the sun shines. A stark contrast to Isengard and it's filth and darkness.
But there's much more in Joseph Pearce's book. Tolkien himself said "Lord of the Rings" was a fundamentally Catholic work. "Lord of the Rings" and all of Tolkien's writings, in fact, are some of the most detailed and beautiful works of literature ever written. Joseph Pearce's book exposes even more of their already present glory. If you're a fan of Tolkien, then it's a must read.
