May 21 2009
Contest Entry – Lord of the Rings
Review by Morgan W., Age 12
Everyone imagines fantasy worlds, but how many of these really come into existence? The world of a man named Mr. Tolkien did more than reach reality through paper, pen, and mind. He gave his world a voice, which speaks out to humanity under battles and swords, hobbits and rings, of the Thought which brought all things into being.
A first reading of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings might not expose very much to one at once. A strange hobbit named Frodo finds himself suddenly flung into a perilous quest full of despair and strenuous toil which will determine the fate of “Middle Earth.” The weight of the world is on his shoulders, literally! He must destroy the enticing Ring of Power in the Horrendous Cracks of Doom. Setting out with nine companions, one by one each find out that he is called to a different destiny. They will assist Frodo, but Fate calls them to help in another way. Finally, only Frodo and Samwise, his faithful servant, are left to trek the road through the Land of Evil itself. The illustrious story and its zenithal ending captivate the mind with as much tragedy and charm as any other exalted fiction, perhaps more so. “So,” one possibly will ask, “where’s the supposed ‘meaning’?”
Like any other wise teacher, Tolkien expected us to do the thinking. He intended to have his works make us exercise our minds and think, like he did so well and not just have it as plain and simple as the nose on our face. This is for one clear-cut reason: the full, entire truth is never simple. Obviously, those who don’t dig deeper; who don’t make out or acknowledge the answer (even if they discern it); who say after their first glance, “Okay, the meaning!!!!” and just wait for it to emerge in type on the page are NOT the people Tolkien wished to enjoy his byzantine masterpiece. He exploited his mind to help all of us laypeople to understand our marvelous and filling Catholic Faith in a fresh and delightful manner. He expects us to use our wits to find out what he wants us to know.
Although lots of people have read the Lord of the Rings, perchance, just a handful has truly grasped its complete meaning. Being a devout Catholic, J. R. R. Tolkien wanted to do more than engross his readers; he desired to bring all to the whole Truth through his writings. To do this, he used the characters, events, places, actions, and dialogue to relate to the beliefs and truths of the Roman Catholic Faith. He, similar to one of his friends and fellow writers, C. S. Lewis, spoke in analogies in his books. This writing technique is clever and practical for intentions such as his, because the laity can comprehend facts under parables. Hey! Even Jesus, the Truth itself, used this “modus operandi!!!” Furthermore, as many can observe, it works. When one reads the trilogy in the light of the Bible, Sacred Tradition, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, little by little, everything comes up perfectly. This tremendous and seemingly unfeasible work of literature makes absolute sense; the Catholic Faith is the key to the unending jigsaw puzzle.
Here is an example: I at last became au fait with this quotation from Gandalf in the Two Towers after I had read the book quite a few times: “ ‘Yes, I am white now,’ said Gandalf, ‘Indeed, I am Saruman, one might almost say, Saruman as he should have been…’ “ Here, Tolkien ingeniously elucidates the institution of St. Michael the Archangel as Prince of the Angels in the stead of Lucifer, the “light bearer”. Consider it this way: Gandalf represents Michael and Saruman symbolizes Lucifer. If one has read the books, he should know that Saruman was the White Wizard, the head of the Council, the supreme authority. He became arrogant and turned evil. Gandalf was set as the White Wizard in his rank. Lucifer was the uppermost in heaven next to God, but he became pompous because of his distinguished echelon and fell from God. Michael the Archangel was then established as the highest. Does not Michael hold the right to say, “I am Lucifer, the ‘light-bearer’, that is, Lucifer as he should have been”?
I, akin to numerous others, have learned a great deal from reading these sagas. I discovered that I can wield the power to speak the Truth under a fantastic tale. I have learned that stories with meanings behind them don’t have to be “tedious.” I have learned how to write, surpassing others. That is the way Tolkien wrote, the method that confirmed his books as significant. Most of all, I have learned that I can dream a dream and make it a reality. Tolkien had a dexterous mind. He caught a thought. He made it achieve his purpose: to instruct the soul as well as entertain the populace. I bet countless people out there are appreciative toward him. I certainly am one of them.
Rachel’s Note: Morgan’s review of The Lord of the Rings goes beyond just reviewing a book, instead exploring deeper themes like allegory, the power of literature to make us think, and the impact a story can have in sharing truths with us. I love this line from the review: “Most of all, I have learned that I can dream a dream and make it a reality.”
