Tolkien's Ring Quest example essay topic

The One Ring to rule them all Thought-paper one. R.R. Tolkien " the Lord of the RingsByFrancis Byron P. A bao 97-06526 English 146 Inst. Emil Flores Department of English and Comparative Literature University of the PhilippinesDiliman, Quezon City. Submitted on October 14, 2002. The One Ring to rule them all The Lord of the Rings is a three part epic fantasy by J.R.R. Tolkien about the struggle to destroy the One Ring of Power.

Published in 1954, the work remains as relevant today as ever, when the question of power and its consequences is concerned. In fact, the work reached the height of its influence in the antiwar protests of the 1960's, where it was a main source of inspiration for activists. Part of the reason for its enduring appeal may be that it resists any one to one correspondence of symbolism and meaning. And so, people are drawn into endless debate and speculation as to what Tolkien 'really' meant by his story. If Tolkien had cast his work into a form that was more easily interpreted, if he had been more dogmatic and called it 'The Use and Misuse of Power,' for example, he would perhaps have been less effective and influential.

This is because dogmas easily attract fanatics and people who want ready made answers, but disenchant those who are inclined to a more liberal, questioning approach toward life. Tolkien's work, fortunately, was not designed to be anything as overtly political as Marx's 'Communist Manifesto. ' It is a work of fantasy-literature, a combination which makes it hard for conservatives of the literary or political sphere to consider it seriously as purely a work of literature or political dogma. Nonetheless, it undoubtedly has something to say about the connection between politics, morality, and it says this in an imaginative medium: fantasy.

Despite the fact that we may never know what Tolkien meant, we can always ask (and answer, to an extent) what Tolkien means for me -- -as a reader, as an individual. If the work endures to this day, it must be because it concerns questions that many people have found to be relevant and enduring. One such question for me is the question of the use of power and its consequences. What was the story about? How did it address this concern?

It was about a Dark Lord, named Sauron-an evil sorcerer-king who had made rings of power to enslave the free peoples of Middle Earth. To the rulers of the three races (elves, , and men) Sauron gave the rings as gifts. The fourth race of Middle Earth, the hobbits, was perhaps too small and inconsequential for him. In secrecy, Sauron forged the One Ring -- -a master ring that would rule all the other rings and bring their wearers under the domination of Sauron himself. It was the One Ring that would grant absolute power. But, as the story goes, Sauron's plan was discovered before he could complete it, and the other races (the elves and) resisted him.

Men were more easily corrupted by the rings, and the rulers of men at that time became Ring wraiths, the most powerful and fearsome of Sauron's servants. Then there was a great war, for the freedom of Middle Earth, a last alliance of men and elves (and, and all who resisted Sauron). In that war, the leader of men named Isildur managed to sever Sauron's hand, cutting off the connection between Sauron and his One Ring. The effect was that Sauron's physical form was destroyed, his spirit fled elsewhere, and his armies crumbled. In that moment of victory, Isildur had the chance to destroy the One Ring forever, by throwing it into the flames of Mount Doom where it had been created. He refused.

Isildur claimed the One Ring as his by right, and departed, much to the dismay of the elves and all the others. But the Ring eventually betrayed Isildur, and was lost for a long time, until it became almost a mere legend. But all this is merely a prologue to what happens in The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien is describing the history of the One Ring and its effects on others. In the words of Isaac Asimov, an excellent science fiction writer, the One Ring. ".. controls unlimited power and inspires infinite desire even though it is infinitely corrupting. Those who wear it are weighed down by it and tortured, but they can't let it go, though it erodes them, body and soul.

Gandalf, who is the best and strongest of the characters in the book who fight for the Good, won't touch it, for he fears it will corrupt even him". (Asimov 49) Because of the very nature of the One Ring, it cannot be wielded by any being for very long without that person or creature becoming enslaved by it. Neither can it be destroyed by any means (normal or magical) other than the way it was created -- -by casting it into the fires of Mount Doom. But this mountain, this volcano lies in the heart of Sauron's domain, and can only be reached by secrecy and by overcoming the temptation to use the Ring. However, since the Ring was lost, there was no need to destroy it. Until the Shadow (as Sauron's spirit was called) returned, and began to build a new army of darkness.

This is the crucial point from which the Lord of the Rings begins. Not only has the Dark Lord returned, to enslave the people of Middle Earth once more, but more importantly -- -the One Ring has been found. It lies in the hands of a hobbit -- -a small and insignificant creature, in Sauron's estimation of things -- -and it is this hobbit, Frodo, who will affect the fates of so many others by his actions. Due to the nature of the One Ring, the quest to deal with it is no ordinary quest. Once more, the races of Middle Earth were assembled at the Council of Elrond to decide what to do with the One Ring.

Boromir, spoke for the men of Gondor (the people whose valor has kept Sauron's forces at bay) and argued that the One Ring is a gift that must be used against the Enemy. Others disagreed with him, believing that the only way to defeat the Enemy is to destroy the One Ring. But no one wanted to take the burden of bearing the Ring upon himself. And so it was that at the height of their debate, Frodo volunteered to resolve their dispute by taking the burden of bearing the Ring. It was then that the Fellowship of the Ring was formed, a company of the best that Middle Earth could offer, to guide and protect Frodo in his mission.

The Fellowship consisted of the very small (four hobbits -- -Frodo, his loyal companion Sam, and their two friends Merry and Pippin), the rough and stouthearted (Gimli, of the), the brave and noble (Aragorn, descendant of kings), the swift and keen-eyed (Legolas the archer, of the elves), the proud and valiant (Boromir, of Gondor), and the wise (Gandalf, a wizard of great majesty and compassion). It is the choice of the Ringbearer that I find to be among the more interesting ones in the story. For in choosing the Ringbearer, Tolkien was in effect choosing the real hero of the quest. The nature of the quest if inextricably related to the character of the hero. The hero is someone who is exceptional is some way, such that he and he alone can accomplish the task. In the tales and songs of ancient mythology, and those of ancient cultures, the hero is almost always exceptionally strong (like Hercules), or brave (like Sigurd) (Day 51), or cunning (like Odysseus).

Thus, if the quest were to slay a dragon, the choice of a hero would have been less difficult. The Council of Elrond could have chosen who among the Fellowship (Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, or Boromir) was the fighter best suited for the task. If the quest involved some strange spell or curse, or some form of magic, then Gandalf would be the one who could best lead the way. But Tolkien's ring-quest differed from all the previous quests in that it demanded a different kind of for the hero. Frodo was the unconventional hero because he met none of the standards of ancient myth and legend that describe a hero.

He was small, weak, and doubtful that he could accomplish his task. His only strength (apparently) was that he was willing to do what no one else wanted to do -- -destroy a Ring that was infinitely tempting and infinitely powerful. Not even hobbits, in their simplicity, were immune to the lure of the Ring. The creature called Gollum, twisted and insane, was once a hobbit, but had been corrupted beyond recognition by possessing the Ring. No one, no elf, dwarf, man or hobbit could accomplish the quest alone.

Because the nature of the quest was different, the quality demanded of its hero was different. Even Frodo asked why he had been chosen. "Such questions cannot be answered, ; said Gandalf. You may be sure that it was not for any merit that others do not possess: not for power or wisdom, at any rate. But you have been chosen, and you must therefore use such strength and heart and wits as you have". Of course, there were dangers along the way -- -physical opponents (orcs and goblins) and mystical ones (Saruman) that were best left to the members of the Fellowship who could deal with them.

But ultimately, the test for the hero was not physical, or magical, but spiritual. The question was always there, like a challenge, then a taunt, for the others but for Frodo most of all: if you had absolute power within your grasp, how long could you resist it? And if you could resist it, would you ever give it up? Would you ever wish to destroy it? The temptation to use the One Ring was always there and it was greater in proportion to the stature (power or majesty) of the one being tempted. For this reason, Gandalf, Aragorn, and Galadriel, all persons of great power and goodness, refused to be within the presence of the Ring for very long.

They were most likely certain that eventually they would give in to the temptation, so it was better for the opportunity to use the Ring not to be present at all. It was Frodo who seemed best suited for the task, for no other reason maybe than the hope that Frodo's simplicity and childlike innocence would be a shield against the temptation of the Ring. It was Frodo, whose only wish was to save his home the Shire from destruction -- -whose motives were pure, in that he did not want to take the Ring for any other purpose -- -it was Frodo who was the best one to carry out the mission. In this sense, Tolkien's ring-quest tale differs from most quest tales in its emphasis on the spiritual nature of the quest, and the spiritual perfection demanded of the hero in order to succeed. It is no wonder then that as the story unfolded, Frodo lost more and more of his carefree hobbit-self and became more and more burdened by the task of bearing the ring. Ironically, as the bearer of the ring he was both object of desire and outcast -- -desire, because he presented the opportunity to have infinite power, and outcast, because those who were wise and good refused to stay in his company for long, for fear that they would be corrupted.

It was a burden that should not have come to the smallest and weakest of people. "I wish it had not happened in my time. ' Frodo says. But, as Gandalf advises Frodo at one point in the story, '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 us".

Frodo is heroic because he chose to do what he ought to do (the ethical imperative-what I must do) for as long as he could and as well as he could. He did not run away, although there were times when he offered the Ring to people wiser or stronger than himself, hoping that they could better deal with it. He faltered, he fell, he stayed the course, but in the end, he failed". When he stands on Mount Doom at last, and it will take but a flick of a finger to cast the One Ring to destruction and ensure the end of Evil, he finds he cannot do it. He has become the One Ring's slave". (Asimov 49).

Was Tolkien trying to say that it is ultimately futile to resist the temptation of absolute power? Then why resist at all, if in the end, everyone, from the wisest, to the simplest of heart, will give in? Again, it is impossible to know what Tolkien meant in this instance, but I can say with some degree of confidence that that was not Tolkien's only message. For, elsewhere, Gandalf says to Frodo, "there was more than one power at work, Frodo... behind that (the finding of the Ring) there was something else at work, beyond any design of the Ring-maker". (Tolkien 87). I believe that these words reflect Tolkien's (or Gandalf's, at least) view that evil is not the only force at work in the world, and it is more than likely that evil is not the only force that will decide the outcome of things.

In the end, where Frodo fails to destroy the One Ring, it is by chance (or fate) that Gollum finds him at the crucial moment, wrestles with him, and bites it off his hand. Then, by accident -- -or design of a Higher Power? -- -Gollum loses his balance and falls into the fiery volcano, taking the Ring with him and destroying it forever. That, except for some loose odds and ends, is essentially how Tolkien's ring-quest tale ends. And that, in turn, is where our questions begin, and in particular, my question about power, continues. If, in my interpretation (which happens to agree with many others), Tolkien's ring represents absolute power, and its effect is to eventually corrupt and enslave everyone who comes to use it, then what does this imply for our lives and our relationships?

Even if Tolkien's story is a fantasy, I feel, as a reader, that his conclusions have weight, and that the effects of power in the context of Middle Earth is no different from that of our own place and time. I believe this is so because the behavior and fate of dictators, rulers and all influential people who have misused their power resembles the situation depicted in The Lord of the Rings. Power has corrupted countless celebrities, leaders, and authority figures all over the world, from Marcos to Pol Pot to Stalin; from the very young to the very old. Like a cancer, the mad desire for ever-increasing power over others -- - is a disease whose onset and effects are much like the ones described in The Lord of the Rings. If the desire for absolute power is a disease, then Tolkien did not offer much in the way of a cure. If you are going to deal with power, Tolkien seems to be saying, choose your companions well.

This was why the Fellowship was formed. It represented the best and the wisest that the people had to offer. It is also important not to claim power as your 'right,' but only as something you 'bear,' as Frodo bore the Ring, only as something entrusted to your keeping, but something that eventually, you must give up. This advice goes against our natural instincts -- -for power, in any form -- -as money, fame, or dominion over others -- -is instantly gratifying.

But maybe that is the whole point -- -- the struggle is between our instinctive desire for power, for more of everything, and our moral sense that everything exists in relationship to everything else, and we have a responsibility to care for our place in the world, and our connection with it. In itself, the desire for growth is not bad. But in relation to other things, the desire for growth unchecked by boundaries or restrictions is almost always harmful. This is the problem with cancer in the body; this is the problem of a social cancer in the society. The problem is that one part grows unchecked, draws all the resources unto itself, harming its neighbors in the process, until it becomes an ugly thing to behold -- -an unregulated mass of tissue, of life misshapen and perverted.

It was this sense of our connection to the world and our responsibility toward it that Gandalf was referring to when he was talking with Frodo about the curious fate of Gollum. Gollum had been saved by the pity of Bilbo -- -when Bilbo had the chance to kill Gollum, he did not, and instead let him go free. Gandalf advised Frodo not too be too quick to condemn Bilbo for doing what he did, for although Gollum may have deserved death, "Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them?

Then do not be too eager to deal out death and judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. I have not much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies, but there is a chance of it. And he is bound up with the fate of the Ring. My heart tells me that he has some part to play yet; for good or ill, before the end; and when that comes, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many-yours not the least". (Tolkien 93) These were strangely prophetic words, and, when viewed in the context of the story, they seem to hint at something more than chance at work in the scheme of things.

Even though the temptation to misuse power may be great, the act of resisting that temptation itself is a form of victory. The final outcome of the struggle may be obscured from our view; we may not know, like Frodo, whether we have it in ourselves to ultimately resist evil or to succumb. But we can try, for as long and as well as we can, to resist the temptation to misuse power. We can try, for as long and as well as we can, to preserve and care for our place in the world and our relationships to others in it. And even if we fail, we do not if our attempt has been in vain, or, if it is part of some greater plan of some Higher Power who has our best interests at heart.

The attempt itself is heroic. But I think that Tolkien defined the best of what it means to be human in his work: that is, when faced with a crisis which seems beyond our means of coping, we choose hope over despair; trust over doubt; and faith over cynicism. "I don't suppose we shall see them again, do you Sam? Frodo asks at the breaking of the Fellowship. "Yet we may, Mr. Frodo. We may".

Sam replies. (Tolkien 526).

Bibliography

1. Tolkien, J (on) R (on ald) R (eu el). The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. U.S. : Ballantine Books, 1965.
87, 93,526.2. Asimov, Isaac. "The Ring of Evil" The QB Companion to the Lord of the Rings New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001.
94. 3. Day, David. Tolkien's Ring. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1994.