Key Takeaways
- The Lord of the Rings resonated deeply post-9/11 with its good versus evil narrative.
- The films, initially met with skepticism, achieved massive commercial and critical success.
- The modern political right interprets Tolkien's work, but often misconstrues its anti-power themes.
- Tolkien's message emphasizes compassion, protection of nature, and rejection of domination.
Deep Dive
- The Lord of the Rings films' release coincided with national anxiety post-9/11, where themes of good versus evil mirrored national sentiment.
- The Fellowship of the Ring defied initial box office skepticism to become a massive hit, receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.
- The 9/11 attacks framed the story's clear delineation of good and evil as self-defense against an unambiguous enemy.
- Hobbits, while main characters, were overshadowed cinematically by more dynamic figures like Aragorn and Legolas.
- Earlier interpretations focused on the trauma of war, contrasting with a post-9/11 view aligning with the 'war on terror.'
- This 'war on terror' interpretation has since faded, with the films now largely seen as well-crafted adaptations.
- Vox's Constance Grady introduced the topic of what 'The Lord of the Rings' signifies for the political right.
- New York Times columnist David French, a self-described nerd, noted his character preference evolved from Legolas to Faramir.
- Tolkien's ethos, centered on opposing the use of evil's weapons to fight evil, is highlighted through characters like Boromir and Faramir.
- Figures within the global new right, including J.D. Vance and Peter Thiel, have adopted names and concepts from the books.
- The host argues that the new right's embrace of a quest for power misinterprets Tolkien's core message.
- While 'The Lord of the Rings' resonates with underdog movements, the new right's pursuit of power contradicts Tolkien's warnings.
- Tolkien's work suggests that using evil's tools, even with good intentions, leads to corruption and domination.
- The story's core message centers on the defense of truth and goodness, not the acquisition of power.
- Historically, diverse groups including the old right, environmentalists, and evangelical Christians found resonance in Tolkien's work.
- The narrative emphasizes compassion, care for the vulnerable, and preservation of natural beauty, rejecting the will to power.
- David French believes Tolkien would be frustrated by the modern American 'new right's' embrace of wealth displays and a 'will to power' aligned with the Trump movement.