Sin and Redemption in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings¶
The Lord of The Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien, is a sweeping and complex tale involving many themes, of which the most central theme is sin and redemption. The characters of Gollum, Bilbo, Frodo and Sam illustrate the ways in which sin and redemption work in the lives of people every day.
J. R. R. Tolkien created an exquisitely detailed world, and revealed parts of this world in his story. Tolkien’s characters hint that this vast work is only one part of the complete story of good and evil in this world called Middle Earth. The book chronicles the destruction of the One Ring and the downfall of the Lord of the Rings. The One Ring is a tool, created by the Lord of the Rings to subjugate the otherwise free and independent people of Middle Earth.
Bilbo, Frodo and Sam have rather casual relationships; this lack of direct family relationship focuses the story on the other bonds they share. Bilbo is Frodo’s uncle, and Sam is Frodo’s gardner and servant. Bilbo, without family, adopts Frodo as heir to his home and small fortune. As an American reader, these two notions of independent means, and a class distinction are somewhat opaque. Both of these are common elements of English literature, but unfamiliar to this reader. Bilbo and Frodo are clearly of an upper class. Sam is of a lower class, but still loves and is loved as one of this extended family.
Gollum’s relationship with Sam and Frodo is very different. Gollum is an enemy, who most be tolerated but cannot be trusted. Sam and Frodo pity him as well as respect him; but unlike Sam, Frodo and Bilbo, Gollum does not love and is not loved.
The One Ring, an essential part of the evil planned by the Lord of the Rings, was found by Bilbo. Finding the Ring is an important part of the sin and redemption theme. There is a parallel with the biblical story of Adam and Eve. In Genesis 2:16, Adam and Eve are warned away from eating of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”. It is important that the tree existed, and mankind were given the ability to eat of or avoid the tree. Similarly, the One Ring was not created, but discovered, and many characters were faced with choices of using or not using the Ring.
The Ring is a metaphor for a modern source of evil. J. R. R. Tolkien endured both World Wars; he was likely well acquainted with evil. The Ring’s purpose is stated in a poem that ends ”...and in the darkness bind them.” The ring’s evil can be interpreted as the use of propaganda to shape opinions, binding people to an evil intent in the darkness of ignorance.
As a technology worker and child of the cold war era, I often thought of the Ring as a simple tool of war. The super-weapon trilogy – Nuclear, Biological and Chemical, often came to mind. However, these tools of terror do not compel obedience the way that state-sponsored propaganda can. It seems that war is only possible when opinions are twisted to thoroughly demonize a nation or people.
The book’s redemption theme focuses on the four who actually bear, and use the Ring. Each of the four use the Ring in different ways, with different goals and outcomes. These four form a spectrum of human intention from Gollum’s evil intent to Sam’s humble nobility.
Gollum did not find the Ring; a relative found the Ring, and Gollum killed his relative, taking the Ring. Gollum used the Ring for essentially evil purposes: murder and spying. He committed his sin in yielding to the temptation of the Ring, and he compounded his sin through murder, spying, and deceit. Frodo offers him opportunities for redemption, but Gollum does not see a way to turn his life around.
Bilbo found the Ring. Ignorant of its real meaning, he used it to his own ends. He kept it secret from his friends. While he never used the Ring for directly evil purposes, his purposes were completely self-serving. He is saved from real sin by a close friend, Gandalf, who compels him to pass the Ring to Frodo. Bilbo takes this opportunity for redemption and lays his sin and the ring aside, looking for, and finding forgiveness. His own ignorance and good nature save him.
Frodo was given the ring. However, he was also told what the Ring was, and accepts the burden altruistically. The distinction between good and evil is plainly characterized as one of choice; Frodo cannot be compelled to do good. Good, like evil, is a choice forced on everyone. Frodo, eventually, succumbs to the temptation of the Ring, using it for himself. However, his use is not so blatantly self-serving as Bilbo’s. Instead, his use is focused on preserving the Ring; keeping it away from the Lord of the Rings, so that it can be destroyed. Frodo, however, has the same human frailties all people have.
Sam, like Gollum takes the ring. However, he takes the Ring from a fallen Frodo. He uses the Ring, out of love for his friend, to save Frodo. He does not yield to the temptation of the Ring. Sam’s humble origins seem to leave him empty of the conceit and arrogance that are the downfall of Bilbo and Frodo. Sam, like Frodo, has a glimpse of himself using the Ring to rule, but Sam understands the evil and recognizes that he would only, in his turn, become a Lord of the Rings. True good comes from free will and the ability to choose; compulsion, however benign, is inherently evil.
Gollum pays the price for his unrepentant evil: he descends into hell and is consumed. Bilbo and Frodo are taken away from Middle Earth. While they did great deeds to save Middle Earth from the evil of the Lord of the Rings, they cannot enjoy the fruits of their victory. Bilbo and Frodo succumbed to the temptation of the Ring; they were forced to confront their own personal failures; they acknowledged their sin, found forgiveness and were taken away from Middle Earth.
Sam, on the other hand, did not completely succumb to the evil of the Ring. His moment of temptation is described briefly on page 177, ”...he saw Samwise the Strong, Hero of the Age, striding with a flaming sword across the the darkened land, and armies flocking to his call as he marched to the overthrow of Barad-dûr. And then the clouds rolled away, and the white sun shown, and at his command, the vale of Gorgoroth became a garden of flowers and trees and brought forth fruit. He had only to put on the Ring and claim it for his own, and all this could be.”
Sam stayed focused on the good of which he and others were capable. He knew his own limitations. He did fail the test – as others had failed – but succeeded. He is left to enjoy a long and happy life in Middle Earth. A quote from Sam closes the book, “Well, I’m back.” This implies that all that Sam endured was for the good and done with good intent and could be laid aside. Sam knew that he was forgiven for his moments of weakness. He knew that he was not broken by the temptation of the Ring. He had no personal failings, only weaknesses.
Appendix B of the book provides additional glimpses into Tolkien’s vast mythological world. Sam, like Bilbo and Frodo, is offered the final redemption of the Ring Bearers. However, unlike Bilbo and Frodo, he does not seek this redemption immediately, but waits until the very end of his life.
Other characters respond in various ways to the temptation of the Ring. No others, however, actually have it in their possession, so they cannot sin directly through use of the Ring. Of the nine members of the Fellowship of the Ring, Boromir is tempted to take the ring and suffers death for his failing.
Of the other characters in the book, Tom Bombadil is offered the ring, but declines it, as it has no power over him. Tom represents some kind of person who is beyond the simple good and evil represented by the Lord of the Rings. However, even he would be destroyed if the Lord of the Rings were ever allowed to use the ring. Perhaps Tom Bombadil represents the religious elite: enclaves of monks amd nuns who isolate themselves from the temptations of the world.
We can take the Ring as the power to compel obedience, perhaps through propaganda, binding people to evil purposes in the darkness of ignorance. Four characters use this power. One, Gollum, uses it for directly evil purposes – murder and deceit – he is offered forgiveness, refuses it, and descends to hell. Bilbo, out of ignorance, uses it for self-serving, but not evil purposes; he is offered forgiveness, accepts it and is redeemed. Frodo, with full awareness, uses it for a basically good purpose, but succumbs to the temptation of the ring; he confronts his own failings, accepts forgiveness for his sins, and is redeemed. Sam, out of love, uses the it to save Frodo; he does not yield to the temptation, and does not need immediate forgiveness.
© 2001, Steven F. Lott.
Response: the nature of good and evil in Tolkien’s mythological world.
Comments? mail S_Lott@yahoo.com
| version: | 1 |
|---|---|
| date: | 2/28/02 |
