Steve Andersen:
Well of course Tolkien’s books are Christian influenced. I thought that was well known…My biggest problem with the books thought is that there is, to me at least, a very unchristian thing at its core…there does not appear to be any salvation once someone goes over to the dark side. Gollum is conflicted and fights with his dark side but in the end he gives in….as does Frodo…and that many of the things in the world are their doing sort of smacks of Gnostisism to me.
I can see what you mean, andI cannot speak to the history you speak of from the Silmarillion, but I disagree that there is “no salvation to those who cross over”. I’ll expand on this further, but I want to say that I completely agree with your next point and how it is only Sam who puts on the ring, uses it, and still chooses to give it up- completely. And then there is Faramir- who when tempted rejects it without a second thought. If I had to have any qualms with the way that P. Jackson made the movies, it would be in his lack of expanding on these two themes more, and really portraying this ability to completely triumph over the seduction of the ring.
I guess I belive Faramir is a parallel to Holy Mary in that he cannot even be tempted by the ring. I not only never has the stain of the ring, he never wants to. But I feel, like you, that Sam is the character that was designed by Tolkein, to be the one that each reader can closest relate to. And in that character, he put the temptation for “sin” that each of us holds, and actually had the character succomb to the sin- but overcome it! As we all should strive for knowing we may not be able to be as pure as Faramir.
Back to Frodo- I believe that the portrayal of Frodo in Mt. Doom closely follows the Passion of our Lord. Now even though he is not as pure of heart as our Lord, he nonetheless provides the story with the ‘sacrifice’ it needs. Except Frodo was not the perfect sacrifice in the story… at that point, Aragorn had assumed his rightful place as king and would have been the perfect sacrifice for ‘the dark side’ if Aragorn would have succombed. We could maybe say Frodo was the Cross at this point (if one might allow me to seperate the Cross itself from the carrier- Aragorn). And Jesus himself couldn’t carry the cross to Calvary himself… He needed assistance from Simon! Hence the support from Sam at the point where Frodo most needs it.
And don’t forget the banished army of men who were finally offered the opportunity to purge the stain from their souls by fighting on the Pelinor fields with Minas Tirith and Theoden’s army. The army that Aragorn seeks aid from at the Paths of the Dead. Aragorn had, again, claimed his place as King and was seeking redemption from those who had commited grave unloyalty. They fought, and were released to their final rest. I’d call that Salvation.
The only one who pulls through is Sam. I suppose that since he is the Everyman character it is fitting that he survives temptation.
Not just survives, but overcomes!
That is the hope for you and me!
Just one of my pet peeves. Sorry. Never mind.
I guess in the case of Gollum and the other badies in the stories- some people are good and turn evil (Saruman- possibly Gollum), and some people are born evil- and no amount of support and assistance can turn their hearts Orcs, Sauron, etc. But I guess that is as much a part of our realities as Salvation is. The lesson is that we can and must fight righteously to protect our Faith (Middle Earth) when being attacked by evil- and that we must silmultaneously strive to convert/love our enemy (Gollum) even when it seems hopeless.
Great post!
