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The Fellowship of the Ring

Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings
Dec 07, 2017Andrew Kyle Bacon rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I read quite a bit of speculative and creative fiction: that is, fiction that takes place in worlds that look like our own, but are markedly different in terms of events, characters, and places. Tolkien’s invented world of Middle-earth is one example of such creative fiction that I enjoy, and have enjoyed for quite some time. My introduction to the Lord of the Rings came when a friend introduced me to the Peter Jackson films. I was awestruck with the ability to creature worlds and stories. I’ve attempted to read the books before, but have never been able to do so. Now, much older than I was then, I find myself breezing through Fellowship of the Ring, discovering myself as even more awestruck at what Tolkien accomplished with his writing. In this book we have a world that lives and breathes, grows and changes, and of which we learn only a small portion of its history. At every turn I find myself reading about some new facet of lore, never fully explained, but only referenced, and I always want more. It seems one of the biggest complaint many readers have against this book is Tolkien’s use of poetry/song, but I find this one of the most fascinating and enchanting elements of the book. This is a part of what makes the world of Middle-earth feel so lived in and alive. The story of hobbits, of these little and seemingly unimportant folk from the Shire, and how they meet elves, dwarves, men, and monsters, is the central theme to the story. Unlike Tolkien’s similar book, The Hobbit, the joy quickly drains from this work, and we find ourselves in the midst of war. Tolkien, however, never turns his narrative completely bleak, always managing to dangle hope in front of us; reminding us that not all things in the world are wicked and evil. There is goodness in the hearts of men, after all, even if it is easily buried and manipulated. Fellowship of the Ring is a work of beauty and creative energy unlike any other. Part II of the book is especially engaging, drawing the reader into the events and travels of the fellowship as they attempt to unmake the dangerous Ring of Power. Many people have tried to make the One Ring a metaphor for the atomic bomb or other such things, but this seems to miss the spirit of the work itself. At its heart, The Lord of the Rings is a story about good overcoming evil. The ring itself is a small trifle, little more than a simple ring. Its danger lies in its ability to corrupt the minds of those who carry it (they need not even use it), and this, I think, is the key to the story. The ring is a thing of pure evil, no one can stand against it, but someone must destroy it. It is as though Tolkien is saying, “evil can and will corrupt the hearts of men, but we must do something to stop it!”