The Hobbit

The Hobbit By Tolkien, J. R. R.

Just finished reading this again.  I love Tolkien's world.  I have read The Hobbit before and will read again (several times over the next 2 years as the 3 films come out).  So much to say on Tolkien's creation, but first a few quotes from Tolkien.

I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence.

What really happens is that the story-maker proves a successful 'sub-creator'. He makes a Secondary World which your mind can enter. Inside it, what he relates is 'true': it accords with the laws of that world. You therefore believe it, while you are, as it were, inside. The moment disbelief arises, the spell is broken; the magic, or rather art, has failed. You are then out in the Primary World again, looking at the little abortive Secondary World from Outside.

Every writer making a secondary world wishes in some measure to be a real maker, or hopes that he is drawing on reality: hopes that the peculiar quality of this secondary world (if not all the details) are derived from Reality, or are flowing into it.

His quotes on allegory and story-making were part of the inspiration of this blog exploring these different writers views on reality.  Tolkien states plainly that he does not write allegorically yet no one can earnestly protest that his world reflects much of the Christian tradition.  From these other quotes it becomes apparent that a writer (or sub-creator) can only hope to be the real creator but can only derive from real creation.  As such his writing is reflective of truth.  Tolkien shows this in the realm of Middle Earth where the dwarves are created by one of the Valinor (think angels); but he cannot actually give them life, merely reflect his own.  They are brought to life by Illuvator (or God) and thus become a part of creation.  Similarly writers reflect that which they view in this world, both broken but yearning for redemption.  They cannot of themselves create or bring to life that which has already been created.

** From here may be a spoiler to anyone who has not read the book yet wishes to be surprised in the forthcoming movies. **

A brief over view of the story: Gandalf selects Bilbo Baggins to accompany of 13 dwarves to relieve them of their unlucky number and act as their thief.  These dwarves journey across Middle Earth encountering many friends and foes along their way to the Lonely Mountain, Erebor.  Thorin Oakenshield, along with a few of the other dwarves, was born at Erebor.  Thorin's grandfather was King of the mountain when Smaug the dragon laid waste the dwarvish people and took their home and treasure as his own.

To cover all of Tolkien's secondary world would cover books.  Here I shall focus on one particularly redeeming aspect found at the end of the novels.  After Bilbo has helped Thorin reclaim the Lonely Mounatin and his lost treasure a conflict arises between dwarves, elves and men.  Each lay some different claim to the treasures that Smaug had hoarded.  These claims are all based on egocentric self worth and a view that one's owns plights are bigger than others.  This is the heart of selfishness and the brokenness of man.  Generally, elves, men and dwarves are on peaceful if not friendly terms.  However, just before war breaks out they are attacked by real enemies: goblins and wargs.  Even in the midst of true brokenness they are able to put aside their own selfishness and band together to fight evil together.  Thorin loses his life to this conflict but is able to forgive Bilbo before he dies.  The presence of true evil laid bare Thorin's brokenness and brought him to reconciliation.  It is only when we grasp our full brokenness that we can accept our need for God's grace and seek reconciliation.