“The metaphor in the mouth of survivors became a way to innovate around pain.” — Ocean Vuong
Of orcs, elves, and men. The lord of the Rings and its historical significance for Ukraine
Metaphors and allegories can help us to cope with the horrors of war
The fictionalization and abstraction of the horrors of war is a healthy way to bear the horrible reality which Ukraine has been thrust into. The artist and his art can help to keep humans sane. Art and literature offer a refuge in these trying times.
The horror of industrial warfare influenced Tolkien’s work
Writing is a powerful and therapeutic coping mechanism. This mechanism had helped Tolkien to deal with the inhumane horror of industrial warfare during WW1. His work had influenced the Cold War as well. Both the Soviet Bloc and the West tried to use his work for their own propaganda purposes.
The Russo Ukraine war isn’t a movie or a book. The horror is real. Putin’s inventive evil is real
This war is a nightmare. Let’s escape this nightmare a couple of minutes. Let me take you to Tolkien’s world. The themes in Lord of the Rings resonate with many of the horrors which Russia has thrust upon Ukraine.
Theoden: So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?
Aragorn: Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them.
Tolkien would not approve of drawing such stark parallels between his work and real geographical locations. Tolkien’s work is about the battle of light against darkness.
The Lord of the Rings is about heroes and villains. This story features kings who have lost their way. The story is full of unspoken evil, wizards, and gods. The story is about warfare. Tolkien wrote an epic tale about wizards, elves, orcs, dwarfs and men.
Our heroic projects that are aimed at destroying evil have the paradoxical effect of bringing more evil into the world. Human conflicts are life and death struggles — my gods against your gods, my immortality project against your immortality project. The root of humanly caused evil is not man’s animal nature, not territorial aggression, or innate selfishness, but our need to gain self-esteem, deny our mortality, and achieve a heroic self-image. Ernest Becker: The Denial of Death, preface
Tolkien wrote about the horrors of a big war, which was thrust upon Middle Earth
This Ring War is full of splendor and horrors. Theoden’s judgment was clouded. The King of Rohand was paralyzed. He failed to comprehend that the evil that tries to erase the world of men must be confronted head-on.
Death is just another path, one that we all must take. Gandalf the White
We all wish we would not have to confront such evil. These are our times, we can’t wish them away. We must make our stand and fight. We must have courage for ourselves and courage for our friends. I also wish this evil war need not have happened in my time.
The story is full of hope, despair, and everything in between
There is hardship, betrayal, love, courage, war, and death. Tolkien wrote about humans being thrown into chaos. This chaos that wasn’t of their own making. The fellowship kept on going forward even in the face of adversity.
“There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.” Sam White Gamgee
Oaths were taken, and oaths will have to be fulfilled for Lord and land. Tolkien’s work is also full of deceit, betrayal, darkness, and lies.
Old foes become friends. Old alliances are renewed. Some new alliances are formed. Some other alliances fall apart. Some, like Boromir (Orban), are consumed by greed and power hunger.
The courage of one man (Frodomyr) the one who needed ammunition, not a ride may have ruled the fate of many C.S.
Tolkien’s universe is a struggle against all odds. Good, ultimately, triumphs over evil. Life triumphs over death. Love triumphs over hatred
Tolkien’s story puts a small, peculiar folk at the center of the narrative. The Hobbits saved Middle Earth. How could the world go back to the way it was? When so much bad had happened?
It’s only a passing thing this shadow, even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines, it’ll shine out the clearer. I know now folks in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going because they were holding on to something. That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for. Sam Gamgee
Sam has taught me that we must show mercy. Just mercy shown to those who are undeserving of it is a powerful act of defying evil. If you can be only one thing in this world. Then be kind.
Evil of such quality is rare and unnatural. It carries the seed of its own destruction within itself
The Hobbits had shown more courage than the high lords in their castles in Gondor (Washington), and Rohan (Brussels) could have ever imagined. These brave men and women wanted ammunition, not a ride. They bow to no one. No one can break them.
Unbowed, unbent, unbroken. The House of Mattel
The Lord of the Rings is full of pity and compassion. To defeat the dark lord, the West mustn’t become the dark lord. Whenever we gaze into an abyss, the abyss gazes back into us. The pity of the free world may rule the fate of many.
Hope is kindled. Mithrandir
Let me share three relevant scenes from the Lord of the Rings trilogy
The first scene is about the appeasement of evil. The second scene features the wrath of nature. The third one shows that as long as free men are willing to die for liberty, liberty shall never perish.
“It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not.” Mithrandir
Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, King Theoden, and Gandalf arrive at Isengard after the battle of Helm’s Deep
Saruman : You have fought many wars and slain many men, Theoden King, and made peace afterward. Can we not take council as we once did, my old friend? Can we not have peace?
Theoden : We shall have peace… We shall have peace when you answer for the burning of the Westfold and the children that lie dead there! We shall have peace when the lives of the soldiers whose bodies were hewn even as they died against the gates of the Hornburg are avenged! When you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows! We shall have peace.
(…)
Gandalf : Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are now at risk, but you could save them Saruman. You were deep in the enemy’s council.
Saruman : Something festers in the heart of Middle-Earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the Great Eye has seen it. Even now, he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon. You’re all going to die. But you know this don’t you, Gandalf?
Saruman : You cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor. This exile, crept from the shadows, will never be crowned king. Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those closest to him, those he professes to love. Tell me what words of comfort did you give the halfling before you sent him to his doom? The path that you have set him on can only lead to death.
The trees have grown wild and dangerous. Anger festers in their hearts. Black are their thoughts. Strong is their hate. Treebeard
There is no curse in Elvish, Entish, or the tongues of men for this treachery. Treebeard. The filth of Saruman is washing away. The Ents will go to war. Break the bridge, and release the peninsula!
“Many of the Ents are younger than I am, by many lives of trees. They are all roused now, and their mind is all on one thing: breaking Isengard. But they will start thinking again before long; they will cool down a little. Let them march now and sing! We have a long way to go, and there is time ahead for thought. It is something to have started.” Treebeard
Aragorn’s speech at the black gate. He draws his sword and addresses the sons of Rohan (Europe) and Gondor. (North America)
Hold your ground! Hold your ground!
Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers,
I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me.
A day may come when the courage of men fails,
when we forsake our friends
and break all bonds of fellowship,
but it is not this day.
An hour of wolves and shattered shields,
when the age of men comes crashing down,
but it is not this day!
This day, we fight!!
By all that you hold dear on this good Earth,
I bid you stand, Men of the West!!!
Summary and conclusion
We should always remind ourselves of Gandalf’s words. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.
My heart tells me that the dark lord, the white wizard, the orc commanders and the all the others have their part to play yet, before this is over
All world’s a stage. We are the players. There are other forces at work in this world, besides the ones of evil. Russia’s evil will disperse in the wind, it is only a passing thing. The dark tower will collapse. Russia’s hatred will collapse with it.
Peace will return the West. This peace will last for generations
All will turn to silver glass. Lights on the water, all souls pass. Hope fades into the world of night. Through shadows falling, out of memory and time. White shores are calling. Grey ships pass into the West.” Annie Lennox
The first flower on the tree of Gondor blooms in the face of adversity. It will be the most beautiful of all
There never was much hope. Only a fool’s hope. Hope is frail, but also hard to kill. The beacons are lit. Justice must be done upon the dark lord and his followers. Mordor has drawn all evil to iself. This evil can’t be allowed to prevail.
“There is always hope.” Aragorn, Two Towers
The F16 eagles are coming. From the shards of Narsil, renewed shall be the blade that was broken. Anduril the flame of the West. May peace come soon.
Now, come the days of the king, may they be blessed. Gandalf
“This day doesn’t belong to one man but to all. Let us together rebuild this world that we may share in the days of peace.”
My friends, you bow to no one. Aragorn, the King of Gondor
My dear readership,
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