"The Lord of the Rings" and Christlike Characters

Image by Pau Llopart Cervello from Pixabay

 

In my MFA thesis, I surveyed multiple fantasy works that convey redemption and hope despite suffering and evil in the world. All the books I referenced had a Christ figure except one: The Lord of the Rings.  

Should we take this to mean Tolkien’s work failed to show the hope we have in Christ?

Tolkien’s epic does not have a distinct Christ figure like Aslan, Harry Potter, or Janner Wingfeather. But that was not his aim. He did not appreciate allegory and stated that his work of mythology was not an allegorical story. This is why we do not find a character who sacrificially gave his life to bring redemption to others – as authors such as C. S. Lewis, J. K. Rowling, and Andrew Peterson included in their stories.

But what he did with his characters was give many of them Christlike characteristics. And we would expect this from an author like Tolkien, who admitted that his deeply held beliefs impacted the stories he created (and which all people do whether they acknowledge it or not; worldview impacts what we create). As he wrote in a letter, “The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision” (The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, 109). There is no single Christ figure in The Lord of the Rings, but there are Christlike characters – individuals who provide us with multiple pictures of Jesus.

Many scholars commonly focus on a triad of characters that depict different aspects of Christ. Author and philosopher Peter Kreeft is known for this view, in which Jesus is portrayed through the figures of Prophet (Gandalf), Priest (Frodo), and King (Aragorn). The actions of these characters reflect the various offices of the Lord Jesus, and thus, present a multi-faceted depiction of Christ.  

I heartily agree that these characters give us a picture of Christ. Who can deny that Aragorn, the King who brings healing, is Christlike in his role in the book? Or that Frodo, the Ringbearer who carried the burden of the evil of Sauron, can empathize with those under the ring's power and influence? Gandalf certainly comes close to being a Christ figure by descending to the depths, only to rise again as Gandalf the White (though Aragorn and Frodo also passed through the shadow). However, many other characters display Christlikeness.   

Two such overlooked characters are Samwise Gamgee and Faramir.

More recently, Philip Ryken included Sam into the picture of Priest alongside Frodo, as addressed in his book The Messiah Comes to Middle-Earth. But going beyond the Prophet, Priest, and King figures, I believe Sam stands out most as a character marked by Christlike servanthood. He is Frodo’s servant and gardener, and not initially esteemed on the same level as his master. Yet, he is instrumental in the task of destroying the ring. If not for Sam, who single-handedly rescued Frodo from Shelob and the Orcs, and carried him part of the way to Mount Doom, Frodo would have never survived the quest. Sam’s actions mirror those of Christ, who became a servant to save us (Mark 10:45; Philippians 2:7-11).   

The work of Sam as a gardener also reflects Christ. Sam was working to care for and tend to plants before he went on the quest with Frodo, but this role is heightened on his return to the Shire. Numerous trees had been lost under Saruman’s reign over the hobbits. These were beloved and old trees that would not be easily replaced. Yet, Sam takes on the work of restoration and renewal using the gift of a box from Galadriel which held special dust and a seed: “So Sam planted saplings where specially beautiful or beloved trees had been destroyed, and he put a grain of the precious dust in the soil at the root of each” (The Return of the King, 330). This picture of bringing life and healing from destruction and death points to the redeeming work of Jesus in our lives.

Another Christlike character in Tolkien’s epic is Faramir. He is not the favored son of Denethor, though he is arguably the greater of the two brothers. Sam compares him to Gandalf because of his wisdom, though Faramir attributes this quality to his Numenorean ancestry. Unlike Boromir, Faramir rejects the temptation of the ring because he has no desire to wield power over others. His people had to adopt war as a way of survival, but he does not delight in the use of force and weapons. As he said, “War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend: the city of the Men of Numenor” (The Two Towers, 314).

Honorably, he offers Frodo aid and shows mercy to Gollum – though he had the right to take the creature’s life. Faramir continually stands by his beliefs in loyalty, courage, and honor, even going so far as to put himself in peril to serve his father, who favored his brother over him. Boromir was known for prowess and renown in war, but Faramir is a man of wisdom who shows strength by offering mercy and desiring to uphold life, rather than take it. He might not be as widely discussed as other characters. However, Faramir, like Sam, displays attitudes and actions that resemble the love and wisdom of Jesus. 

What is unique about Tolkien’s creation of characters is that they reflect Christ while also giving us examples to follow. We receive a lesson in mercy by observing Frodo’s change of heart and his willingness to pity those who are enslaved to the evil of Sauron. From Sam, we see what it means to love and serve another in the truest form of friendship – despite suffering and hardship. Humbleness is evident in Aragorn, who though the rightful king as the heir of Isildur, willingly serves his people by bringing healing. Faramir shows us that protecting and cultivating life is more honorable than skill in war or seeking prominence (as he helps Eowyn learn). All these characters show us glimpses of Jesus and what it means to be Christlike, inviting us to travel alongside them to learn to imitate the Savior.

Although a Jesus figure is not present in Tolkien’s Middle-Earth epic, the story is so infused with Christlike characters and themes that it glorifies and magnifies the Savior. It is truly a Christian work that captures what Tolkien termed as eucatastrophe, a sudden joyous turn, poignant as grief – which is exemplified in the greatest Story of the Lord Jesus’ death and resurrection.   

Works Cited

Tolkien, J. R. R. The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien. Edited by Humphrey Carpenter and Christopher Tolkien, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013. EBSCO.

-- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Ballantine, 2012.

-- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Ballantine, 2012.

St. Patrick and a Call for Justice and Mercy

Image by Pixabay

    When I decided to read The Confession of Saint Patrick, I was surprised at the small size of the book. However, Patrick’s testimony is filled with references from Scripture and displays his commitment to Christ. A bonus to the edition I bought was “A Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus.” In this letter, he condemns the actions of Coroticus and his men for attacking a group of Irish Christians, killing those who resisted, and taking the remaining men as slaves and the young women as sexual slaves.

    What makes this action even worse is that Coroticus and his men claimed to be followers of Christ.

    Patrick was distraught and wept for the men and women who were enslaved. His letter includes numerous biblical references condemning the actions of Coroticus. As he wrote, when referring to those who had been taken and sold into slavery: “For they have been taken far away and abandoned in a land where sin abounds, openly, wickedly, impudently; there freeborn men are sold, Christians are reduced to slavery” (p. 12). As someone who had experienced slavery when he was young, St. Patrick knew about the hardships and suffering of being enslaved. He desired the freedom of the captives and for others to acknowledge that injustice had occurred. Hence, he urged people to read the letter openly to bring shame to Coroticus (p. 16).

    Although his letter is short, it is significant in demonstrating a biblical response to injustice in the world. As John O’Donohue explains in the prologue of the book, St. Patrick’s “final impassioned statement stands today as a cry to heaven against all such outrages against humanity” (xviii). In this letter, we see St. Patrick’s desire for justice based on a love for Christ and biblical awareness of right and wrong. His words also serve as a powerful reminder to Christians today that partaking in evil and inflicting suffering on others contradicts their identity as followers of Jesus.

Christians and The Transatlantic Slave Trade

    Over a thousand years later, other people fighting against the injustice and evils of the transatlantic slave trade would speak out against slavery, just as St. Patrick had done. In Frederick Douglass’s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, he criticizes the Christian slaveholders. Men and women who claimed to love and follow Christ acted hypocritically by owning slaves. Although scholars and readers have often misunderstood Douglass’s view of religion, he presented a carefully crafted critique of Christians who owned slaves in America. As he clarified at the end of his Narrative, “What I have said respecting and against religion, I mean strictly to apply to the slaveholding religion of this land, and with no possible reference to Christianity proper” (Douglass 389). A distinct dichotomy existed between the true teachings of Christianity, which advocates for love and freedom, and those Christians who owned slaves.

    Instead of condoning acts of injustice or participating in them, just as Coroticus had done, people like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs, and William Wilberforce based their critique of slavery and work for abolition on scriptural grounds. Their examples remind us that those who follow Jesus should desire “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NIV). Believers who are truly heeding the words of Scripture will know that they are called to help the oppressed, defend the defenseless, and serve as a voice for those who cannot speak up for themselves (Psalm 82:3-4; Proverbs 31:8-9).

    Just as Patrick’s heart broke for those who were enslaved, Christians today should care for those who are suffering from injustice and mistreatment, including those who are suffering from the long-term effects of racism and prejudice stemming from the transatlantic slave trade.

Modern Slavery

    I can’t help but think of the millions of people trapped in modern slavery. Across the world, women and girls are forced into sexual slavery. Children suffer as slave workers, enduring harsh and dangerous working conditions. Numerous other men and women experience terrible conditions as slave laborers. The sad reality is that slavery still exists.

    According to a report from the UN, “Modern slavery occurs in almost every country in the world and cuts across ethnic, cultural and religious lines.” The problem of modern slavery is not something that is “out there in the world,” but occurring around us, maybe even in our neighborhoods. Furthermore, many things in our life, like the products we buy, come from slave labor, and promote oppression.

St. Patrick’s Day and Helping Others

    This year, think about celebrating St. Patrick’s Day differently. In remembrance of St. Patrick and the legacy he left, let’s remember those millions of people who are enslaved in the world today. They are trapped in horrible conditions, living without hope. While we can sit idly by and ignore their plight, that would not be the right thing to do. To use the argument of Frederick Douglass, that would be a hypocritical thing to do.

    Believers have been set free from sin and given freedom in Christ (Romans 6:18). No longer are we slaves to the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13). Likewise, we should desire to help those who are physically oppressed while also telling them about the One who can give them a new life that lasts for eternity (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Christ told us to spread the good news of His death and resurrection to all people, which includes those in modern slavery (Matthew 28:19-20).  

    And, even if we might not like it, following Jesus also means loving our enemies (Matthew 5:44). We should pray for the salvation of those who are participating in human trafficking and forcing people to do slave labor. Even St. Patrick, when he wrote his letter, said that he wept for Coroticus and the men who had committed the evil deed, sold as slaves to do Satan’s work (3). For truly, those who are enslaving others are already enslaved by sin and darkness. They, too, need freedom from sin and the redemptive work of Christ in their lives.    

    Let us pray, speak, and act to help those who are suffering and oppressed.

    “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot” – Matthew 5:13, NIV.

Works Cited

Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself. The Norton Anthology of African American Literature: Volume 1. Edited by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Valerie A. Smith. W. W. Norton & Company, 2014, pp. 330-393.

The Bible. New International Version. Bible Hub, 2023.

The Confession of Saint Patrick. Trans. John Skinner. Image Books, 1998.

United Nations. “50 million people in modern slavery: UN report.” United Nations, 27 Sept. 2022, https://www.un.org/en/delegate/50-million-people-modern-slavery-un-report.

Further Resources

Pray:

The following websites include prayer guides and opportunities to pray for those affected by slavery:

• 31 Days of Prayer to End Human Trafficking – Beautifully Broken: Laurie Hampton
• International Justice Mission Prayer Partners – You can sign up to receive prayer points and updates each week.

Speak up and Act:

To get involved, here is a brief list of Christian organizations fighting to end modern slavery:

• Agape International Missions (AIM)
• Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAAST)
• International Justice Mission (IJM)

These organizations also help those caught in trafficking and other forms of slavery, although they have a broader ministry:

• Compassion International – helps fight child labor and trafficking.
• Samaritan’s Purse
• Urgent – part of Radical

Carefully consider the brands you buy and from what stores you buy them. Buying from certain brands and companies that use slave labor supports slavery.

Finally, for a great resource that covers critical issues about doing justice and helping others in Jesus’ name, I highly suggest the book Counter Culture: Following Christ in an Anti-Christian Age by David Platt.