Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas
explored in a literary work.
The Ambiguity of Evil
Tolkien offers a conflicted picture of evil in The
Lord of the Rings. As the literary scholar T.A. Shippey
argues, the images of evil -Tolkien portrays in the novel depict
two traditional explanations for the existence of evil. The first,
Manichaeism, was a view deemed heretical by the early Christian
church. In Manichaeism, good and evil are two opposing forces or
powers at war in the world. The second view, embraced by early Christian
theologians, is that evil does not exist as a positive force. Evil
is, instead, a human creation—that which is produced by humankind’s
lack of goodness.
The Shadow, the chief metaphor for the evil of Mordor,
exemplifies this ambivalent depiction of evil. On one hand, shadow
is nothing but the absence of light; it has no substance, and its
qualities are ambiguous even to those who perceive it. At the same
time, shadows are real objects, with clearly visible shapes and
edges. With the Shadow that blankets Mordor and extends outward
later in The Lord of the Rings, Sauron’s evil spreads
as various groups of Men and Orcs obey his will. In this sense,
Sauron’s evil is not a force or a thing, but a form of human behavior.
Even so, Sauron’s Darkness affects the physical world itself. The
land of Mordor lies destitute and barren because of Sauron’s residence
there, and the flying Nazgûl represent the physical embodiment of
a mystical evil force.
While Tolkien does not clarify this ambiguous picture
of evil, he suggests that the evil of human behavior precedes the
physical force or power of evil in the world. Sauron creates the
Ring out of malice and pride; the Ring does not cause Sauron’s evil.
Similarly, the evil Saruman never actually loses his mystical powers
when ousted from Isengard. Saruman’s hatred and bitterness cause
his psychological deterioration, and his physical loss of power
follows suit.
The Importance of Redemption
Redemption—the ability to renew another’s life—is a capacity
that few of the Fellowship’s members possess. As the rightful King
of Gondor, only Aragorn can redeem another by his power, as his words
possess the ability to direct, by royal edict, the fate of his subjects.
Nevertheless, throughout The Lord of the Rings, the
protagonists are faced with opportunities to extend mercy to others,
often at the risk of losing sight of the goal of their larger mission.
Tolkien suggests that mercy must always be extended to others, regardless
of the risks such an offering poses.
Gandalf and Frodo, more than any other characters, repeatedly offer
mercy and the possibility of redemption to others. At Minas Tirith,
Gandalf turns from pursuing the Lord of the Nazgûl to save Faramir
from the burning pyre and to offer aid and a second chance to the
desperate Lord Denethor. Gandalf continually offers redemption to
the corrupt wizard Saruman up through their last meeting. Time and
again, Frodo offers mercy to Gollum, pardoning Gollum’s offenses
and entrusting his journey to the creature and his devices. Often,
the offer of redemption jeopardizes the success of the quest itself.
By having Gandalf and Frodo extend second chances to others again
and again, Tolkien emphasizes the importance of free will. Gandalf’s
intervention in The Two Towers transforms Théoden, who
suddenly realizes that evil is not his only available choice. Denethor’s
evil, in contrast, stems from his belief that Sauron’s evil lies
are an inescapable necessity. Furthermore, Tolkien suggests that the
act of offering redemption demonstrates a trust in the justice of providence
or fate. Gollum ultimately betrays Frodo’s confidence, trying to
destroy Frodo to gain the Ring. Frodo’s patience with Gollum, however,
prompts the creature to follow Frodo all the way to the Cracks of
Doom. In the end, good does come of Gollum, as, in a cruel twist
of irony, his mischief destroys the Ring in the Cracks of Doom.
