a supposedly escapist piece of fantasy.
What does this mean?
What is truly peculiar about this message is how much is pushes against the ideals that the fandom, specifically the American audience, hold true. The American dream is an ideology that through hard work and perseverance a person can climb the social ladder and make it. Yet the readers accept Tolkien’s message and cheer for Aragorn and Frodo as they reassert their higher class status on those below them. Those unfortunate enough to live in Mordor, a place that does not get sunlight and does not allow for agriculture are the Orcs, who are forced to eat maggoty bread and each other. As an audience we condone the slaughter and mistreatment of thousands of Orcs. We do this through the power of Tolkien defining the Orcs as an ‘other’. This kind of mentality is strong and works today as it did in World War I by justifying violence against the ‘other’ through the supposed good that a classist society upholds.
What do you think? Leave a comment.