Racism in LOTR? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Halbarad · 03-24-2002, 08:25 PM

Has anyone checked 'Letters' to see if there was any response from Tolkien? I mean, people criticezed him for being Anglocentric in his portrayal of ME, but I say, stick to what you know. As for the racist connotations in the descriptions of the Southrons etc, I think the question should be: Was it intentional racsim ,manifested out of hatred, or was it passive, unintentional, nationalistic in a way. After all, if he makes ME look like England, then naturally he would make the inhabitants English looking, therefore, to convey difference, he would have to describe different features. In turn, he would have to use negative language to describe them, because they were the BAD GUYS, kinda like the Mongols invading Europe...
Make sense?

03-24-2002, 08:25 PM	#16
Halbarad Wight Join Date: May 2001 Location: Cheongju, Korea Posts: 147	Has anyone checked 'Letters' to see if there was any response from Tolkien? I mean, people criticezed him for being Anglocentric in his portrayal of ME, but I say, stick to what you know. As for the racist connotations in the descriptions of the Southrons etc, I think the question should be: Was it intentional racsim ,manifested out of hatred, or was it passive, unintentional, nationalistic in a way. After all, if he makes ME look like England, then naturally he would make the inhabitants English looking, therefore, to convey difference, he would have to describe different features. In turn, he would have to use negative language to describe them, because they were the BAD GUYS, kinda like the Mongols invading Europe... Make sense? __________________ -Halbarad to Aragorn, 'The Passing of the Grey Company' Book V, Return of the King."A little people, but of great worth are the Shire-folk. Little do they know of our long labour for the safekeeping of their borders, and yet I grudge it not"