Lord of the Rings labelled racist - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Orual · 12-20-2002, 09:40 PM

Pookabunny, I think you hit the gold in comparing Dr. Shapiro's conclusion to the confusion over Sam and Frodo's relationship. It's all in the intent, I guess, though I find Tolkien's intent in both cases fairly obvious. If anything, I find a huge amount of tolerance in the Lord of the Rings. People dismiss Gimli and Legolas' friendship (don't mention that, it contradicts our point and makes our arguments obsolete!), and choose instead to concentrate on what geographical area of Middle-earth Sauron's human allies happen to be from. The Fellowship was the ultimate in inter-racial friendship; four of the major races of Middle-earth (okay, you try to get an Ent to go on the Quest!) were chosen. People concentrate on the details, and ignore the big picture. And even some of the details. They pick and choose those facts which coincide with their theories, and pretend that none of the other facts exist. I find this a dishonorable way to argue, and it really distresses me that Dr. Shapiro would do this, simply to try and bring down Tolkien's works of genius.

~*~Orual~*~

[ December 20, 2002: Message edited by: Orual ]

12-20-2002, 09:40 PM	#1
Orual Speaker of the Dead Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Superbia Posts: 868	Pookabunny, I think you hit the gold in comparing Dr. Shapiro's conclusion to the confusion over Sam and Frodo's relationship. It's all in the intent, I guess, though I find Tolkien's intent in both cases fairly obvious. If anything, I find a huge amount of tolerance in the Lord of the Rings. People dismiss Gimli and Legolas' friendship (don't mention that, it contradicts our point and makes our arguments obsolete!), and choose instead to concentrate on what geographical area of Middle-earth Sauron's human allies happen to be from. The Fellowship was the ultimate in inter-racial friendship; four of the major races of Middle-earth (okay, you try to get an Ent to go on the Quest!) were chosen. People concentrate on the details, and ignore the big picture. And even some of the details. They pick and choose those facts which coincide with their theories, and pretend that none of the other facts exist. I find this a dishonorable way to argue, and it really distresses me that Dr. Shapiro would do this, simply to try and bring down Tolkien's works of genius. ~~Orual~~ [ December 20, 2002: Message edited by: Orual ] __________________ "Oh, my god! I care so little, I almost passed out!" --Dr. Cox, "Scrubs"