Did Tolkien ever think of environmental implications when Saruman destroyed all trees - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

12-11-2002, 08:42 AM

Don't you think there is so much validity in the destruction of all those trees when saruman constructed the ditches? Tolkein seems to have thought greatly about the problems of opur future. please give some feedback!! [img]smilies/redface.gif[/img]

Orual · 12-11-2002, 09:45 PM

Welcome to the Downs, Thallassa! Enjoy being dead!

Tolkien was, if I remember rightly, very concerned about the coming of the industrial age. Just as Frodo was in love with the Shire, Tolkien was in love with rural England. It distressed him to see the natural aspects of his country slowly but surely infringed upon. He put that love of nature and concern for its safety into his works.

~*~Orual~*~

Tigerlily Gamgee · 12-11-2002, 11:29 PM

I went to a discussion by Tom Shippey called "Trees, Chainsaws, and Visions of Paradise in JRR Tolkien".
He talked about such things in great detail. Tolkien did have a great love of nature. Shippey referred to him a lot as a "tree hugger".
So, yes, I think it does relate.

12-11-2002, 11:45 PM

I think he did. He thought that modern world was ugly (in one article he says that there are no modernn houses which are beautiful and etc.) I think he was concerned with ecology problems. And the regime of Saruman in the Shire is also agressive to nature. If society is totalitarian, e.g. evil, it is evil in all aspects and it is equally destructive towards both people and nature

12-11-2002, 08:42 AM	#1
Thallassa Guest Posts: n/a	Did Tolkien ever think of environmental implications when Saruman destroyed all trees Don't you think there is so much validity in the destruction of all those trees when saruman constructed the ditches? Tolkein seems to have thought greatly about the problems of opur future. please give some feedback!! [img]smilies/redface.gif[/img]

12-11-2002, 09:45 PM	#2
Orual Speaker of the Dead Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Superbia Posts: 868	Welcome to the Downs, Thallassa! Enjoy being dead! Tolkien was, if I remember rightly, very concerned about the coming of the industrial age. Just as Frodo was in love with the Shire, Tolkien was in love with rural England. It distressed him to see the natural aspects of his country slowly but surely infringed upon. He put that love of nature and concern for its safety into his works. ~~Orual~~ __________________ "Oh, my god! I care so little, I almost passed out!" --Dr. Cox, "Scrubs"

12-11-2002, 11:29 PM	#3
Tigerlily Gamgee Hostess of Spirits Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Meduseld Posts: 1,055	I went to a discussion by Tom Shippey called "Trees, Chainsaws, and Visions of Paradise in JRR Tolkien". He talked about such things in great detail. Tolkien did have a great love of nature. Shippey referred to him a lot as a "tree hugger". So, yes, I think it does relate. __________________ ~ ExerciseJunky.com (Hobbits fitness of choice!)~ ~Lady of Rohan: An Eowyn Fansite ~ ~The NEW/OLD Barrow Downs Photo Page~

12-11-2002, 11:45 PM	#4
Banshee Guest Posts: n/a	I think he did. He thought that modern world was ugly (in one article he says that there are no modernn houses which are beautiful and etc.) I think he was concerned with ecology problems. And the regime of Saruman in the Shire is also agressive to nature. If society is totalitarian, e.g. evil, it is evil in all aspects and it is equally destructive towards both people and nature