The Missing Historical Environmental Context of Peter Jackson's the Lord of the Rings
2004; University of Idaho Library; Volume: 1; Issue: 20 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
1076-7975
Autores Tópico(s)Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies
ResumoDirector Peter Jackson and company have successfully brought much of J.R.R. Tolkien's literary classic The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) to the big screen. The movies have been spectacular, majestic and epic. But much, including the historical environmental context, is not clearly explicated due to the necessary simplification of bringing the epic tale to the big screen. However, if one is willing to look for an environmental message, one can find one in the depiction of the topography and the relationship between the peoples of Middle Earth to the landscape. There are many fine performances, although the absorbing sweep of the tale dwarfs many of the characters involved, The forest folks, the elves, are ethereal and introspective. Hugo Weaving's Elrond and Liv Tyler's Arwen are profound. Orlando Bloom's Legolas the elf is superhuman. John Van Rhys' Gimli the dwarf, from a mining culture that lives underground, is clearly from a different culture. The rural hobbits are originally innocent and playful, but despite being hardened by the war, they do manage to keep their sense of humor. Ian McKellen is solemn and angelic as the wizard Gandalf. Christopher Lee is aloof and stern as Saruman. The human royalty, who live in a constant state of warfare, are more emotional than the elves, but not always. Aragon, the king returned (played by Viggo Mortensen), is a man of self restraint who holds his feelings inside. Gimli the Dwarf is all emotion and provides comic relief. Loathsome and pitiful Gollum, the former and corrupted owner of the ring in question, will not be easily forgotten. Gollum does not belong among the forces of Light or Darkness. Evil is implacable in Tolkien's and Jackson's Middle Earth, and submission is not an alternative for the heroes. LOTR is primarily about war and the inherent fight for freedom. But also at stake is the natural world with an old theological enemy who would pervert and destroy the beauty of the pre-industrial Middle Earth. The story begins in the unspoilt setting of the Shire with its beautiful woods, fields and rivers. It is from this landscape that the idealistic and playful hobbits (Bilbo: Ian Holm, Frodo: Elijah Wood, Sam: Sean Astin, Pippin: Billy Boyd, and Merry: Dominic Monaghan) originate. Forces are arising that will enslave and destroy the Shire and the rest of the beautiful places of Middle Earth. The elves can sense the return of the Dark Lord in the water, earth and air. Bilbo, an adventurous hobbit, has brought back a mysterious ring to the Shire, which is out in the boondocks. The Dark Lord Sauron created this ring in an earlier age. In it he has put forth his cruelty, malice and will to dominate all life. If the Dark Lord regains the ring he will control all of Middle Earth. He will also be able to control those who own the other subservient rings that Sauron gave to the dwarves, elves and men of Middle Earth. There is also a war in nature between the forces of Light and Darkness in Tolkien's Middle Earth. Not stated in the movie is that Middle Earth had its Lucifer, whom Sauron sought to emulate in later ages. Each side has its dominion of creatures. There are the forces of Light with its pure waters, sunlight, starlight, horses, elves, Ents... There is also the Dark side with its ringwraiths, evil felines, wargs, trolls, goblins, orcs, balrogs, spiders, dinosaurs... In the middle of this struggle is the world of men, some of whom already serve the Dark Lord. If Sauron regains the ring, all will fall under his dominion. This struggle is far away from the pleasure seeking hobbits that usually are not major players in world affairs. But now Frodo, Bilbo's nephew, is entrusted with the fate of the ring, which has brought the Shire to the attention of Dark Lord. Sauron has taken the form of a lidless, searching eye that looks over Mordor from the tower of Barad-dur. He has regained power in the land of Mordor, and now searches for the ring to complete his plans. …
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