The Weak Made Strong

Blog Fantasy

Post 16 - The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien

Outside Source:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6tSTO82o9k

Analysis:

This YouTube clips shows the Hobbit main-characters of The Fellowship of the Ring, by JRR Tolkien. This clips shows the hardships that the Hobbits, or “Halflings”, of Middle Earth endure though the course of the book. These Hobbits play a large role in saving their world. This is unusual because Hobbits are generally not “anything of interest”(174) to the other races of Middle Earth.

Why is one drawn to Fantasy Worlds? What properties or qualities do these worlds posses that make them so captivating to one?

The fact that the Weak are made Strong in a Fantasy World is one of the many reasons why Fantasy Worlds are so appealing to readers. In The Fellowship of the Ring, by JRR Tolkien, Frodo, Sam, Pippin, and Merry, all little hobbits, all take on grand tasks in their great journey to destroy Sauron, an evil warlord who threatens to bring the entire Middle Earth into his iron grip. In general, Hobbits are peace-loving creatures that rarely pay attention to the world beyond their borders. Tolkien as characterizes hobbits as beings who are “accustomed to eating, drinking, and sleeping… not worth special attention, for the most part”(12). Yet, these tasks that are undertaken by the Hobbits are unmistakably worth special attention because they decide the fate of the world. As Gandalf, the wise wizard, said, “It is often true that the weak make all the difference in the world while the eyes of the great are elsewhere” (298). This massive amount of respect given to mere Hobbits is what makes the Fantasy World of Middle Earth so captivating, because it gives the reader a boost of morale. This boost in morale is given by the message conveyed in The Fellowship of the Ring that states: even the weak can become powerful. This message gives the reader encouragement to engage in any troubles with the idea that no matter how weak he/she may be, he/she has the potential to become great, just like the Hobbits in The Fellowship of the Ring.

Therefore, a Fantasy World which has the concept of the Weak are made Strong is an exceptionally intriguing world.