Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Tolkien, Forgiveness And Salvation

Tolkien, Forgiveness And Salvation

Last updated on: June 3, 2020 at 3:18 am by Henry Karlson

Tolkien, Forgiveness And Salvation 2020-06-03T03:18:03-05:00 Henry Karlson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Pau Llopart Cervello (paxillop): The Lord of the Rings / pixabay

JR.R. Tolkien, in his letters, talks about the way one of his readers thought Frodo should have been treated as a traitor and sentenced to death:

Fair it would and did as far as Frodo considered alone was concerned. He ‘apostatized’ – and I have had one savage letter, crying out that he shd. have been executed as a traitor, not honoured.[1]

Tolkien understood that Frodo had failed. But he understood there was more to Frodo’s story than giving in to temptation. He had fought against it until he come to the limits of his strength, and it was only after he was broken down that he gave in. Through the story of Frodo, Tolkien showed how frail he understood humanity could be: people can be beaten down, broken down, manipulated, and pushed to their limit until, at last, they do the thing they thought they would never do. Good people can be made to do bad things, and, if we have not suffered as they have suffered, if we have not been tortured and pushed to the limit as they have been, we should avoid judging them, thinking we would do better in their shoes: “It seems sad and strange that, in this evil time when daily people of good will are tortured, ‘brainwashed’, and broken, anyone could be so fiercely simpleminded and selfrighteous.”[2] Indeed, when talking about the ultimate fate of anyone, he knew the kind of humility we should have: “But we who are all ‘in the same boat’ must not usurp the Judge”. [3] He applied this even to Gollum: “Into the ultimate judgment of Gollum I would not care to enquire.” [4]

Through his experiences with war, as well as seeing what he saw happening around the world during his life, Tolkien learned how evil could corrupt and destroys otherwise good people. Frodo was a good person, a hero, who was worthy of all the honor and respect he received, despite the fact that in the end, he gave into temptation. He pushed on to the end, using all his strength to resist evil, and that was all he could be expected to do: “Frodo deserved all honour because he spent every drop of his power of will and body, and that was just sufficient to bring him to the destined point, and no further.” [5]

It was not just the fact that Frodo had wrestled with, and fought valiantly, against the Ring for so long which allowed him to be a hero and receive a hero’s reward. It was also his good, indeed, merciful nature, one which he shared with Bilbo, which also allowed him to receive the mercy which he himself needed after he gave into his desire to claim the Ring for himself. Tolkien believed, following the teachings of Christ, that this was exactly the spirit which we need to have if we want to be saved. We need to show mercy and forgiveness to others if we want to receive mercy and forgiveness for ourselves:

But we are assumed that we must be ourselves extravagantly generous, if we are to hope for the extravagant generosity which the slightest easing of, or escape from, the consequences of our own follies and errors represents. And that mercy does sometimes occur in this life. [6]

Frodo fulfilled his duty, even if he also was overcome by the Ring, because he had first been merciful to Gollum. Indeed, it was not just his mercy, but all the mercy and pity which Gollum received throughout the years which allowed Gollum to be where he needed to be to take the Ring to its final doom. If at any time beforehand, pity had not been shown to him, it is likely that the quest to destroy the Ring would have ended in failure. Thus, Tolkien, seeing the pattern which developed in his writings, acknowledges that it was such pity and mercy which brought salvation to the world (as well as to those who fell into temptation themselves):

When Frodo says it was a pity that Bilbo did not kill Gollum, Gandalf quickly replies, ‘Pity? It was Pity that stayed his hand.’ (Notice how Tolkien himself capitalizes and personifies Pity). As the wizard further reflects upon the mercy shown to the creature, he muses that ‘the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many – yours not least’ (FR I/2), and in the long trajectory of the plot, the Ring is destroyed only because Gollum bites it from Frodo’s finger. If not for Bilbo’s pity, in show, Frodo’s quest would have failed. Tolkien reflected after publication that ‘the “salvation” of the world and Frodo’s own “salvation” is achieved by his previous pity and forgiveness of injury.’ [7]

Tolkien caught on to a major Christian element in his works. If we want to receive mercy, we must ourselves be merciful. Certainly, we should struggle against sin, but if and when we fail in our struggles and give in, we do not have to fear all is lost. God’s grace transcends our sins and is able to save us. Nonetheless, if we are to be saved, we must recognize in humility not only our failings, but human weakness in general so that we can then share the mercy we receive with others understanding their failings come from the same weakness which we have. We must recognize that as we falter and give in to our temptations, others, likewise, falter and give in to their own temptations; the temptations might differ, the pressure put on people to give in might differ, but everyone has a point in which, without grace, they will give in to sin. When Peter denied Christ three times, he had come to the limit of his own power to resist evil, but because he had a great, merciful and loving heart (which Christ brought out when he met with Peter after the resurrection), he was able to receive forgiveness. When Ossius of Cordova signed an Arian decree, it was only after extensive torture of himself and his loved ones; he had been taken to the limit and was broken down; nonetheless, with the greatness of his faith, hope and love, once he was set free, he was free to denounce what he had done and receive forgiveness (which is why St. Athanasius always considered Ossius with the highest of regards). Endo’s Silence also delves into this theme, with Christ himself affirming the forgiveness of those who were broken down by the powers that be in Japan.

Thus, Tolkien presents to us the picture of salvation which follows the Lord’s prayer. If we want mercy, if we want forgiveness, we must be merciful to others. We cannot judge them and their final fate. We can judge their actions, to be sure, but we cannot judge what lies behind their actions, knowing whether or not they were broken down and faltered through the stress of their lives, or if the followed through with evil without putting up a fight. Even if it is the latter, people still possess an element of the good within them, so that like Gollum, there is always hope for their salvation. We should hope for the salvation of all and act out in that hope with mercy and grace so that we then, can attain the salvation which desire for ourselves despite our own failings. If we deny such mercy to others, then we risk our own condemnation, as the Venerable Bede explains in his commentary on James:

For there will be judgment without mercy on him who has not acted mercifully. He will be judged without mercy who, when he was able to do so, did not act mercifully before he could be judged. Since this may be properly felt about all who are without mercy, it is clear in every way that the greater the mercy each one has obtained from the Lord, the more unjust he is in denying mercy to a neighbor needing it and the more justly he has paid the penalty for this wickedness . [8]

Frodo learned this lesson well, as the Scouring of the Shire shows. He was willing to show the mercy he received to Saruman, and in doing so, overcome evil with good, as Paul said Christians should do:

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans (RSV) 12:19-22 RSV).

Frodo’s mercy stung at Saruman, giving him the final victory:

Saruman turned to go, and Wormtongue shuffled after him. But even as Saruman passed close to Frodo a knife flashed in his hand, and he stabbed swiftly. The blade turned on the hidden mail-coat and snapped. A dozen hobbits, led by Sam, leaped forward with a cry and flung the villain to the ground. Sam drew his sword.

‘No, Sam!’ said Frodo. ‘Do not kill him even now. For he has not hurt me. And in any case I do not wish him to be slain in this evil mood. He was great once, of a noble kind that we should not dare to raise our hands against. He is fallen, and his cure is beyond us; but I would still spare him, in the hope that he may find it.’

Saruman rose to his feet, and stared at Frodo. There was a strange look in his eyes of mingled wonder and respect and hatred. ‘You have grown, Halfling,’ he said. ‘Yes, you have grown very much. You are wise, and cruel. You have robbed my revenge of sweetness, and now I must go hence in bitterness, in debt to your mercy. I hate it and you! Well, I go and I will trouble you no more. But do not expect me to wish you health and long life. You will have neither. But that is not my doing. I merely foretell.’[9]

It was Wormtongue, following the evil ways of his master, who would bring an end to Saruman, embracing a nihilistic hate, showing the end which evil brings upon all who embrace it. It knows no love, no mercy, no hope, no glory. It only knows gloom and the desire for destruction. To hold onto mercy, to embrace it, is to hold on to the whatever remnant of the good lies within us all, holding onto that which offers healing and rest. So long as we remain merciful to others, we can hope that such mercy will be met with greater mercy, one which will lead to our salvation: for when mercy meets mercy, it finds the heart willing to be saved.

[1] J.R.R. Tolkien, “Letter 181 to Michael Straight [drafts]” in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. ed. Humphrey Carpenter (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1981), 234.

[2] J.R.R. Tolkien, “Letter 192 to Amy Ronald” in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. ed. Humphrey Carpenter (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1981), 253.

[3] J.R.R. Tolkien, “Letter181 to Michael Straight,” 234.

[4] J.R.R. Tolkien, “Letter181 to Michael Straight,” 234. This is in part because Tolkien also understood that despite how corrupted Gollum was, there was always some good which remained. Gandalf, therefore, said that there was some hope, albeit little, for Gollum:

‘Only too true, I fear,’ said Gandalf. ‘But there was something else in it, I think, which you don’t see yet. Even Gollum was not wholly ruined. He had proved tougher than even one of the Wise would have guessed -as a hobbit might. There was a little corner of his mind that was still his own, and light came through it, as through a chink in the dark: light out of the past. It was actually pleasant, I think, to hear a kindly voice again, bringing up memories of wind, and trees, and sun on the grass, and such forgotten things.

‘But that, of course, would only make the evil part of him angrier in the end – unless it could be conquered. Unless it could be cured.’ Gandalf sighed. ‘Alas! there is little hope of that for him. Yet not no hope. No, not though he possessed the Ring so long, almost as far back as he can remember. For it was long since he had worn it much: in the black darkness it was seldom needed. Certainly he had never “faded”. He is thin and tough still. But the thing was eating up his mind, of course, and the torment had become almost unbearable. — [4] J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring in The Lord of the Rings: Collector’s Edition (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1966), 64.

[5] J.R.R. Tolkien, “Letter 192 to Amy Ronald” in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. ed. Humphrey Carpenter (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1981), 253.

[6] J.R.R. Tolkien, “Letter 192 to Amy Ronald,” 253.

[7] John. M. Bowers, Tolkien’s Lost Chaucer (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019), 116.

[8] Venerable Bede, “Commentary on James” in Commentary on the Seven Catholic Epistles. Trans. Dom. David Hurst, OSB (Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1985), 26-7.

[9] J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King in The Lord of the Rings: Collector’s Edition (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1966), 299.

Stay in touch! Like A Little Bit of Nothing on Facebook.
If you liked what you read, please consider sharing it with your friends and family!

Previous Post

June 2, 2020

Economics Must Serve The Common Good

Next Post

June 7, 2020 God Is Glorified In His Saints

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Abraham abuse Aesthetics AI Aliens Ambrose Ancestors and Everything Andrew Angels Animals Anne Anthony Antisemitism apologetics Apophatic Apostle John Aquinas Artificial Intelligence Asanga Ascension Asceticism Assumption Atheism Attachment Augustine Authority Avarice Balthasar Baptism Beauty Biden birthright citizenship Bishops Black History Books Buddhism Bulgakov Byzantine Calendar C.S. Lewis Calcidius Catholic Catholicism Catholicism Celibacy Charity Chastity children Chrismation Christ Christmas Christology Church Climate Change Common Good Communion Confession Confirmation Conscience Constantine conventions conversion councils Covid Creation Cross Dead Death Death Penalty Debate Deception Demagogues Demons Desert Monks Desert Mothers Desire destruction development Dialogue Dignity Dionsyius Dionysius Discipline Diversity Division Doctor Who doctrine dogma Dormition Dualism Easter Easter Series Ecumenical Councils Ecumenism Education Election Empathy Environment Error Eschatology eschaton Eternity Ethics Eucharist Evangelism Eve Evil evolution Faeries Faith Fear femininity Ficino Florence Florensky Folktale Fools Forgiveness Freedom Future gender Gentile Gentiles Glory Gnostic God gods Good Samaritan Goodness Gospel Government Grace Great Fast Guns Hate healing Health Heaven Hell Hellenism Heresy Hierarchy Hildegard Hinduism History Holiness Holy Spirit Holy Week Hope Horror Human rights humanity Humility hypocrisy ICE icon icons Identification Identity Idol II Nicea Immigration incarnation Individualism Informal Reflections Inklings Intention Inter-Religious Interfaith Internet Interpretation Intrinsic evil Irenaeus Islam Israel Jacob Jerome Jesus Jews John Chrysostom John of Damascus John the Baptist Joseph Judaism justice Justification kenosis Kindnesss Kingdom of God Kingdom of Heaven Law Law of Moses Lazarus Leaf by Niggle Lent Lenten Reflection Liberation Theology Lies Life Listen Literature Liturgy locutions Logic Logos Love Marriage Martyrs Mary Mass Maximos The Confessor Meanness Meditation Mercy Middle Path Migrants Mind Miracles Miriam Morals Moses Movies Music Muslims Myths Names Nationalism Native Americans New Year Nicea Nicholas Nothing Novatian Obedience Occam's Razor Ordination Origen Original Sin Orthodox orthopraxis Pagans Palamas Palm Sunday Paradise Paschaltide Paul Peace Pentecost person Peter piety PKD Plato pluralism Plurality Poem Poetry Poiltics Politics Poor Pope Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV Post Office Prayer Pride Pro-life Prodigal Son propaganda Prophecy Prophets Providence Putin Racism Reading Reason Reflection Refugees Relationships Religion Religion Series Religious Liberty Repent Republicans Rest Resurrection Rich Rites Russia Sacraments Saints Salvation Salvian Santa Science Scripture Self-Giving Sexuality Sibyl Sick Silence Sin Singlehood Social Justice Society Sodom Solovyov Speculations Spiritual Reflection St. Cyril of Alexandria St. Justin Martyr Suffering Sunday of the Paralytic Man Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Superhero Supreme Court Teaching Technology Thanksgiving The Father the Universe Theological Reflection Theology Theosis Theotokos Thomas Timaeus Time Tolerenace Tolkien Tradition Transfiguration Trinity Trump Truth Uncategorized Unity Universities USCCB Value Vatican II Vegetarian Vices Violence Virtue Vocations War Water Welcome Wisdom Womanhood Women Work World View Worship Writing Zacchaeus

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz