A review by mdunnbass
The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

3.0

I've finally pinned down why I don't get into Tolkein the way I do other books, or the way other people do Tolkein. I may get flamed by this, if anyone actually even reads these posts, but here it is: The Lord of the Rings is the single most un-American book series I know. OK, so that's gross hyperbole, but the point is, it's incredibly un-American. The very nature of how Tolkein describes people belies the fact that it's entirely based on a Victorian, or maybe Georgian belief in a rigid class system, where the nobility are noble inherently because of their superior lineage. The descendents of the men of Numenor are all described as king-like and valiant and regal and honorable, and so on. And then he describes the men of the hills around Gondor (who are not descended from Numenorians) as lesser men, and repeatedly refers to them as swarthy. Samwise loves Frodo as a servant loves his master. His every waking thought is for the honor and glory and well-being of Frodo, or even Frodo's gardens. Frodo doesn't discuss his decisions with Sam in a democraatic way, and when discussing their fate with Faramir, is frequently talking for Sam, as well as Smeagol. The whole thing reeks of a class system based on assumed superiority of breeding and heraldry. I cry foul, and humbug!

Furthermore, well, I'll stop there. that's enough, and I think it gets my point across. Anyway, the point being - people? Honorable and noble based on their merits and actions, not their parentage. At least, in America they are. (Actually, in America, it's based on their notoreity and wealth, but I digress...)