| October 28th 2003: IS THE LORD OF THE RINGS A FAIRY TALE? a Beyond the Shire report by Michelle Laundhardt It takes place in Faerie – that is, a land of magic and enchantment, which is clearly fantastical although in many ways similar to our world. But it is much, much longer than what most people recognize as fairy-tales. As a result, over the course of the tale the characters multiply and develop into more than archetypes, the complex and extensive back history of the imaginary world leaks out, and the tale grows to resemble what Tolkien called a feigned history more than a typical fairy-tale. Calling LotR a fairy-tale is like calling the Bible a parable – there are similarities, but sheer length changes everything. Perhaps fairy-epic, or fairy-saga, would be more appropriate terms. Still, as in fairy-tales, much of LotR deals with the interaction between heroic protagonists and the magic or enchantment of Faerie. As in many fairy-tales, this interaction involves a journey or quest, with magical helpers or mentors along the way, and a series of tests the protagonists must pass. And we find in LotR many of the familiar motifs of fairy-tales, given Tolkien’s own spin, including many magical creatures and objects and events, but also orphan heroes both humble and royal, oaths and taboos, wild forests and mountains and ancient kingdoms, and a world where moral choices matter and in the long run justice prevails. The world of Faerie is a world of wish fulfillment, but with definite internal moral rules. The magic is wonderful, but if the moral rules are broken can be terrible. Anything is possible for the virtuous hero, but a life of adventure is filled with trials and tribulations along the way. It seems as if a magical world must have such moral rules as a counterbalance. A world where the hero controlled all the magic would be a mere daydream, a world where the hero had no control a nightmare, and a world were the control was based on amoral rules would be boring, with the magic merely representing an alternative form of technology. But it is beautiful and comforting to imagine living in a world of magic governed by moral rules. It is scary too, of course, but a good kind of scary, for even if the heroes have their doubts, the readers know that in the end justice will be served. I carefully said it is beautiful and comforting to imagine living in a world of magic governed by moral rules. The reality might be too magical, and too moral, for comfort. But as we read these tales, we imagine being the heroes, not the villains, or the poor people too morally weak to conquer the villains. And as we find ourselves identifying with these heroes, we also imagine what it would be like if all the injustices we have suffered in the Primary World were redressed, and quietly ignore the possibility that we have perpetrated injustices upon others. Just as Tolkien adds a dose of reality to his fairy-saga by creating three-dimensional characters and a lengthy back history, so he has also added a dose of reality by tempering the traditional happy ending and reward. In Gollum, in particular, he raises the issue of whether the villain in a world of moral absolutes can still be pitied. And as for the heroes, their rewards do not come without sadness. Frodo must leave the Shire, and although he is granted a reward almost without precedent, and will be with Bilbo, one cannot help but feel that if he were unwounded he would have preferred to stay in the Shire, perhaps to take the journey late in life, like Sam. Sam and Merry and Pippin lose Frodo. Arwen, too, must say good-bye to her family, and Aragorn to his foster-father and the lands of Rivendell and Lorien. Legolas and Gimli see their races diminishing in Middle-earth. With the passage of the Third Age, and the departure of the High Elves, Middle-earth becomes that much more mundane. But it is still, I judge, overall a happy ending. After all, Sauron is vanquished, the Shire and Aragorn’s reunited kingdom prosper, Frodo does find healing, Sam and Merry and Pippin have wonderful lives in the Shire, Aragorn and Arwen have a wonderful life with each other, and several members of the Fellowship do go to the Undying Lands. And if not quite everything is perfect at the end of the fairy-saga, there is a promise of an even greater reward at the end of a long life for mortals, and at the end of the world for immortals. Eru is in charge, Arda shall be remade, evil shall not conquer forever, and day will come again. As Tolkien says in “On Fairy-stories,” the greatest power of a fairy-story is the possibility that it may hit upon a truth that applies in the Primary World. Perhaps the world is more magical than it seems. Perhaps there are alternatives to what we have grudgingly come to accept as “reality.” Perhaps the feeling of joy we experience when Sauron is overthrown, Frodo and Sam honored, Aragorn crowned, and Aragorn and Arwen wed can be felt in the Primary World as well. Perhaps, in our lifetimes, there will be moments when horns blow and bells ring and people cheer, and our hearts will overflow and our joy will be like swords, and we will pass “in thought out to regions where pain and delight flow together and tears are the very wine of blessedness.” (RotK, “The Field Of Cormallen.”) 
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