Are you a better person? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Fordim Hedgethistle · 12-30-2004, 05:06 PM

OK, here’s a question: has reading (and/or re-reading, and re-reading…) The Lord of the Rings made you a “better person”? The question is often raised about the ‘good’ of reading, but I wonder if we can raise it more specifically in connection with Tolkien’s created world.

I know that for myself, reading these works has certainly given me a lot of pleasure and valuable insight over the years. I feel better when I read them, or think about them, or discuss them (and sometimes even when I teach them!

) but am I actually better? Am I improved, or ‘more’ than I was before I read them? And if so, is the effect cumulative – do I get “better” the more attention I pay to this story?

To be entirely honest, I don’t really have the answers to these questions. I’d like to think that I have gained something valuable from the experience of Middle-earth: valuable to myself and to others. I have certainly thought about the ideas raised in the story, and have come to value its view of the world, even though I do not fully share that view. So I suppose I am “more” than I was in the sense that I have a new point of view – one that was not my own, but which I gained through experiencing the story. I suspect that this is part of what the Professor meant when he wrote about “recovery” and the ‘usefulness’ of fantasy.

At any rate, what about everyone else? Are you better for having read the story? If so, in what ways?

mark12_30 · 12-30-2004, 06:06 PM

Closely related thread: Mister Underhill's LOTR and your Weltanschauung.

Boromir88 · 12-30-2004, 06:38 PM

I made this necklace, with WWED, What Would Elrond do? Whenever I'm in a stuck I just look at the necklace, and then decide what would elrond do. Ok, sorry for the sarcasm, I'll get serious.

I wouldn't say it made me a better person, I agree with many of Tolkien's views, and so it's given me insight to the world, and world issues. Seeing that Tolkien (and not only him that's influenced me but also Orwell), both were satiric writers, and wrote a lot about the nature of humans.

That doesn't mean I'm some raving pessimistic misanthrope like Denethor, but it's simply given me insight to our human self, and our society. But, I wouldn't say I became a better spiritual, or morally good man because of LOTR, if that's what you are looking for.

littlemanpoet · 12-30-2004, 06:47 PM

The recently late Susan Sontag said that reading literature educates our feelings. As opposed to our minds, I suppose. Whether she was right or not, and whether that is too limiting, I leave to each of our interpretation. As far as it goes, I think she has a point that is related (in my own mind at least) to Tolkien's own theory of Escape, Recovery, and Consolation.

As for me, personally, it would be hard to say since I've lived with Tolkien's Middle Earth as part of who I am since I was 8 (36 years for anyone counting!).

I like to imagine that I would be a poor bankrupt romantic fool without having read Tolkien (and Lewis), instead of the enriched romantic fool that I am.

Imladris · 12-30-2004, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Am I improved, or ‘more’ than I was before I read them? And if so, is the effect cumulative – do I get “better” the more attention I pay to this story?

I wouldn't say that LotR has made anyone "better" per say. Maybe made them aware of such things as nobility and honour and truth, but, in the end, it's up to them to act upon their newfound discovery. But I believe I am merely nitpicking...

As for getting "better" every time I read LotR, I don't really think that is possible. A book can only give so much.

HerenIstarion · 12-30-2004, 07:23 PM

To prove it either way, one should be able to divide the person to see what are the differences in both branches of development. Say, I may not say I'm better person for reading Tolkien, for I do not know what would have come out of me if I haven't - I have only one 'me' to judge, the one who've read it, and I am what I am, if you follow my meaning, kind sirs and ladies.

I may feel I am, but that's subjective. Though I do feel I am.

Quote:

I like to imagine that I would be a poor bankrupt romantic fool without having read Tolkien (and Lewis), instead of the enriched romantic fool that I am.

Great quote, oh Bard. But note the wording - lmp 'likes to imagine' but he does not know for sure.

Same with yours truly

Rhod the Red · 05-05-2006, 04:45 AM

Yes, in a way it helped in my politcal awarness process in my early teens. Because it has a geo-strategic feature in it. The battle between Mordor and the West.

12-30-2004, 05:06 PM	#1
Fordim Hedgethistle Gibbering Gibbet Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beyond cloud nine Posts: 1,844	Are you a better person? OK, here’s a question: has reading (and/or re-reading, and re-reading…) The Lord of the Rings made you a “better person”? The question is often raised about the ‘good’ of reading, but I wonder if we can raise it more specifically in connection with Tolkien’s created world. I know that for myself, reading these works has certainly given me a lot of pleasure and valuable insight over the years. I feel better when I read them, or think about them, or discuss them (and sometimes even when I teach them! ) but am I actually better? Am I improved, or ‘more’ than I was before I read them? And if so, is the effect cumulative – do I get “better” the more attention I pay to this story? To be entirely honest, I don’t really have the answers to these questions. I’d like to think that I have gained something valuable from the experience of Middle-earth: valuable to myself and to others. I have certainly thought about the ideas raised in the story, and have come to value its view of the world, even though I do not fully share that view. So I suppose I am “more” than I was in the sense that I have a new point of view – one that was not my own, but which I gained through experiencing the story. I suspect that this is part of what the Professor meant when he wrote about “recovery” and the ‘usefulness’ of fantasy. At any rate, what about everyone else? Are you better for having read the story? If so, in what ways? __________________ Scribbling scrabbling.

12-30-2004, 06:06 PM	#2
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Closely related thread: Mister Underhill's LOTR and your Weltanschauung. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

05-05-2006, 04:45 AM	#7
Rhod the Red Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: May 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 257	Yes, in a way it helped in my politcal awarness process in my early teens. Because it has a geo-strategic feature in it. The battle between Mordor and the West. __________________ Head of the Fifth Order of the Istari Tenure: Fourth Age(Year 1) - Present Currently operating in Melbourne, Australia

12-30-2004, 06:38 PM	#3
Boromir88 Laconic Loreman Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Posts: 7,507	I made this necklace, with WWED, What Would Elrond do? Whenever I'm in a stuck I just look at the necklace, and then decide what would elrond do. Ok, sorry for the sarcasm, I'll get serious. I wouldn't say it made me a better person, I agree with many of Tolkien's views, and so it's given me insight to the world, and world issues. Seeing that Tolkien (and not only him that's influenced me but also Orwell), both were satiric writers, and wrote a lot about the nature of humans. That doesn't mean I'm some raving pessimistic misanthrope like Denethor, but it's simply given me insight to our human self, and our society. But, I wouldn't say I became a better spiritual, or morally good man because of LOTR, if that's what you are looking for.

12-30-2004, 06:47 PM	#4
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	The recently late Susan Sontag said that reading literature educates our feelings. As opposed to our minds, I suppose. Whether she was right or not, and whether that is too limiting, I leave to each of our interpretation. As far as it goes, I think she has a point that is related (in my own mind at least) to Tolkien's own theory of Escape, Recovery, and Consolation. As for me, personally, it would be hard to say since I've lived with Tolkien's Middle Earth as part of who I am since I was 8 (36 years for anyone counting!). I like to imagine that I would be a poor bankrupt romantic fool without having read Tolkien (and Lewis), instead of the enriched romantic fool that I am.