Did Tolkien find the idea of war honourable? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

01-28-2004, 01:33 PM

id have to say i agree with Iaurhirwen. I felt throughout the books that Tolkien was showing up sometimes war is necessary given the circumstance. As in the instance in the books when the chance is fight to live or do nothing and be enslaved. I think he was trying to say that there are some things worth risking everything for, and in what i believe to be a moving way. There is no point which i felt glorified war as an act at all.

This was probably all affected by the first world war, which Tolkien was obviously in- which many say was sort of pointless. Unlike the 2nd world war, which i think i there is no question had to be fought. Perhaps the War of the Ring is akin to the 2nd world war, it had 2b done to save the world and erradicate a true evil. Sauron/Hitler- it doesnt matter what the evil is the point is that its there and it is threatening the way of life of innocent people with no cause. And there cant be a truer reason for fightening than that.

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01-28-2004, 01:33 PM	#7
master_of_puppets Guest Posts: n/a	id have to say i agree with Iaurhirwen. I felt throughout the books that Tolkien was showing up sometimes war is necessary given the circumstance. As in the instance in the books when the chance is fight to live or do nothing and be enslaved. I think he was trying to say that there are some things worth risking everything for, and in what i believe to be a moving way. There is no point which i felt glorified war as an act at all. This was probably all affected by the first world war, which Tolkien was obviously in- which many say was sort of pointless. Unlike the 2nd world war, which i think i there is no question had to be fought. Perhaps the War of the Ring is akin to the 2nd world war, it had 2b done to save the world and erradicate a true evil. Sauron/Hitler- it doesnt matter what the evil is the point is that its there and it is threatening the way of life of innocent people with no cause. And there cant be a truer reason for fightening than that.