Arcane Topic Warning: Part the Fifth - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Aiwendil · 10-24-2006, 08:42 PM

I have to say I'm perplexed as to why Tolkien's comparison of the Dwarves with Jews is sometimes seen as possibly anti-semitic. It seems quite valid to me to compare a fictional race from Middle-earth with a real ethnic group. When the Hobbits are compared with the English (as is often done), no one suspects racism on the part of the person making the comparison.

I think that the tendency for jobs in commerce to be filled by Jews in European history, which Kuruharan has noted, may very well have had something to do with Tolkien's association of them with the Dwarves. Or maybe not; it's hard to read his mind. I don't think that this implies he was anti-semitic. Certainly, there's ample evidence that he was not anti-semitic.

I know that this is beside the point of the original topic, and I'm sorry if this leads it further astray . . .

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10-24-2006, 08:42 PM	#5
Aiwendil Late Istar Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,224	I have to say I'm perplexed as to why Tolkien's comparison of the Dwarves with Jews is sometimes seen as possibly anti-semitic. It seems quite valid to me to compare a fictional race from Middle-earth with a real ethnic group. When the Hobbits are compared with the English (as is often done), no one suspects racism on the part of the person making the comparison. I think that the tendency for jobs in commerce to be filled by Jews in European history, which Kuruharan has noted, may very well have had something to do with Tolkien's association of them with the Dwarves. Or maybe not; it's hard to read his mind. I don't think that this implies he was anti-semitic. Certainly, there's ample evidence that he was not anti-semitic. I know that this is beside the point of the original topic, and I'm sorry if this leads it further astray . . .