![]() ![]() Simple Pleasures Can Bring Us Much Happinessīefore his death, Thorin Oakenshield, who leads the company of dwarves in The Hobbit, states, “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” In saying this, he’s commending the hobbits’ preference for good, simple pleasures and lamenting his own weakness for wealth and power. Friends remind us that, even in the darkest of times, we are not alone. Therefore, it’s crucial to find ways to connect with others during this time - through phone calls, outdoor gatherings, or socially-distanced coffee dates. Without friendship, the challenges of life become far harder to bear. We need to form bonds with others and continuously strengthen and support those bonds. Humans are, by nature, relational beings. Social distancing has made it difficult to spend time with friends and loved ones, but companionship has never been more important. Sam’s loyalty and unwillingness to abandon Frodo despite great danger bolsters Frodo’s spirit and provides him with the courage and hope that he needs to accomplish his near-impossible task. Frodo and Sam best exemplify this, leaning upon each other when their days grow exceedingly dark and treacherous. The hobbits also demonstrate the importance of friendship, especially during trials. Even small acts of goodness can have big consequences. We should never be daunted by our seeming “littleness,” but rather should seek out every opportunity to perform acts of heroism, goodness, and virtue. Every single person is capable of bringing light to the world. These little hobbits teach us that we don’t have to be of great size or importance in the eyes of the world to effect change. Though Tolkien’s created world is replete with powerful and majestic figures, the victory of good over evil rests upon the shoulders of the smallest creatures - Bilbo, Frodo, and their Shire friends. Great symbolism can be found in the slight stature of hobbits. The small size of Tolkien’s hobbit heroes was not an arbitrary choice. ![]() Great Change Can Come from Even the Humblest of Sources While we aren’t in the midst of a world war - or a war against the Dark Lord Sauron - these truths can resonate with us as our nation confronts immense unrest. The adventures of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, a band of dwarves, and so many other endearing, mythological figures illustrate a number of important truths about life - especially in the face of wickedness, injustice, and all threats to goodness in the world. The great destruction of life and the grim presence of evil and death influenced the author’s works, works that are, in essence, a tale of good versus evil. He lost many close friends during those tumultuous years. After graduating from the University of Oxford, Tolkien joined a regiment in France and saw the horrors of war firsthand at the infamous Battle of the Somme. Tolkien composed the novels in the wake of the devastation of the First World War. There’s much we can still learn from these tales. Here are five moments that prove that he was the true hero of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.The trials and triumphs in the novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (commonly broken into three separate books), penned by Tolkien in the 1930s and ‘40s, seem not so far removed from life today. ![]() There would be no Middle-earth without Samwise Gamgee, really. Played by Sean Astin, the brave Samwise saves Frodo from ultimate demise and from straying from his course, time and time again. Sometimes that real hero is Samwise Gamgee of the Lord of the Ringstrilogy. Sometimes, the sidekick saves the entire world and just wants a simple garden with a beautiful girl with ribbons in her hair. ![]() What about those “sidekicks” that really do all the saving? Those that put their lives on the line for the hero to succeed, and usually never receive the credit they deserve. When the fires are put out and the newspaper has its headline, the main character is the one always getting the praise, having fulfilled their hero duty. All of these beloved movies feature a hero, the one who does the saving and moves the story along, while often the sidekick is the comedic relief, or the aide to the hero in absolutely desperate times. From Batman and Robin, Shrek and Donkey to Jay and Silent Bob, and Maverick and Goose. In every hero's story, there's a sidekick. ![]()
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