Following Gandalf: Epic Battles and Moral Victory in The Lord of the Rings

by Matthew Dickerson

While the success of J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings is remarkable, it's certainly no mystery. In a culture where truth is relative and morality is viewed as "old-fashioned," we eagerly welcome the message of these tales: we have free will, our choices matter, and truth can be known. Matthew Dickerson investigates the importance of free will and moral choices in Tolkien's Middle Earth, where moral victory, rather than military success, is the "real" story. He explores Christian themes throughout, including salvation, grace, and judgment. Following Gandalf will delight veteran Tolkien fans and offer new fans an impressive introduction to his major works. Engaging and theologically thought-provoking, it will interest pastors, students, seminarians, and layreaders.

Genres: Fantasy, Philosophy, Literary Criticism, Christian, Religion, Christianity, Literature

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

About the author

Matthew Dickerson (PhD, Cornell University) is a professor at Middlebury College in Vermont, a writer, the former director of the New England Young Writers’ Conference at Bread Loaf and the current co-director of the Northern Pen Young Writers' Conference. His previous works include fantasy novels The Gifted and The Betrayed; works about fantasy including From Homer to Harry Potter along with Narnia and the Fields of Arbol: The Environmental Vision of C. S. Lewis, A Hobbit Journey, and Ents, Elves, and Eriador: The Environmental Vision of J. R .R. Tolkien; some medieval historic romance including The Rood and the Torc; and even philosophy of mind and computation The Mind and the Machine: What it Means to be Human and Why it Matters.

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent analysis of The Lord of the Rings (henceforth LOTR). It explains the significance of this epic fantasy novel and explores themes related to its spiritual dimensions by referring to some of Tolkien's other works and letters, and even the Peter Jackson films based on LOTR.

LOTR is not explicitly a Christian novel. It was inspired by Beowulf (which, despite some Christian content, is essentially a pre-Christian work), "northern" mythology and the author's love of languages. It is not meant as an allegory about the evils of war (for Tolkien despised and avoided allegory on principle). And it contains little reference to religious practices and no explicit reference at all to the the life and work of Jesus which is the central and basic story of Christianity.

And yet, Tolkien was a staunch Roman Catholic in a time when determinism and materialism were challenging traditional Christianity. Christian values and themes underpin his work, although they are not always visible in LOTR (this becomes clearer when one refers to The Silmarillion). There is a spiritual plane as well as a physical plane in Middle Earth, and what happens on one plane affects what happens on the other. There is a god who works (albeit mostly in mysterious ways) to direct the flow of events in such a way that even bad things caused by rebellious forces (especially Morgoth and Sauron) may produce good results in the long run. Angelic beings (especially Gandalf) work in the background, not so much to work miracles or magic, but to advise Elves, Men and Dwarves, foster their faith and hope, and help them make the right decisions. These latter characters have free will and the choice whether to act according to what they know is right or to rebel against it. They also have intrinsic worth and dignity, and in some cases (especially those of Theoden and Gollum) much effort is expended to help and save them when they go down the wrong path. Despite lengthy scenes in the novel and films which may give some the idea that Tolkien glorifies war, it is something evil. But the true war is one between freedom of choice and domination of will, between wisdom and foolishness, and especially between hope and despair.

Although this review may give the impression that this study is stuffy or preachy, it really is not. At most it is slightly repetitive in spots. But in general it is a fine, insightful book which explains how LOTR (and to a lesser extent The Silmarillion and The Hobbit) fit into the oeuvre and express the deep spirituality of Tolkien.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book. It really helped me think about what is truly important in life, namely, having integrity and being kind and merciful, and having and giving hope. Although this book didn't focus directly on Gandalf all the time he did come up a lot as a source of wisdom. One of the big reason why he was so wise is that he realized that helping others find their way, and helping them choose moraly, is far more important than winning any specific war or conflict. Reading about this really helped me understand my own faith, and why God doesn't just do everything for us. The basic reason is (from my limited view and experience, and realitivly small mental capacity compared to God) if God did everything for us, and we lived perfectly happy lives, we would be nothing. We would never grow, we would never develope and change, and we could never truly appreciate all that is around us if we don't have something bad to compare it to. Additionally, experiencing bad things can help us improve and help others, it can make us better and stronger people, and can change them ay we look at life, help us to look beyond ourselves. This book had other really great points on why war isn't the focus of Tolkien's books, and why free will and independent choice are so important and wonderful. I ghostly recommend this for people who have read the Lord of the Rings series and like to think.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dickerson explores the moral choices made by characters in The Lord of the Rings, and provides a far more nuanced and persuasive analysis of Christian elements in Tolkien's work than one usually finds. On the whole an excellent critical work, though at times I found myself disagreeing with him on matters of details.

Minus one star, however, for no index and repeatedly calling The Lord of the Rings a trilogy.

[Titus Hjelm]

The first hundred pagers were quite compelling analysis of LOTR, but after that the book got a bit too pious for my taste. For one, Dickerson is not always clear whether the 'Christian' interpretation comes from Tolkien or the author himself. It's all fine to write a Christian interpretation of a major work, but it should not be presented as 'how things really are'. Also, Dickerson's representation of Russell's determinism is a bit of a straw man argument--philosophy has moved on quite a bit in the hundred years and Russell wasn't representative of any kind of 'prevailing worldview' even in Tolkien's time. Too bad that the apologetic tone overshadows some of the more insightful points made in the book.

[ThePrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. The complete antithesis of ‘The Magician’s Book’ (Laura Miller, though she’s obviously discussing Lewis). Rather than attempting (in vain) to unyoke Tolkien from his worldview and present a narcissistic, journalistic-in-tone analysis of his works, Dickerson contextualises Tolkien excellently and makes a great deal of profound observations.

[Hope]

dnf on page 128

Due back at the library. I hope to finish this later.

[Andrea Hickman Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book. I love Tolkien, particularly LotR, and everything I read just makes it clearer and clearer that a truly amazing piece of literature was created. I could go on about it, but I'm not going to. I enjoy books about his work, almost as much as I enjoy his actual work. I like it because it makes me think about the meanings and nuances that abound and causes me to read it more deeply every time that I do read it (and I read it a lot).

This particular book is about Gandalf's purpose in LotR, about Tolkien's Christianity and the effect that had on LotR (as well as his other writings) and about war. I've always found it interesting that Tolkien considered his work to be fundamentally Catholic. I knew it was Christian, for the simple reason that I know Tolkien was Catholic and I've read the Silmarillion. However, I've never found there to be much in the way of Christian imagery in LotR, despite all the talk about Christ-like figures and so on. This book, however, makes it much clearer to me. I can see why the book is not Christian, as well as what it is about it that made Tolkien consider it to be fundamentally Catholic. The idea that it's a Christian telling of a pre-Christian era is not new to me, but makes far more sense now that I've read this. The themes of salvation and hope that pervade the book are far clearer and far more meaningful now.

Gandalf, and the other maiar present (pretty much Saruman and Sauron, despite Radagast's brief appearance) have always interested me. Sauron was a servant of Morgoth's from quite early on. Saruman, however, fell from being an agent of the angelic Valar to a servant of Sauron's and hence Morgoth's (and hence evil). Gandalf, however, does not actively fight them. This is not to say that he's passive, Gandalf is extremely active. However, both he and Saruman have had their powers curtailed by the Valar when they were sent to Middle Earth to aid the Children of Iluvatar, which is why they do not appear to have as much power as Sauron. Perhaps together they could have vanquished him (especially if the other 3 istari had helped). But Gandalf would never have agreed to do that. Gandalf is not there to fight, he's there to help. He's not there to be a great general and lead the armies of the world, whatever Saruman may have decided to do. Gandalf is there to help the humans and elves to make the right choices - to fight the far more important moral battles. And he does it extremely well. I had never noticed that Gandalf does not appear to actually fight any of the military battles, though he's clearly capable of it and, as Dickerson points out, fights the spiritual battles made manifest in the forms of the balrog and the nazgul. I will never look at Gandalf quite the same way again.

The third theme of the book is the matter of war. Dickerson does not consider the book to be about the military battles, though they make up a large part of the narrative. There's been a lot of debate over whether or not Tolkien glorifies war and it's clear to me that he doesn't. How anyone could read the passage after Faramir and his rangers ambush the Easterlings, where the identity of the 'enemy' is concerned, and consider that Tolkien glorifies war is beyond me. How anyone can read Gandalf's reaction to Frodo calling Gollum 'just an enemy', and believe that Tolkien glorifies war is beyond me. And yet, Dickerson convincingly makes the case that this book is about war. Specifically it's about the war between good and evil, hope and despair, the Christian heaven and hell. Because consistently throughout the book it is the moral battles that are emphasised. It is the decision of characters to make the right choices, rather than the easy or obvious choices, that is the underlying framework of the book.

LotR's about objective morality in a way that I've never noticed before and I can't wait to read it again with this perspective.

[Joey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I was very skeptical about it at first because I was afraid it would be a Lord of the rings devotional book but it turned out to be a phenomenal read. I would recommend this book to anyone who loved Lord of the Rings even if they are not a follower of Christ. I believe Dickerson provides great insight into Middle Earth and how Tolkien's world-views shaped the creation of Lord of the Rings. Reading Following Gandalf made me really excited to read Lord of the Rings again.

[Kati · Rating 4 out of 5]

found this after reading LOTR the first time and really enjoyed it. What I most appreciated was that while the author does discuss good & evil, slavery & freedom, and does have a Christian bent, he doesn't beat you over the head with it, and even comments on how Tolkien himself was very much against using allegory & beating somebody over the head with an overtly religious take on things. I'm not a Christian, so I considered this discussion of morals and right vs wrong w/o making it all about Christianity very well done, very fair to those who don't claim Christianity.

[Hali Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really great! I enjoyed the discussion of symbolism throughout, and I figure it'd be beneficial to anyone who's struggling with comprehending Lord Of The Rings. This book is the fancy version of Cliff Notes.

[Dylan Siebert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful book. Matthew Dickerson lovingly examines key passages in The Lord of the Rings and shows, using supporting passages from The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, and even Tolkien's personal letters, that one of the main reasons Tolkien's books have remained so popular is that the author's underlying moral vision is both coherent and compelling. In other words, Tolkien has the storyteller's gift for making you believe in something you might not otherwise have thought much about: in this case, just plain goodness.

Beginning with some key battle scenes, Dickerson walks the reader through the kind of difficult moral choices that various characters have to face throughout the course of The Lord of the Rings. Some of these result in 'victory' (a character keeps their integrity intact, whether or not it makes good sense in terms of winning the battle at hand), and some result in 'defeat' (a character chooses what is expedient, or what seems to offer immediate military advantage, at the cost of their integrity or their word). Frodo, Sam, Aragorn, Boromir, Eowyn, Theoden, Denethor, Faramir: each of these is forced to make agonizing choices amid the fog of war, and they don't usually get a lot of help from the 'wise' characters in making up their minds. That said, each choice can always be seen in retrospect to have been more or less wise, according to how closely the chooser held to what they knew to be right and wrong.

For there is, in Tolkien's view, a right and a wrong. 'Good and ill have not changed since yesteryear; nor are they one thing among Elves and Dwarves and another among Men,' says Aragorn to Eomer at their first meeting. 'It is a man's part to discern them, as much in the Golden Wood as in his own house.' This, as Dickerson persuasively demonstrates, is the main strength of the tale: it assumes a universal good and evil that are nevertheless difficult to discern and put into practice. The idea that different rules apply to different people, or that the end may justify the means, or that dominating the wills of others can be beneficial in the long run; these temptations appear repeatedly throughout the story, even to the wisest characters, and all are tied up with the Ring and its fateful powers.

The Ring is the power to dominate other wills, plain and simple. Though it begins by enhancing the native strengths and abilities of the wearer, it ends by twisting the very individuality of its 'master' into a lesser version of its creator and true master: the great tyrant Sauron. Those characters whom Tolkien portrays as truly wise are those who forgo the temptation to dominate others and win battles at all costs, and instead use their powers to uplift others and help them grow into greater responsibility. (Gandalf is the supreme example, hence the book's title, but Elrond, Galadriel, and even Frodo choose a similar path).

Though Dickerson is careful to lay out the nuances of the influences that shaped The Lord of the Rings, he comes to the inescapable conclusion that this emphasis on free will and universal morality is ultimately grounded in Tolkien's Catholic faith- inescapable in part because Tolkien said as much himself in one of his letters. Does this make The Lord of the Rings a Christian story? Again, that's a nuanced question, in Dickerson's view. His conclusion seems to be that if there is something 'true' about The Lord of the Rings that readers intuitively respond to, then that something draws its power from whatever it is that is 'true' about the Christian religion. And that, I think, is reason enough for re-reading the master's work and reflecting further on what it all means.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an intriguing analysis of Tolkien's writing. Dickerson begins by examining the question about whether the books glorify violence. When he has settled that question, he proceeds to parse out several main themes within the book, from the objectivity of morality, to the vital nature of moral agency, and to the presence of providence throughout. Last of all, he looks at whether the writing can be considered Christian. The surprising answer is yes and no. He then shows evidence for both conclusions. This explains why the books can be thoroughly enjoyed by both Christian readers, atheists and anyone in between. Throughout, he looks at the entire cannon of Tolkien's writing, from the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, to his short stories, essays and letters.

[Olivia G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three chapters with a focus on Faramir + him being referenced repeatedly throughout the rest of the book merits 5 stars. In all seriousness I really enjoyed Dickerson's take on Tolkien's work. Referencing not just his actual published work but some of the letters brought clarity to things I've often pondered. A prime example of this is the way the tone of The Hobbit shifts and the names of the trolls therein - what was Tolkien thinking there? The discussion of just how Christian the work is was quite interesting to read. Final point would be that reading this reminded me to pick up my LOTR reread and so I have finished that as well. Highly recommend to any Tolkien enjoyers.

[David Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insightful look at the role of morality and theology in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, framed as a response to critics who say "The Lord of the Rings" glorifies war. Dickerson argues to the contrary that while Tolkien features battles and violence, a closer reading of the work shows an author who consistently prizes moral victory over military victory, even while showing the latter to be sometimes necessary.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dickerson provides compelling and well-researched commentary on Tolkien's works. Some arguments are more plausible than others, but his conclusion is poignant and one I identify strongly with.

If nothing else, I am now convinced of the folly of reading these when I was younger. A return to Middle-Earth is necessary for me, because this book has offered bright glimpses of the splendid artifice I overlooked as a kid.

[Emily Giuffre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although Dickerson is a bit repetitive and there were about 2-3 typos in the book (I'm not the kind of person who normally catches those things), I will say he has the best explanation of what the Lord of the Rings is truly about. Not any allegory that we can equate to any person or time but rather, it is a story of universal truths told through Catholic understanding and hope. And that's an encouraging thought ;)

[Saphraneet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was very enlightening and raised my already high opinion of Tolkien as an author. It also made me realize that I need to finally read The Silmarillion. Then I need to read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings again more carefully keeping in mind what I gleaned from this book.

[Richard Ritenbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting scholarly examination of some of the main themes of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Dickerson makes a good case for the theme of moral victories especially, and his other insights flow from this one. A great read for those intrigued by the "philosophy" behind Tolkien's fantasy masterwork.

[Carl Virgin · Rating 4 out of 5]

To my shame, I underestimated his philosophical depths from the first few chapters. I was proven wonderfully foolish in that assumption.... and now I have to read the Hobbit, LOTR and Simirilian yet again

[Jacob Vahle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deepened my appreciation for Tolkien and the myth he created. Loved his analysis of free will, “a fool’s hope”, the truly wise of Middle Earth, and what moral victory looks like when others are only considering physical victory.

[Ronnie Ronnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

some pretty good and original analysis unfortunately bogged down in some monotonous repetition in the middle, making the same few points over and over again - leaning on shippey maybe a little too heavily, but that's hard to avoid

[Kingsley Layton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a helpful insight into the subject, but not entirely clear. A little too whimsical for what I was really wanting, but otherwise a fine book.

[Josiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is technical but so much fun. Enjoy!

[Evangeline · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book, which is rare for a Tolkien study of any kind; but I found it rather overly simple and derivative of so many other, better studies.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent analysis of Tolkien's work, touching on many of the same themes as The Gospel According to Tolkien: Visions of the Kingdom in Middle-Earth.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great focus on the wisdom of Gandalf, accomapnied by insight into many other characters. A focus on choice and mercy in the battel of good and evil, also citing The Hobbit and The Silmarillion. Noteworthy explanation and analysis of Frodo at Mount Doom, and on the sorrowful ending of The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author makes a strong case from Tolkien's own stories for defending Tolkien against his "war-glorifying" critics - whomever they may be. Dickerson's Christian worldview is clearly seen in his rebuttal of the naturalists (Skinner/Russell). He also makes an interesting case for why he doesn't consider this to be a Christian mythology at the end of the book.

[Charity U · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! I somewhat expected it to over-moralize, or try to read too much Christianity into Tolkien's works, but it really didn't! There was only one chapter that I chose to skim instead of read. Read my full review here for specifications: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2012/0...

[Susan Lynx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plainly and clearly written, presenting a good argument about the importance of moral responsibility, rather than epic adventuring, in the Hobbit, the Silmarillion, and the Lord of the Rings. For folks who are still mistakenly thinking that this is a "boy's book about war" I recommend it with FOUR STARS.

[Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dickerson's analysis of warfare and victory in the Lord of the Rings is generally approachable. The author argues that far from glorifying war, Tolkien emphasizes moral over strategic victory as the "good" choice. The book may appeal to scholars and aficionados alike.