At its heart Tolkien's story is essentially one of traditional Good and Evil.

It conveys the Truth of the temptation of evil, the corruption of power, the blasphemy of despair and the folly of pride. It hails the triumph of humility, the essence of truth, the need of mercy and the guiding framework of morality.

" All of life for him [Tolkien] was part of a cosmic conflict between the forces of good and evil, God and the devil... " said George Sayer, a life long friend of Tolkien [Celebration p.8].

As is outlined in Creation, Tolkien's mythological story has an eternal divine Creator. From this creation, a spirit that was once good, rebels, falls and desires to destroy what Eru, the Father of All, has created.

This sets up the arena for a huge battle; between that which is good in Middle-earth [or Arda as a whole] and that which is evil.

And this fight will affect and involve every living thing in Middle-earth, even those who do not desire to be involved; [e.g. the hobbits, beasts and men of the east] as it lasts for many thousands of years.

The battle is one of classical mythology and theology. Every culture and religion has an understanding of Good and Evil, but differ in details of the what's, how's and whys regarding the existence of Good and Evil and their relationship to Man.

In the conflict of Good and Evil, the Lord of the Rings carries an unmistakable mark of Christianity and Christian philosophy.

There is a 'positive compatibility with the Order of Grace' as mentioned by Father Steve [Allegory], a friend of Tolkien who proof-read early manuscripts of the Lord of the Rings. As Tolkien himself points out,

" Theologically [if the term is not too grandiose] I imagine the picture [story] to be less dissonant from what what some [including myself] believe to be the truth. " [Letters p.283 bottom of page].

The existence of Good and Evil is accurate; but what is also accurate are all the effects and consequences of good and evil as they find themselves layered into the Lord of the Rings.

The mythology sets up and reflects a Moral and Spiritual Order.

Even the presence of evil is not something existing from the beginning or created by Eru [the Father of All],

" I do not deal with absolute evil but objective evil. " [Letters p.242].

Sauron and Melkor weren't created evil to begin with, but they became evil through pride and hated Eru and his works, especially the Elves and Númenoreans, [much like Satan]. The evil in the Lord of the Rings is objective, like Satan, i.e, it doesn't originate from within the heart of man or elves, though it may end up there through temptation and corruption. It is an entity in itself. It is also immortal.

The presence of evil pervades and corrupts everything it touches in Middle-earth. Saurons realm of Mordor is a classic example of evil squeezing the life out of every living organism. Those who have given themselves over to evil are twisted and visibly horrible. There is a hideous destruction and parasitic twisting of life itself. Very much like the affect of sin in our lives and on our souls... and even in our bodies.

The Seen and Unseen worlds also set up. The Elves [those who have lived in the Blessed Realm] are described as living at once in both worlds and the Ring-Wraiths are neither dead nor living. When wearing the One Ring, Frodo enters into a semi spiritual world;

" Yet even so, as Ring-bearer and as one that had borne it on finger and seen that which is hidden, your sight is grown keener. You have perceived my thought more clearly than many who are accounted wise. You saw the Eye of him that holds the Seven and the Nine. " [LotR p.357].

The Rings of Power, untouched by Sauron could be used for good with foresightedness, but the One Ring gave depth of perception and sight wholly for evil purposes.

Go to Peter Kreeft's homepage for an audio mp3 clip on evil in Lord of the Rings [here - towards bottom of page].

The understanding of Divine Providence and other powers at play is communicated and shown to be crucial in the outcome of the story.

Those of good origins or who are morally good, display qualities of purity, sanctity, wisdom, humility, love, sacrifice, trust, courage and hope. They respect nature, life and freedom.

This philosophy of goodness and evil remains consistent and objective throughout the tale and throughout the thousands of years of struggle. Eomer asks Aragorn how he should judge in such evil times, and Aragorn replies,

" As he ever has judged. Good and ill have not changed since yesteryear; nor are they one thing among Elves and Dwarves and another among Men. It is a man's part to discern them... " [LotR p.428]. Here Tolkien dispels the notion of relativistic or subjective morality. Good and Evil are the same for all. Morality is not hard to know, it is hard to do.

The Elves almost have a supernatural ability to sense 'hidden' things;

" For a moment it seemed to the eyes of Legolas that a white flame flickered on the brows of Aragorn like a shining crown. " [LotR p.423].

The presence of evil is also sensed by Aragorn who received an Elvish upbringing and carries Númenorean blood. Twice during the passage of the Great River, Aragorn is woken from sleep by a foreboding of evil at hand:

" 'Why are you waking?' asked Frodo. 'It is not your watch. ' 'I do not know,' answered Aragorn; 'but a shadow and a threat has been growing in my sleep. It would be well to draw your sword.' " ; and again; " I felt something in my sleep, why have you drawn your sword. " [LotR p.375 and p.387].

The men of good will are true of heart and word: Aragorn and Faramir are archetypes of this. For Faramir, his integrity is shown when Frodo says,

" Or are you trying to snare me with a falsehood, " and Faramir replies, " I would not snare even an orc with a falsehood. " [LotR p.649].

For Aragorn he always looks to put right the works of evil. After the fall of Gandalf, Aragorn says, " At least we may yet be avenged. Let us gird ourselves and weep no more!. " [LotR p.324].

To avenge is very different than to revenge. Avenge means to put right and is closely associated with the virtue of justice. It is to put right a wrong doing, but to do it in the right and proper manner, to see justice done. Revenge is concerned with retaliation to the offender to the same same level as the original offence; and is caught in the false theory of 'two wrongs can make it right'.

Also denoted is a classical symbolism of Light and Darkness in the struggle of Good and Evil.

• Galadriel and the Elves shimmer with white light or white clothing.
• Elbereth is referred to as Ever-White.
• Gandalf is the White Rider with a white horse
• Minas Tirith has white walls, a White Tower and a White Tree.
• The council of the wise is called the White Council.
• Glorfindel shines with a white light at the Ford of Bruinen and his horse is also white.
• Saruman is white before he falls.
• Sting [Frodos sword] glows with a soft blue light.
• Glamring [Gandalfs sword] shines with cold white light when the presence of orcs are near.

Most things evil tend to hide in the dark. Orcs only come out at night. They hate the sunlight. Gollum hates the sunlight and moonlight and only travels by day at need;

" I have heard that he doesn't like the Sun or Moon... " says Frodo regarding Gollum. [LotR p.599].

• Shelob lives in dark tunnel.
• The Ring-Wraiths are Black Riders on black horses.
• The Black Gate guards the entrance to Mordor.
• The Dark Lord lives in his Dark Tower in the Land of Shadow.
• Sauron steals only the black horses from Rohan.
• Aragorn points out that the swans the Fellowship see from their boats are " black. " [LotR p.372].

Sunlight and Moonlight is hated by Orcs, Gollum and Black-Riders. This is a recurring theme in the Lord of the Rings, regarding the Sun, Moon and the Stars. They are the enemies of Darkness [Letters p.425 No.347] because they are created from the Fruit and Dew of the Two Trees in the Blessed Realm; thus the Sun and Moon and Stars are reflections of that which is eternally good.

On the battle field between these poles of Light and Dark [Good and Evil], are the temptations and trials at play in the story. On a larger scale is the resistance and defiance of evil by the major races of Middle-earth: Elves, Men of Númenor and Rohan, even Dwarves.

Tolkien describes the " physical resistance " of the good people of Middle-earth " as a major act of loyalty to God " in terms of the overall mythology. [Letters p.207].

This good and evil reality is displayed in an external and internal manner. All of the principle characters are tempted in some way. Aragorn, Gandalf, Frodo and Sam have doubts and moments of weakness. For the Fellowship this is very well laid out when Galadriel searches their hearts,

" ...each had felt that he was offered a choice between a shadow full of fear that lay ahead, and something that he greatly desired: clear before his mind it lay, and to get it he had only to turn aside from the road and leave the Quest and the war against Sauron to others. " [LotR p.349].

Boromir further describes the test,

" Maybe it was only a test, and she thought to read our thoughts for her own good purpose; but almost I should have said that she was tempting us, and offering what she pretended to have the power to give... " [LotR p.349].

Free will is demonstrated in all the major characters. As mentioned earlier [in Creation], free will is an essential part of Tolkien's tale. In one of his letters Tolkien is at pains to point out that even when listening to Saruman;

" it was always open to reject, by free will and reason, both his voice while speaking and its after impressions. Saruman corrupted the reasoning powers. " [Letters p.277].

Frodo is a classic example as he eventually fails in his quest but good triumphs through love and forgiveness. Even after the Ring has gone, he still has regrets due to the power that the Ring had over him. Very much like the lure of sins in our lives and the constant struggle within us. The effect of sin continues to resonate in the world even after the Redemption of Christ [because our response is based on free will]. Frodo still is effected by the evil and regrets letting it go which reflects the truth about the nature of sin and how conversion is a life long process. [Letters p.328]. It is not complete until the end, so we pray for " final perseverance, " as Tolkien once said. [Letters p.338].

Théoden is one who is physically altered by the presence of evil in his life. He is healed by Gandalf and there is great symbolism with Light and Darkness in the healing. Saruman is corrupted by a lust for power and even desire to be like God in creating an army to help him secure the Ring.

In doing so Saruman negatively effects Saurons ability to find the Ring and displays another philosophical truth found in Tolkien's writing,

" ...evil oft shall evil mar, " [LotR p.756] and " ...often does hatred hurt itself..." as proclaimed by Théoden and Gandalf respectively [M&M p.118]. Evil defeats itself. In killing Jesus, Satan defeated himself.

Saruman causes evil to be thwarted by his own evil actions. On this point Frodo says to Sam in the Land of Shadow that the common practice of Orcs killing one another was the " spirit " of Mordor. [LotR p.905]. Treachery and betrayal.

Galadriel is also tempted by the Power of the Ring but passes the test. She had previously announced her rejection of evil,

" She lifted her white arms, and spread out her hands towards the East in a gesture of rejection and denial. " [LotR p.355].

Specifically in the War of the Ring story, the Ring is the embodiment of evil. Sauron poured much of his former strength into the Ring. It enslaves, corrupts, temps and destroys individuality, much like sin in our lives and the desire of the devil over us.

Consider Gollum,

" ...he hated it and loved it. He had no will left in the matter..." says Gandalf referring to the Ring [LotR p.54].

Echoing the truth that the corruption of sin erodes the will. Gollum becomes wretched and almost transparent; he 'fades' as he is consumed by desire and lust for the Ring. He loses his identity. He commits crimes and hideous acts because of it. He finally betrays himself.

In the same way the Ring-Wraiths are enslaved by their Nine Rings and epitomize corruption of the spirit and slavery to sin.

Orcs are hideous and corrupted, though not created evil. Frodo talks of this fact;

" No, they eat and drink, Sam. The Shadow that bred them can only mock, it cannot make: not real new things of its own. I don't think it can give life to the Orcs, it only ruined them and twisted them; and if they are to live at all, they have to live like other living creatures. " [LotR p.893].

This is completely in line with Christian theology, that the devil cannot create, he can only corrupt, destroy and bring about spiritual death.

Denethor and Boromir are pure examples of men with good intentions but are lead astray through pride and despair and weakness. Both come to unfortunate ends due to their trust in their own strength.

• Boromir believes he won't be corrupted by the Ring.
• Denethor believed he has the strength to use the Palantír.

Sauron wanted to be God. He desired to dominate the wills of others. Tolkien said that the story was,

" ...about God and his sole right to divine honour. The Eldar and the Númenoreans believed in The One, the true God, and held worship of any other person an abomination. Sauron desired to be a God-King, and was held to this by his servants... " [Letters p.243].

Something that is shown in the race of Elves and Númenoreans as the enemies of Sauron and Morgoth.

This reflects Tolkien's own views on life;

" So it may be said that the chief purpose in life is to increase our love of God and honour him. " [Letters p.400].

The story also reflects the noble struggle and survival of the human spirit. The Dignity of Man as Children of God. The desire to be free, but true freedom. Not the modern ideas about freedom, 'I'll do what I want, when I want', which does not lead to true freedom, but actually chains people to their disordered passions.

The story looks at freedom as the freedom from the enslavement of evil.

It also deals with the issue of Reward for Good. At the end, all those who resisted evil came to receive their rest or hearts desire: Galadriel, Théoden, Frodo and Sam, Gandalf and Aragorn.

The saga finishes on an overall positive note, darkness cannot triumph forever [M&M p.66], even though there may be sadness and loss.

It also enforces the Catholic understanding of conversion and salvation; " ...so we pray for final perseverance." [letters p.338].

Next page - Mercy and Forgiveness

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