Greetings!  I trust you all had a blessed Easter season and enjoyed some time off!  For this month’s Developer I have an example of a persuasive essay, in which the author tries to convince readers of his or her opinion on the subject.  This particular essay has an introduction that prepares the material without giving away my opinion, three topics that build up from neuteral to strongly one-sided, and a conclusion that backs up my views and deflates the opposition.  This type of essay is used in journalism, political writing, and any other argumentative situations.  Hope you enjoy! Greetings!  I trust you all had a blessed Easter season and enjoyed some time off!  For this month’s Developer I have an example of a persuasive essay, in which the author tries to convince readers of his or her opinion on the subject.  This particular essay has an introduction that prepares the material without giving away my opinion, three topics that build up from neuteral to strongly one-sided, and a conclusion that backs up my views and deflates the opposition.  This type of essay is used in journalism, political writing, and any other argumentative situations.  Hope you enjoy!

Write the Truth

by Abby M. Frierson

As modern readers grow bored with merely enjoying their songs, books, and movies, they read between the lines and try to find hidden meanings that ultimately paint their opinion of the artist, author, or actor.  Interestingly, one such hunt has evolved into a full-blown debate--is there a Christian message behind The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien?

Scoured for terminating traces of true untainted thology, the results vary based on the searchers’ insights:  some condemn, others restore the classic to their good graces.  However, the work of another man from the same era, who was a friend of Tolkien, could help to determine the actual truth behind the disputed trilogy:  C.S. Lewis, Christian apologist, professor, and beloved author of the deeply allegorical Chronicals of Narnia.  Comparing the trilogy with Lewis’s Bible-based books with overbearance, religious evience, and clarity in mind, which is the better Christian allegory? 

When questioned about the message in his books, Tolkien merely and simply remarked that his books were not meant to be allegorical, but claimed that they were applicable(1)to  our daily living.  Evil--often portrayed by machinery to exhibit Tolkien’s simplistic worldview--was defeated.  Naturally, good, represented by  honest, kindly folk, brings home the victory.  These quiet references to typical attributes of a fundamental Christian tale were the quiet references to the story’s message.  Searched for deep, concealed plots and meanings, Tolkien’s trilogy seems to display a demure, gentle plot that appears calmly neutral, which makes the books more friendly to non-religious readers.  Standing at the other end of the spectrum is Lewis, whose Chronicals  are blatantly Christian, with all the themes directly biblical, as in the awareness of Aslan as “...the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea.”(2)  Although revered and cherished by believers and children, these seven books are distasteful to those who feel threatened by Lewis’s obvious message.  Overbearance can be a turn-off.  Does  Tolkien have the right track, or does Lewis?

After research, one can observe that Tolkien’s Catholic faith does permeate his epic, perceived by the characters’ crying out to a Mary-like figure (Elbereth) for help and guidence, such as Samwise’s plea,

A Elbereth Gilthoniel

o menel palan-diriel,

le nallon si di ‘nguruthos!

A tiro nin, Fanulios!(3)

and prayer-like silence before a meal(4).  Notice, however, this is the only obvious Catholic influence--Tolkien seems to hide his faith where it can be found only by deep, careful investigation, much like secreting  a candle under the proverbial bushel.  In “The Writer of Our Story--Divine Providence in The Lord of the Rings(5)”, the author points out that Tolkien implanted the ideas and concepts of religion, and explains the host of heros with the idea of having the mind of Christ(6) spread out among “believers”, from Philipians, as well as the kindness and generally self-sacrificial qualities of the main characters.  Still, this seems odd.  Why would Tolkien stealthily and ashamedly hide his use of both Catholic and biblical messages by naming his trilogy unallegorical?  Boldly making his faith clear with the Chronicals is Lewis, who clearly used the Bible as his guide. Placing both writers side by side, who wins on religious evidence? Naturally, Lewis’s allegory is the clearest--the message comes straight from the Bible in each book, from the creation of Narnia in The Magician’s Nephew, to the sacrifice and salvation in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, to the revelation in The Last Battle.  Unashamed of the gospel of Christ(7), Lewis , who wrote many other books on faith, used the Chronicals as more than a fairy tale.  He saw fairy tales as a more realistic approach on how to handle real life circumstances and encouraged children to read books about dashing, godly knights, defeated dragons, and battles in the imagination.  Paging through his books, one can see the directness of Lewis’s metapor, simile, and allegory, obvious even to a child.  On the other hand, Tolkien hides his faith reclusively and furtively in hard-to-see places, with only subtle references to Catholic and Christian practices.  As he hides his faith, as he keeps it secret, as he sugar-coats religious ideaology, Tolkien only damages his message.  Always write what you believe.

Regarding the summarized evidence, Lewis, although he may appear overbearing and threatening to unbelievers who read his honestly and unblushingly biblical Chronicals, definitely was on the right track in writing his beliefs clearly and without fear of how he would be interpreted and received.  Tolkien, on the other hand, hides his Catholic and Christian message with an “applicable” (and not overly-doctrinal) message, minute and abtruse religious evidence, and hard-to-read symbolism.  As bored readers continue to question the doctrive Tolkien is believed to have used in his trilogy, it will only become more appaent that the revered author attempted to cover up his unavoidable Catholic and Christian influences.  When a writer has certain beliefs, they will obvious in the plot, characters, and action of the books he pens, and it is foolish to conceal your beliefs through fear of judgement.  Decidedly, C.S. Lewis made the best use of his God-given talents by fearlessly allegorizing his beliefs in The Chronicals of Narnia, displayed even with the simple titles given to humans as Sons and Daughters of Adam and Eve(8).  In summary, remember--never allow others’ opinions of you, beliefs, or judgements, which really don’t matter in the long run, keep you from standing up for your own beliefs and faith. Stand firm.  Hold fast.  Write the truth.

Footnotes

1. hom.freeuk.com/webbuk2/biography.htm

2. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, pg. 75

3. The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien, pg. 383-Samwise cries out and receives strength before battling Shelob the spider.

4. Touchstone Magazine-touchstonemag.org/archives/artice.php?id=15-01-022-f

“The Writer of Our Story--Divine Providence in “The Lord of the Rings” by David Mills

5. ibid

6. The Gosple According to Tolkien by Ralph C. Wood-Introduction-reference to Philipians 2:5

7. Romans 1:16  “For I am not ashamed of the gosple of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth...”

8. Lewis op. cit. pg. 63, ’“Are you the Sons of Adam and the Daughters of Eve?” it said. “Were some of them,” said Peter.’