This caveat aside, Tolkien's work is a monument
of genius against which all other fantasies can aptly be
compared. In general, The Lord of the Rings has an enduring
quality lacking to much other fantasy, because it is built
on permanent principles. Right and wrong do not change;
Tolkien's absolutes are built on Christianity. the moral
principles of tolkien justify his work. Despite casteism,
sexism, sterotypes, and (sometimes) bad poetry, it remains
a clear, beautiful, and moving appeal to our noblest impulses.
Could Tolkien have bettered the moral tone
of the work? Probably not. More Christ would have endangered
the work with sacrilege. More platitudes would have made
it a bore. No, J. R. R. Tolkien has blended his multifarious
elements with unparalleled wit, scholarship, and charm.
The Lord of the Rings stands as a unique testimony to the
power of a Christian pen.
Dan Graves
