Character Symbolism in The Lord of the Rings

J.R.R. Tolkien considered fantasy a human right; people must create because God created and people are created in God’s image (Sammons 13). Every author creates a “secondary world” and the primary world is reflected in this “secondary world.” What the author creates is corrupt because of his sinful nature; but the longing for restoration is evident in his stories (Williams 2). In addition, the reader is more willing to accept theologically unsound ideas in the secondary world (Sammons 14). The author’s beliefs are always evident in fantasy. Tolkien, as a result of his Christianity, mirrors the Bible; he shows the same truths from a different perspective (Smith 14). As he said, “I am a Christian and of course what I write will be from that essential viewpoint”. Tolkien did not feel the need to fit his story with formal Christianity; instead he made his story consistent with Christian thought and belief. Though his work mirrors the Bible, he did not consider his work an ...