“I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend.” - J.R.R. Tolkien
The quote above is one of the more famous lines written by Tolkien in his writing. The meaning of the phrase, in simpler terms, is a love for a cause that someone stands up for, not the weapons with which they fight. One could this attribute to a writer to stands up for a cause; "I do not love the pen for it's fineness, nor the computer for it's speed, nor the writer for his language, I love only that which they defend." A simple and easy to understand sentence, but with great depth and meaning.
However, recently a friend of mine called the quote "bull#*!@" in a conversation over my own fascination with the history warfare and weapons. Tolkien himself put great detail in his stories on the weapons used, giving them names and unique histories, and describing their connection to major characters. If you read the "Lord of the Rings", "The Silmarillion", or "The Hobbit", is the focus on the weapons or what they do with those weapons?
In those stories, the characters are defending their homes, friends, and loved ones against tyrannical foes who would destroy them or force them into slavery. We read about their acts of heroism in the face overwhelming odds, fighting for the freedom of others. We admire their weapons and their courage, and love what they fight for.
Tolkien fought in the First World War, in that war he probably saw horrors one couldn't imagine. He could admire the bravery that a soldier showed in the face of battle, or the technological advancement of the weapons; but love that they fought for their friends and a cause they believed in. When you think about that quote in that context, as well as his work as a whole, the quote's meaning comes to light. Just like Frodo and Sam marching through Mordor to save their home and loved ones, or Glorfindel defending his people from a balorg during the Fall of Gondolin. They did heroic deeds, but it was what they defended we love.
Tolkien's legendarium was clearly inspired by the horrors of World War I, not just his love of norse mythology. In his writing, the wars of Middle-Earth and Beleriand are not glorious, but bloody, disgusting, and horrifying, not glorifying battle. The weapons in his writing have names and descriptions, but that is to provide depth and history, his real focus is on the characters and their sacrifices, drawing inspiration from his wartime experience; the Fall of Gondolin, was written after fighting at the Battle of the Somme, and the "Dead Marshes" are directly inspired by battlefield in it's aftermath.
In my own opinion, this quote encompasses all of Tolkien's works, not a glorification of swords and battle, but a love of ones fellow man. Calling it "bull#*!@" is an act of ignorance and lack of understanding, the swords are part of the story, but they are not the meaning of the stories. However, we should also look at this quote along side another of his, perhaps encompassing the entirety of his world view; “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
Tolkien's legendarium was clearly inspired by the horrors of World War I, not just his love of norse mythology. In his writing, the wars of Middle-Earth and Beleriand are not glorious, but bloody, disgusting, and horrifying, not glorifying battle. The weapons in his writing have names and descriptions, but that is to provide depth and history, his real focus is on the characters and their sacrifices, drawing inspiration from his wartime experience; the Fall of Gondolin, was written after fighting at the Battle of the Somme, and the "Dead Marshes" are directly inspired by battlefield in it's aftermath.
In my own opinion, this quote encompasses all of Tolkien's works, not a glorification of swords and battle, but a love of ones fellow man. Calling it "bull#*!@" is an act of ignorance and lack of understanding, the swords are part of the story, but they are not the meaning of the stories. However, we should also look at this quote along side another of his, perhaps encompassing the entirety of his world view; “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
References:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/inside-first-world-war/part-two/10356085/jrr-tolkien-war.html
http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/The_Fall_of_Gondolin
http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Glorfindel
http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Battle_of_the_Somme
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/5686-if-more-of-us-valued-food-and-cheer-and-song
http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/The_Fall_of_Gondolin
http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Glorfindel
http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Battle_of_the_Somme
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/5686-if-more-of-us-valued-food-and-cheer-and-song
