April 10, 2002

Good Personalities
Diana

I think Tolkien is in a way trying to emphasize the importance of good personalities, especially in the modern world. Most of "The Lord of the Rings" characters on the good side are really nice, faithful, hard-working, and considerate of others. These traits got them through the difficulties. People should focus on improving personalities before strength, intelligence, beauty, physical traits, or wealth. In "The Hobbit," Thorin at his deathbed said to Bilbo that if everyone was like him, then the world would be a better place. As I read the books and watched the movie, I can really feel for the Fellowship and their friends, and often wish we readers and viewers could intervene. There were scenes where I almost burst into tears, especially in the movie. I am now reading "The Two Towers," and I can't wait until I finish the whole series. I always say, "There is no such thing as gender, race, creed, physical traits, abilites, or social class, but there is such thing as personality. We need to plunge the surface; the interior is more important."