As opined by Young (2016), the cannon of fantasy fiction had emerged as one of the most important ones within the cannon of contemporary Literature and is being extensively being used by the different authors as a sieve through which they can give voice to the ancient myths. Waysdorf and Reijnders (2017) are of the viewpoint that the .literary works related to the genre of fantasy fiction often contains a plot that is practically impossible in the real lives of the human beings or atleast in the dimension in which they live. As argued by Genz (2016), one of the major reasons for the extensive popularity which this genre of literature has gained in the contemporary times is because of the escape from the harsh realities of modern life that the fantasy fictions offers to the human beings. Two of the fantasy fictions that have gained much popularity in the recent times are “The Lord of the Rings” of J. R. R. Tolkien and “A Song of Ice and Fire” of George R. R. Martin. A common aspect between both of these works and the theme which has made both of these literary works extremely popular among the readers is the fact that they offer an unfiltered representation of the humanity. This essay will explore the theme of unfiltered representation of humanity in the above mentioned two literary works.
“The Lord of the Rings” of J. R. R. Tolkien written between 1937 and 1949 is a fantasy fiction which represents the fight between the good and the evil (Tally, 2016). The book as a matter of fact is one of the highest selling literary works of all times having sold more than 150 million copies and recently have even been made into a motion picture (Chance, 2016). The book represents the fight for power between Men, Elves, Dwarves and the evil Sauron (Schmeink, 2016). The fulcrum point of the book is the manner in which the ring which was once worn by Sauron and was the main source of his power is being destroyed by the hobbit Frodo Baggins (Wilkins, 2016). In a way, it can be said that Frodo plays one of the most important parts in the book since although the other characters of the novel in their own way fight against the evil powers of Sauron yet it he who ultimately defeats him by destroying his ring (Tally, 2016). A casual reading of the book would reveal it to be just an ordinary epic related to the theme of good and evil and the ultimate victory of good over evil.
However, at the same time, it needs to be said that a critical analysis of the same work would reveal different facets of human nature and even offer an unfiltered glimpse of the human nature. Chance (2016) is of the viewpoint that this is perhaps one of the major themes of the work under discussion here and almost all the characters of the work and their portrayals are redolent with this theme. For example, on the one hand, there is Frodo who although takes the onus for the destruction of the Ring yet there are various points in the book wherein he has the temptation to dispose the ring and also to disregard his duty as the protector of the ring (Schmeink, 2016). On the other hand, there are other characters in the work as well who also show this dilemma that the common humans often face and by means of this offer an unfiltered glimpse into the true nature of the human beings.
“’I don’t like anything here at all.” said Frodo, “step or stone, breath or bone. Earth, air and water all seem accursed. But so our path is laid.’
‘Yes, that’s so,” said Sam, “And we shouldn’t be here at all, if we’d known more about it before we started. But I suppose it’s often that way. The brave things in the old tales and songs, Mr. Frodo, adventures, as I used to call them……But that’s not the way of it with the tales that really mattered, or the ones that stay in the mind. Folk seem to have been just landed in them, usually their paths were laid that way, as you put it. But I expect they had lots of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn’t….But those aren’t always the best tales to hear, though they may be the best tales to get landed in! I wonder what sort of a tale we’ve fallen into?’” (Tolkien, 2012).
This conversation between Sam and Frodo not only offers an insight into the true nature of the human beings but at the same time the dilemma that they face towards the fulfillment of their duties. For example, the conservation clearly reveals the desire of these two central characters of the book to disregard their duties of destroying the ring and turn back to lead a normal carefree life (Wilkins, 2016). More importantly, they even question the representation of humanity which has been given to them by the different fairly tales and other similar kinds of works that form the paradigm as per which the human beings are required to act (Chance, 2016). In other words, it can be said that this conversation between Frodo and Sam clearly reveal the façade that has been created around the virtuous or good manner in which the human beings are required to act. This conversation and other similar ones in the book under discussion clearly reveal the fact that the theme of unfiltered representation of humanity forms an integral part of the work.
A Song of Ice and Fire” of George R. R. Martin published in 1996 is perhaps the most famous literary work of the last two decades (Steiner, 2015). As a matter of fact it has even been converted into a very popular television series, named, The Game of Throne which is currently running successfully (Young, 2015). The work of Martin on a casual reading reveals a quest for power among the different individuals or characters which are being shown in the novel (Genz, 2016). More importantly, it is seen that almost all the important characters who are being depicted are vying for the throne of the seven kingdoms. However, a deeper analysis of the work and the different characters, who are a part of the work under discussion here reveals the fact that it is redolent with the theme of unfiltered representation of the human nature (Waysdorf & Reijnders, 2017). For example, on the one hand, Cersei Lannister is shown as a wicked and evil character whereas on the other hand the author offers a glimpse into the various factors that motivates her to act in the manner in which she acts (Young, 2016). It is pertinent to note that in one section of the novel she acts as a devoted mother in another section as an adulterous one in another section as a possessive one and so on. Furthermore, the theme becomes evident after an analysis of the different characters of the novel like Jaime Lannister, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen and others (Genz, 2016). As a matter of fact, Martin, the author of the work under discussion here himself said, “I’ve always agreed with William Faulkner—he said that the human heart in conflict with itself is the only thing worth writing about” (Martin, 2011). This is perhaps one of the major reasons why Martin has made the theme of unfiltered representation of humanity as one of the major themes of the novel discussion here.
“What is honor compared to a woman’s love? What is duty against the feel of a newborn son in your arms . . . or the memory of a brother’s smile? Wind and words. Wind and words. We are only human, and the gods have fashioned us for love. That is our great glory, and our great tragedy” (Martin, 2011).
The above quoted lines of Maester Aemon to Jon Snow clearly reveal the prominence of the theme of unfiltered representation of humanity in the work under discussion here. For example, these lines of Maester Aemon clearly reveal the façade which have created around the notions of honor, respect, loyalty and other similar concepts on the basis of which the human beings are supposed to lead their lives (Waysdorf & Reijnders, 2017). More importantly, these lines at the same time reveal the dilemma as well as the conflicts that the human beings face when they had to lead their lives on the basis of these entities (Young, 2015). For example, as the lines clearly reveal there is a tendency within the heart of all the human beings to disregard these entities and follows their heart’s desire to lead the kind of lives that they want to lead. However, at the same time it needs to be said that the human beings are required to lead their lives on the basis of these entities which is not often in synchronicity with the desire of these individuals.
A close analysis of the two literary works under discussion clearly reveals the fact that the theme of unfiltered representation of humanity forms a common theme between them. It is pertinent to note that although the two literary works are different regarding the stories that they narrate and also the characters they portray yet the basis theme is common in both of them. More importantly, the major characters in both of these works not only offer an insight into the true nature of the human beings but at the same time reveal the dilemma that they face because of the need to live as per the entities of honor, respect, loyalty and others (Young, 2016). Furthermore, although the main central characters in both the work under discussion here seem to be dedicated towards the achievement of the goal that they want to achieve yet there is a dilemma in them regarding the worth of the goal itself (Steiner, 2015). Moreover, the major characters in both of these works had to face various dilemmas and decide the course of action that they want to follow and this in turn offers an insight into the true nature of the human beings. This is perhaps one of the major reasons for the extensive popularity as well as critical praise that the two works under discussion here has received in the recent times.
To conclude, the genre of fantasy fiction has emerged as one of the major ones within the cannon of contemporary world Literature. This can be explained on the basis of the fact that these fantasy fiction works offers an escape to the individuals from their mundane lives and offer a world to them in which they do not have to face the harsh realities of their lives. More importantly, it is seen that although these literary works take the help of unrealistic plots and settings yet one of the major themes which is a common factor among the majority of the fantasy fiction works is the unfiltered representation of humanity. This becomes apparent from an analysis from the two famous works of contemporary literature, namely, “The Lord of the Rings” of J. R. R. Tolkien and “A Song of Ice and Fire” of George R. R. Martin. It is pertinent to note that although the storyline as well as the setting of both of these works are completely different from one another yet at the same time it is seen that the theme of unfiltered representation of humanity is a common factor between both of them.
References:
Chance, J. (2016). “Usually Slighted”: Gudrún, Other Medieval Women, and The Lord of the Rings, Book 3 (1925–1943). In Tolkien, Self and Other (pp. 177-214). Palgrave Macmillan, New York.
Genz, S. (2016). I’m not going to fight them, I’m going to fuck them: Sexist liberalism and gender (a) politics in Game of Thrones. Women of ice and fire: Gender, Game of Thrones and multiple media engagements, 243-266.
Martin, G. R. (2011). The Song of Ice and Fire Series. Bantam Books.
Schmeink, L. (2016). How Bilbo lost his innocence: Media audiences and the evaluation of The Hobbit as a ‘Childern’s Film’. Participations, 13(2).
Steiner, T. (2015). Steering the author discourse: The construction of authorship in quality TV, and the case of Game of Thrones. Series-International Journal of TV Serial Narratives, 1(2), 181.
Tally, R. T. (2016). Tolkien’s Geopolitical Fantasy: Spatial Narrative in The Lord of the Rings. In Popular Fiction and Spatiality (pp. 125-140). Palgrave Macmillan, New York.
Tolkien, J. R. R. (2012). The Lord of the Rings: One Volume. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Waysdorf, A., & Reijnders, S. (2017). The role of imagination in the film tourist experience: The case of Game of Thrones. Participations, 14(1), 170-191.
Wilkins, K. (2016). From Middle Earth to Westeros: Medievalism, Proliferation and Paratextuality. In New Directions in Popular Fiction (pp. 201-221). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Young, H. (Ed.). (2015). Fantasy and Science Fiction Medievalisms: From Isaac Asimov to A Game of Thrones. Cambria Press.
Young, J. (2016). Faces of Evil in Modern Fantasy. Epiphany, 9(3), 61-78.
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