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Comparison: Good and Evil in Novel and Film

Similarities between Novel and Film

Tolkien scholars and biographers have generally agreed that the film remains true to Tolkien’s views of good and evil. Jackson presents an interpretation in the film that remains fairly close to the novel. Both novel and film gives a good portrayal of good and evil. One theme of the novel is the beauty of nature and the threat posed by industrialization, as this was a major area of concern for Tolkien. Modernization threatens the Hobbits idyllic setting. Viewers of the films see Saruman ordering trees cut down and polluting the vale with machines. Mordor is portrayed as desolate, resembling an abandoned industrial site.

Tolkien wanted Gollum to be seen as a pitiful creature rather than an evil one. Jackson’s film lets viewers see Gollum and his inner conflict, thus allowing the audience to feel some pity – an important aspect of the story’s message. The Lord of the Rings helps us realize that everyone is worthy of compassion and that mercy is a critical virtue of good.

Although The Lord of the Rings is considered a fantasy, the films do not use an overabundance of special effects, easy to accomplish with today’s technology. Jackson makes The Lord of the Rings into a historical epic. He makes Gandalf’s powers subtle rather than spectacular.

Isengard

A Different Interpretation

Although there are many similarities between the novel and the film, Jackson chooses to highlight some aspects of good and evil and ignore others in the film. The film may actually be more effective in portraying some aspects of evil. The visual changes to characters due to the power of the ring are outstanding. The film also shows the evil of genetic engineering and watching the birth of the Urak-hai provides a stronger impact than reading about this in the novel.

Some of the most noticeable differences between the novel and film are in the portrayal of some of the characters. Ancient heroes are changed to elicit more sympathy and less emulation. Aragorn is seen in the film as a reluctant hero who has difficulty with his inherited role. He is a hero because he becomes a hero. In the novel, Aragorn is a epic hero who embraces his destiny. He is heroic because he is a hero. Galadriel and Elrond, elves who were known for their wisdom, were portrayed in the film as harsh and sometimes sinister rather than the kind, loving, and understanding characters that were in the novel.

Jackson chose not to film “The Scouring of the Shire” near the end of the novel which showed the transformation of the Shire from a rural Paradise to an urban hell. This part of the novel shows that although the great force of evil has been defeated, evil still exists in Middle-earth.

Tolkien believed that all men know right and wrong in their hearts. Some of Jackson’s changes from novel to film increase dramatic tension as the characters weigh what is right. In the novel, the characters weigh paths, not what is right as they know that instinctively.

Jackson played up religious imagery in the film trilogy. The death and resurrection scenes in the films visually enhanced the Christ-like symbolism. These scenes seemed true to the spirit of the novel but details were added to enhance the religious symbolism including Gandalf’s fall from the Bridge of Khazad-dum. Later, when Gandalf appears to Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, they do not recognize him at first because he is surrounded by a blinding light. This is reminiscent of the resurrection of Jesus to Mary Magdalene. After they recognize Gandalf, Legolas kneels and Gimli bows before him. The film presentation of Gandalf may have better communicated Tolkien’s vision.

What would Tolkien think?
One wonders what Tolkien would have had to say about the film trilogy. It has been noted that Tolkien hated technology yet we know the film could not have been made, that such fantastical creatures could not exist, without the use of modern technology.

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