Pssst... You should totally play this track while reading this article... It's way better that way, I promise...
Union of Soviet Social Republics of the Middle Earth
This image is totally not photoshopped. Nope.
Of all the places one would expect to find Marxism, J.R.R. Tolkien's novel, The Hobbit, would probably seem like the least likely location. This, surprisingly enough, is not so. Tolkien himself may have been a right wing conservative, but his novel tells a different story upon further analysis. But, first thing is first: what is Marxism and what is a Marxist criticism of a text composed of?
In answer to the first question, Marxism (1) is an economic and sociopolitical worldview that rejects capitalism, a system based on private ownership and regulation, and promotes communism (2), a classless, money-less, and stateless social order. However, this definition is heavily paraphrased. In addition, modern "Marxists" are not really Marxists at all; they consider themselves Socialists (3). These people promote a system of social ownership and/or control of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy (meaning that economic power is shared between the people and its government.) It is this kind of Marxism that will be the focus of this article.
Tolkien with his buddy Karl Marx, chillin' at a local park.
In order to add a little more depth to my explanation of Marxism, I have conveniently composed this informative limerick (4):
There once was a man named Karl Marx
Who hated the treachery of money sharks
So he wrote a little book
Call the Communist Manifesto
Which unintentionally started a lot of wars and stuff
Alright, that may not have been very informative or very limerick-like. But I thought it was funny when I wrote it, so there.
Anyways, back to question number two: what is Marxist criticism of a text composed of? Marxist literary criticism (5) looks at literature using socialist theories as a lens. Marxist critics look for themes or indications in a novel that reflect Marxist views. This article will attempt reveal some Marxist tendencies in Tolkien's novel.
There once was a man named Karl Marx
Who hated the treachery of money sharks
So he wrote a little book
Call the Communist Manifesto
Which unintentionally started a lot of wars and stuff
Alright, that may not have been very informative or very limerick-like. But I thought it was funny when I wrote it, so there.
Anyways, back to question number two: what is Marxist criticism of a text composed of? Marxist literary criticism (5) looks at literature using socialist theories as a lens. Marxist critics look for themes or indications in a novel that reflect Marxist views. This article will attempt reveal some Marxist tendencies in Tolkien's novel.
The Downfall of the Greedy
Some gold, because why not?
As The Hobbit progresses, Tolkien places more and more emphasis on the materialistic nature of dwarves. Rumored to be "born of stone," Dwarves place an uncanny value on mining, jewels, and stonework. They take pride in their stonecunning and creativity, and guard their riches with vengeance. In fact, most of The Hobbit revolves around reaching the ultimate prize at the end of the journey: the spoils of Lonely Mountain, which were once ruled by the unimaginably wealthy Thrain King under the Mountain and his kin.
Tolkien periodically flavors the dwarves' personalities with their stories of gold and riches throughout the text, but a massive emphasis is placed upon the trait after the death of Smaug. Suddenly, all of the dwarves' attention (especially Thorin's) is turned upon the wonderful treasure and the hunt for the Arkenstone. Thorin's newly acquired riches consume so much of his attention that he loses all sense of respect and friendliness for anyone that tries to oppose his greed or part him from his treasure. Thorin, who up to this point serves as an exemplary example of a noble dwarf, becomes corrupted by the greed of his treasure. His character makes a dramatic turn for the worst, despite staying static throughout the entire novel.
Tolkien periodically flavors the dwarves' personalities with their stories of gold and riches throughout the text, but a massive emphasis is placed upon the trait after the death of Smaug. Suddenly, all of the dwarves' attention (especially Thorin's) is turned upon the wonderful treasure and the hunt for the Arkenstone. Thorin's newly acquired riches consume so much of his attention that he loses all sense of respect and friendliness for anyone that tries to oppose his greed or part him from his treasure. Thorin, who up to this point serves as an exemplary example of a noble dwarf, becomes corrupted by the greed of his treasure. His character makes a dramatic turn for the worst, despite staying static throughout the entire novel.
Bilbo wielding the hammer and sickle.
Under the lens of socialist theory, the severe distortion of Thorin's character lends insight to Tolkien's opinion on greed and the centralization of wealth. Thorin is suddenly portrayed as an uncooperative nuisance blinded by riches. He can be regarded as a counterpart to the unyielding greed of the upper class. Thorin refuses to give his treasure to the men and elves, who fully deserve their share, and in the process creates a serious tension, or class conflict. In this situation, Bilbo represent the primary catalyzer in the ultimate revolt of the "capitalistic" treachery of Thorin. In giving to Arkenstone to the camp of Men and Elves, Bilbo seeks to promote the greater interest of all parties involved. Bilbo represents a shift towards a relationship of shared wealth. Through the negative portrayal of Thorin, it could be argued that Tolkien disagrees with outright capitalism, and instead promotes the sharing of wealth when it is clearly for the common good.
Thorin, of course, violently disproves of Bilbo's actions, exiling him from his party and labeling him as a traitor and a "descendant of rats." By this point, Thorin has become so twisted by his lust for the Arkenstone that he rejects the value of his greatest asset (Bilbo) during the most difficult challenges he had faced during his adventure. However, after the Battle of the Five Armies, Thorin realizes his faults, and ultimately gives an enlightening apology: "No [Bilbo]! There is more in you of good than you know... Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." (Tolkien 290) It is this final sentence that brings ultimate illumination to Tolkien's opinions on the matter: life and leisure should be valued far above wealth. And through Bilbo's action of trading the Arkenstone, one can argue that Tolkien provided a method to dismissing the supremacy of wealth: by sharing it.
Thorin, of course, violently disproves of Bilbo's actions, exiling him from his party and labeling him as a traitor and a "descendant of rats." By this point, Thorin has become so twisted by his lust for the Arkenstone that he rejects the value of his greatest asset (Bilbo) during the most difficult challenges he had faced during his adventure. However, after the Battle of the Five Armies, Thorin realizes his faults, and ultimately gives an enlightening apology: "No [Bilbo]! There is more in you of good than you know... Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." (Tolkien 290) It is this final sentence that brings ultimate illumination to Tolkien's opinions on the matter: life and leisure should be valued far above wealth. And through Bilbo's action of trading the Arkenstone, one can argue that Tolkien provided a method to dismissing the supremacy of wealth: by sharing it.
A Perfect Model of Social Feudalism
All of Tolkien's work, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings included, is decidedly right wing. All his novel's have a common theme of the free and noble "West" joining forces to defeat the menacing and infinite evil of the "East." Does that sound familiar?
However, there is one aspect of Tolkien's novels that stands as a hidden, albeit bright, beacon of Marxism. According to writer John Molyneux, in his article titled "Tolkien's World - A Marxist Analysis" (6), Tolkien's global appeal as a brilliant writer stems not from the conservative leanings in his book, but from the social feudalistic environment portrayed in his novels.
Nowhere in any of Tolkien's novels are there any guns, machinery, or any sign of industrialism. Middle Earth is effectively and permanently in the Middle Ages. But how could this environment promote socialism when feudalism is based on a class-ruled society? Molyneux provides a brilliant explanation. The actual Middle Ages were plagued with disease, famine, lack of knowledge, and countless other compounding problems that made life expectancy short and life in general miserable. However, none of the limitations exist in Middle Earth. There is no suffering, and no poverty. People in Middle Earth are classified into their social rank at birth, but they live happily in their place. The medieval environment of Middle Earth, despite its class-based society, is many magnitudes more pure and noble the "dirty modern world of factories, pollution, profit, money grubbing, vulgar commercial interest, shoddy goods, advertising, and extreme alienation." Tolkien essentially creates a feudalistic Utopia, and it is for this reason that his work appeals to so many people. It takes readers to a perfect world, one in which the corruption of industrialism has not yet set foot and one in which the problems of pre-industrialism never existed.
Nowhere in any of Tolkien's novels are there any guns, machinery, or any sign of industrialism. Middle Earth is effectively and permanently in the Middle Ages. But how could this environment promote socialism when feudalism is based on a class-ruled society? Molyneux provides a brilliant explanation. The actual Middle Ages were plagued with disease, famine, lack of knowledge, and countless other compounding problems that made life expectancy short and life in general miserable. However, none of the limitations exist in Middle Earth. There is no suffering, and no poverty. People in Middle Earth are classified into their social rank at birth, but they live happily in their place. The medieval environment of Middle Earth, despite its class-based society, is many magnitudes more pure and noble the "dirty modern world of factories, pollution, profit, money grubbing, vulgar commercial interest, shoddy goods, advertising, and extreme alienation." Tolkien essentially creates a feudalistic Utopia, and it is for this reason that his work appeals to so many people. It takes readers to a perfect world, one in which the corruption of industrialism has not yet set foot and one in which the problems of pre-industrialism never existed.
Every being in Tolkien's novel is pleased to be in his social position, and no character lacks the basic needs necessary to live comfortably. Everyone lives so comfortably, in fact, that class becomes virtually unimportant. The feudalism in Tolkien's novels is so perfectly structured, it becomes trivial. For all intent and purpose, the Middle Earth portrays a classless society, because class simply doesn't matter.