JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings starts with a description of the agrarian Hobbiton,
where Bilbo and Frodo Baggins reside. They live a relatively simple life — a contrast when it becomes apparent that they possesses the One Ring, an object of extreme evil. Bilbo and Frodo resist the Ring based on a humility that reflects Tolkien’s Christian background, therefore paralleling Aldo Leopold’s pioneering of environmental ethics as involving a self-limitation on freedom. The Ring, so plain and yet so beautiful, entices its beholder until they fall under its power. To resist the Ring requires humility because the ability to limit one’s own freedom, Leopold’s definition of ethical behavior, is a direct result of humility. Frodo especially shows humility in his actions and is able to quell most of his desires to use the ring. This humility is not apparent in those who have fallen under the spell of the Ring, such as Gollum. The current mentality of contemporary society is that there is no such thing as too much freedom. Therefore, for the environment to be saved, society must change its mentality.
Frodo Baggins loves to walk in the meadow, work in his garden, and enjoy a hearty meal — in other words, he seems to be an average hobbit. However, this average hobbit is rather durable, and he is able endure the worst that fate throws at him. Frodo Baggins does not selfishly think to use the Ring to accomplish his own goals but instead wishes that this quest was not his mission. In this, Frodo shows humility and limitation of freedom because he recognizes that he cannot control the Ring and he cannot use it for his own personal gain. He exclaims to Gandalf, “I wish I had never seen the Ring! Why did it come to me?” (70). Frodo is the essence of humility. He wishes the ring gone instead of thinking of how he can use it for his own personal gain. Frodo repeats this sentiment when he states, “I wish it need not have happened in my time” (60). He doesn’t look at the Ring as a way to gain power but instead as if it is evil. He does not believe that he can handle the Ring nor that he is entitled to the Ring because it came to him. Frodo’s healthy fear of the ring stems from his understanding of himself. An arrogant person believes too much in their own abilities — Frodo does not ever demonstrate this. It is important to
point out, however, that his reluctance about the Ring does not prevent him from doing his duty:“I suppose I must keep the Ring and guard it, at least for the present, whatever it may do to me” (71). Frodo would like nothing more than to forget about the Ring and continue to live his daily life but instead he decides to help those other than himself. Frodo is limiting his freedom – instead of doing what he wants, he is sacrificing for his community and all of Middle Earth. Furthermore, Frodo is showing humility by considering others before he considers himself and his own desires. It is because of Frodo’s humility that he can perform such a selfless act. Aldo Leopold writes “the education [about the environment] makes no mention of obligations to land
over and above those dictated by self-interest” (25). Leopold’s point serves to underscore
Frodo’s humility. Society has not affirmed that the despoliation of the land is wrong because society is focused on only how the environment is helpful to them. No one offers to take the ring except for Frodo because society in general, both in Tolkien’s fantasy and in reality, encourages an atmosphere of selfishness.
Even Gandalf recognizes within himself a desire to use the ring, even though his desire stems from a yearning to do good. However, he too denies himself the ring: “The wish to wield it would be too great for my strength” (71). Frodo, however, does not have this inner desire because of his humility. Not only does Frodo not want the task of Ring-bearer because he understands the Ring’s power, but he offers to take the Ring even while understanding the peril awaiting him: “But this would mean exile, a flight from danger into danger, drawing it after me” (72). Truly this is a limitation of action derived from humility; Frodo does not follow his own desires to stay in the peace of the Shire but instead looks toward the greater good and agrees to take the Ring to Rivendell. Frodo’s humility should be expressed in modern society. Leopold writes, “Land-use ethics are still governed wholly by economic self-interest” (27). Society is looking at the environment selfishly. Many people only recognize the worth of the environment in terms of its usefulness to them. This is a selfish attitude and emphasizes Leopold’s point about self-limitation. If the environment is going to stay a beautiful natural resource, then people must be humble because only through humility will people understand the need to limit their freedom. Arrogance leads to selfishness and a sense of entitlement and this is killing the environment.
Bilbo found the Ring in a dark cave and tricked it away from Gollum, eventually returning home with it. Because of Bilbo’s humility, he was able to keep it for such a long time with little adverse effects, even though he had trouble parting with it in the end. Gandalf points out to Frodo, “Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them?” (69). This sentiment reflects humility. A humble person understands their limitations and that they are not worthy to decide matters such as life and death. Leopold supports this: “Of the 22,000 higher plants and animals native to Wisconsin, it is doubtful whether more than 5 per cent can be sold, fed, eaten, or otherwise put to economic use. Yet these creatures are members of the biotic community, and if (as I believe) its stability depends on its integrity, they are entitled to continuance” (28). Both Leopold and Gandalf are emphasizing the importance of compassion toward other life. This compassion is only possible through humility. Tolkien emphasizes this idea with his characterization of Bilbo: “Be sure that he took so little hurt from the evil, and escaped in the end, because he began his ownership of the Ring so” (69). Bilbo did not kill Gollum, even though Gollum was a disgusting creature, because Bilbo was humble. Gandalf continues, “As far as I know Bilbo alone in history has ever gone beyond playing, and really [given up the Ring]” (64). Not only is Bilbo able to give up the ring because he is humble, but he is able to deny himself the lure of being invisible, of not being held accountable for his actions. Bilbo is essentially giving up freedom; with the Ring he could do whatever he wanted without repercussion.
Gollum, originally called Sméagol, is a small emaciated creature who deplores the sun
and eats raw fish. Thoroughly disgusting, this creature was overcome by the Ring when his cousin, Déagol, pulled it out of the river. Gollum shows arrogance in how he believes he deserves to have the Ring: “It was his birthday. Déagol ought to have given the ring to him” (66). This arrogance and sense of entitlement allows the Ring to take hold of Gollum fairly quickly. He used the Ring to “find out secrets and became sharp-eyed and keen-eared for all that was hurtful” (63). Not only does Gollum exhibit arrogance but he shows how the freedom offered by the Ring through invisibility encourages action with no consequences. This quickens his decline into the Rings power: “He could not get rid of it. He had no will left in the matter” (64). Gollum becomes controlled by the ring and slowly loses himself. Leopold writes, “It is inconceivable to me that an ethical relation to land can exist without love, respect, and admiration for land and a high regard for its value…in the philosophical sense” (31) Arrogance and self-centeredness of the
sort demonstrated by Gollum diminish this love-centered environmental viewpoint. Our beautiful environment is slowly being lost because the consequences of society’s actions are not being considered. The pervasive sense of entitlement that stems from the arrogance of society is causing this loss.
Frodo, a small hobbit from the Shire, surprises his companions with his tenacity and
courage. His humility allows him to carry the Ring across Middle-earth. Even Bilbo kept the Ring for many years and suffered little repercussion. These hobbits were humble and displayed ethical behavior – limitation of action. Not only was this displayed in their handling of the Ring but also in their care for their environment. These hobbits were not above menial labor and often Frodo would take long walks in the woods. Because of their lack of self-absorption, these hobbits were able to appreciate what was around them. The environment would benefit if contemporary society followed the example of these hobbits. Society encourages excess. For example, any college campus has its share of parties. The binge-drinking epidemic is because of the same reason that people are cutting down as many trees as they want or hunting as much as they want or releasing as much carbon dioxide as they want or using as much water as they want — society is encouraging excess. Limitation of action is required and this limitation of action can
stem only from humility.
Works Cited:
Tolkien, JRR. The Fellowship of the Ring. George Allen & Unwin, 29 July 1954
Wheeler, Stephen M, and Timothy Beatley. The Sustainable Urban Development Reader.
Routledge, 2014
Christianity and Sustainability 