Finally, although the incredible richness of Middle-earth exceeds that of any other imaginary world before or since (and there have been many imitators), The Lord of the Rings is more than an imaginary travelogue with a knack for words. The enduring popularity of this text must come in part from the way that the themes of the story resonate strongly with the great issues of modern life. Overall, the story is that of a just war: the fight against evil, even against apparently hopeless odds, with the knowledge that victory can be achieved only at great cost, speaks to the struggles of the world wars. Related to this struggle is the depiction of grace, in that salvation comes from what may be perceived as luck but is in fact the work of something greater, a force beyond the might of any individual or country. The books also redefine heroism for the modern world. Frodo and his friends begin their journey as ordinary people, swept up by conflicts that they did not initiate, but they become greater heroes even than those who are born and trained for it, such as Aragorn. The conflict between Treebeard and Saruman dramatizes the conflict between industry and the natural world, only one example of the environmental consciousness that permeates Tolkien's fiction. Perhaps most importantly, the quest at the heart of this story is not one of conquest or gain, but of renunciation. The Ring must be destroyed, not used, lest its power corrupt the user — a strong message for the modern era, marked as it is by destructive wars, superpowers, and horrifying abuses of the power of the state.
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