Draft Thesis: The power of the ring in The Lord of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien causes the characters to change, betray one another, and become hungry for the power, which relates to the aspect of totalitarianism in The Gulag Archipelago by Vintage Solzhenistyn, ultimately proving that the ring becomes a form of mind control and power over the people in the book.
For my final essay, I plan to discuss the power of the ring and how it relates to Totalitarianism in the Gulag Archipelago by Vintage Solzhenitsyn. The power of the Ring causes the characters to change and makes them hungry for power, which the ring will give them, leading to everyone fighting for the ring. The ring also brings isolation, specifically during their journey, and causes obsession, which are certain aspects of what living under a totalitarian rule does. The ring also makes some characters, specifically Boromir, betray each other, which is also an element mentioned in The Gulag Archipelago. The ring mirrors the power of totalitarianism and what it does to people, which is a significant point throughout the Lord of The Rings. It highlights the idea of who is strong enough to fight against the power of the ring and not let it overcome them, similar to the ideology of totalitarianism.
Close Readings:
- Pg. 75-77, This close-reading shows the fear that begins to overcome Frodo, which slowly starts to isolate him and feel the power of the ring.
- Pg. 396-399, This close-reading passage exploits what the ring does to Boromir and how he betrays Frodo due to the power of the ring.
- Pg. 400-403, This close-reading passage is a continuation of Boromir betraying Frodo, but these pages display Frodo’s determination to continue his journey, specifically alone, since the power of the ring has caused him to lose trust in everyone.
Research Books I plan to use:
- John Garth, Tolkien and the Great War
- Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism