I have learned better than to open up in Tumblr posts, but I would like to share something.
When I was a teenager, I was bitter and angry and antisocial, I thought I was an awful person. I was just becoming aware of politics and the politics I had? Not good. I was convinced humans were inherently selfish and abusive and manipulative, because I grew up around adults that were selfish and abusive and manipulative, and I had learned to be like them too. I was unable to connect emotionally with other people or with media; I liked to read a lot but my readings tended to be very superficial.
(I spent a lot of time rolling my eyes at people who did media analysis and watching cringe feminist compilations. I lived life as though it was an argument I had to win and I was miserable.)
Then I read Lord of the Rings.
I think it taught me how to be a person.
It showed me a world where people could be good, uncompromisingly good, where connection had value and where you didn't have to turn around, look at the camera, and point how ridiculous the setting was or how pathetic the characters were.
Troubled people existed, of course. Evil people too. But even them, the story argued, deserved compassion. You know what character I saw myself in the most? Gollum/Sméagol. It's not like the narrative is interested in redeeming him, but it makes an effort to humanize him, constantly reminding us that he was like Frodo once. And it reminded me I was a like Frodo once too, a sensitive, nerdy kid that had been reduced to the worst parts of himself due to a mix of life-shattering trauma, cultural conditioning, and resentful disposition.
It restored something in me, is what I mean. The capacity of seeing good in people, of valuing kindness and compassion. It helped me develop pro-social behaviours, kickstarted the process by which my political worldview went from being on the path to reactionary to full-on proud socialist.
It made me care about art, really care about it. Not as mere entertainment but as the life changing experience it is made to be.
In short, we need more books like Lord of the Rings. Stories that are open and genuine and that inspire people to be better. It might just change someone's life. It might just make the world a better place.
