Aragorn is the epitome of masculinity. He stands up for the weak, protects something worth protecting, can forgive, is self-confident but not haughty, can admit mistakes and shows respect to others.
@@sharontzu5 I would argue that healing is a widespreadly accepted masculine trait. Medicine/healing/nurturing is seen as feminine. If you meant that he isn't the "toxic masculine" macho action movie protag archetype then yes, absolutely. Kind and emphatetic yet disciplined, self sufficient yet not closed off and stoic. Lovely ruler
Aragorn's sendoff to a dying Boromir, in the book and films, shows a man that truly feels his beliefs and emotions deeply, and isn't afraid to express them. Although a very powerful man, both mentally and physically, he has a tenderness to him, that shows he is truly fighting for everything he loves, and is willing to risk everything on the razor's edge of good being triumphant, than for one second succumb to the idea that evil will prevail while he breathes. He truly is one of the manliest men in literature and film. Dangerous, kind, intelligent, ruthless, trained, educated, travelled, artistic, noble, but has willingly lived lower than most poor common men. He also gets himself a gorgeous, powerful elf-lass as his queen, so my man is also a mack.
This is why I love TLotR. It's not all massive wars and slaying dragons and climbing oliphants. It's having a quiet night at the pub, sharing a song on the road, and taking the time to reassure the reader that yes, the pony made it home safely.
I do love how this was expressed by Gandalf in the Hobbit film as well (he says something like it's the regular folk doing their best who keep the darkness at bay). It's the lasting sentiment from Galadriel's prologue monologue. Whether you like the hobbit or not, you have to admit that Jackson and the team working on both trilogies understood the spirit of Tolkien.
This is why the first quarter of the first book is spent in the Shire, showing the reader in intimate detail what was at stake. Humanity. This is what would be lost.
Tolkien fought in WWI. WWI had a lot Aragorns and Saurons, rallying cries, famous last stands, and drums in the deep. But it was the hobbits, the ordinary little folk who believed in good, and who just wanted to go home, who won the war. Whose bodies littered the hills. And who, in the fullness of time, found when they got home that things could never go back to how they were before. Loved the video, brought a tear to my eye.
I think it speaks volumes to Tolkien as a human being. He saw the very worst of humanity, and instead of taking away "people are bad", he saw the goodness in humanity. The entire LotR story is about how good triumphs and is worth fighting for. I could only hope to have such a positive worldview after seeing all of the terrible things he saw.
Yeah. He also lost his two best friends in the battle of the Somme, and then got deathly ill with trench fever and spent the rest of the war recuperating/relapsing. I feel like any dissection of hobbits misses the mark if it doesn't mention Tolkien's war experience.
You could argue that whole era is also an example of "hard men can create hard times" as well. It was the soldiers of that war who started the next one, though of course not all of them were to blame (and admittedly not everyone involved in the start of WW2 was a soldier in the previous war, but many were).
Yup. That's why, in Westminster Abbey, London, you can step on or walk over the burial sites of all great British kings, Queens, poets, artists, writers, scholars, politicians, celebrities but you're NOT ALLOWED to step on "the grave of the unnamed soldier". It's the gravestone honoring the millions of unnamed ordinary British soldiers who died on WWI.
greetings from finland. We just wanted to live in peace while ww2, but the luxyry to have so nice neighbors... we care about others business if it affects us directly. Like bombing our land etc. TY Tolkien, he makes me a lil bit prouder to be Finnish
My favorite scene of RotK is when they're about to charge the gates of Mordor, and right after Aragorn finishes his speech and says, "For Frodo." Merry and Pippin are the first ones to charge. It shows their heart, their bravery, and their gargantuan huevos.
You'd expect Gandalf to follow but no he charges forward after Gimli & Legolas who haven't seen Frodo in weeks & only knew him a short time. Also in the extended edition listen to Gimli's angry growl & look at Legolas' hate filled enraged glare at the Mouth of Sauron when he's talking about Frodo, you wonder which one would have killed him if Aragorn hadn't
@@SammytheTongue yep. Which makes people hating on Boromir so painful for him cuz if they actually paid attention he took an instant liking to them & was looking out for them
@@BigBWolf90 The only reason people should ever hate on Boromir is for trying to take the ring. Even then he redeemed himself by trying to fend off an assload of Uruks by himself and dying with three arrows in his torso in the process. I'd say he more than made up for his transgressions against Frodo
Logan Browning, the Boromir story line shows how an eeeant warrior often getsxthe option to perfirm extraordinarily, and redeem self. In the VietNam war, cerrain raducal bkack activusts sowed doubt and dussent among troops. They also did much worse. Their unofficial punishment was, in partolling, to take point in a march. That showed their strength, and obedience to the cause. Those who died in ambush from the enemy were called heroes. The surviving ones were accepted as equals. Biromir fought gallantly, and earned his heroic return to the great sea of his forefathers.
But doesn't the ring represent technology itself? And aren't we addicted to it? There's plenty of corrupted human races in Lord Of The Rings. Can't help but see that we have drifted that way as well.
@@JackSparrow-re4ql There are people who are evil, there are things which try to corrupt us, but at the end of the day, humans are good, correcting our past mistakes, leading to a better tommorow
@@jacobs8000 There's a Farside comic about hell where the devil says to his imp; "You know, we do a pretty good job, considering humans are basically good."
I think this is why I love Eowyn's story so much. I relate to the way she matured. She begins thinking that Aragorn is the greatest hero, a charismatic leader and a typical protagonist. She wants to bring glory to her people through war. But then as she experiences that darkness she comes to realise that healing and human goodness and peace are so much more important. And it's Faramir, who is somewhere in between the two, that helps her understand it.
A very astute comment. Eowyn learns to eschew fighting and become a gardener and, by the side of her husband, will restore Ithilien to productivity, beauty, and peace. She has her heroic triumph in battle--and it really is heroic--but then is able to transition to peacetime creative values.
@@elainechubb971 also, incidentally, she transfers from a masculine warrior archetype towards a nurturing feminine one - together with the world, a gardener at war (although capable, contrary to that saying) and later a warrior in the garden
@@DamianSzajnowski I think it's interesting that two of the most appealing characters in the book (and film) are both gardeners: Eowyn and Sam. Neither is a warrior archetype, both can fight in defense of their homelands and those they love, and both engage in a work of restoration of the virtues of peace and the blessings it brings. Sam becomes a warrior in defense of his friend, Frodo, and Eowyn defends her loved uncle and father figure against the Witchlord. What they have in common is being overlooked as heroes. Sam is young, working-class, unambitious, not "officer" material. Eowyn is supposed to play a domestic, supportive role in a masculine society--while feeling like a bird trapped in a cage (as Aragorn explains to Eomer). Perhaps some of Aragorn's appeal to Eowyn (apart from his heroic stature) is that she senses his empathy for her in her constrained role.
Elaine Chubb, Eowyn receives her battle earned name of Eowyn Of The Shield Arm. That makes her a very empathetic healer. That came from her contact with Aragorn/Elessar the king, who, by rights was a potent healer, himself.
This is, unironically, not just one of the best videos you've ever made, but it's one of the best analyses of Tolkien's philosophy and worldview I've ever seen. I tip my hat to you, good sir.
Yes, I have a Master's degree in philosophy and I must say this very "humanistic" analysis is incredibly well done. Deeper and more thoughtful than much academic philosophy. Thank you.
This view of Tolkien's works cuts deep when you remember he lived through the battle of the Somme. "Gentlemen are rare among the superiors, and even human beings rare indeed." Is a quote from Tolkien himself during WW1.
I just looked it up - one million were wounded or killed. Dang. My great grandfather fought in WW1. At one point he caught the deadly Spanish flu and by a twist of fate was spared from joining a battle where his entire squadron was killed.
This is an example of why the Rings of Power is destined to fail. They have no understanding of the creator of this world. They do not understand why the story works and have no desire to because “old white Christian hetero men bad.”
I think schnee seriously understates the influence of WWI on LotR. I see this story as a direct reaction to the grimness, brutality, and moral ambiguity of the Great War.
I think its Vigo's facial expression and line delivery that gets me...its so authentic. You can feel the respect, admiration and brotherly love as he delivers the line.
Viggo's acting in LOTR is unparalleled. I've never seen another actor deliver with as much graceful, emotional, and powerful masculine energy as Aragon had. Viggo didn't have to be taught to not act like a burly chump to be dark and heroic. He didn't have to be a broody dolt to be emotional and tragic. His softness was his edge. Aragorn cries at tragedy and cries at beauty. Viggo takes a tired and overplayed trope (wayward son buries the sins of his fathers and prevails over their darkness) and makes it into a polished masterpiece.
@@glumreaper8885 Viggo took the Aragorn of the books, who sometimes IS a little overly brooding, a little too "doomed" and "destined," and perfected him into the character I think Tolkien was going for (I suspect this is easier for a good actor to potray onscreen, having the tools of vocal inflection and facial expression at his disposal, than for even a very excellent writer to convey with words alone.) He deserves a lot of credit for bringing that character to life in a way that surpassed even the intentions of the author--in my opinion :)
Your comment on "hard times make strong men" is a REALLY good point. It's a coin flip if someone's struggles will make them better or worse. Some who have struggled hurt themselves, grow weak, or hurt others. Even if they want to create "easy" times, they may lack the knowledge or capacity to, possibly making things worse. (The road to hell is paved with good intentions.) Likewise, "easy" times don't automatically make you weak. It can also give you reflectiveness, awareness, and therefore AGENCY. I've had a much easier, more stable life than my friends. But BECAUSE OF THAT I'm in a better position to help. I have more money, energy, and resources than them. (Which technically leaves me better equipped to handle "hard" times.) The world is always shades of gray.
Yup. I find the "hart times make strong men, strong men, make easy times (etc...) very suspect. Some of the worst things to ever happen, including the two world wars were in part the consequence of men refusing to be humbled, to be seen as weak. It's also a phrase used by pretty unsavoury movements who whish for harder times, because they believe they would thrive in them, not recognizing that times are hard enough for everyone but the fortunate few already.
@@maximeteppe7627 Yeah. Quite honestly if hard times made strong men, then Africa would have all the wealth and power by now. They've got constant fighting, starvation, disease and many of the tribes live without any of the "easy" modern technology or ivory tower intellectual institutions. But instead they're on the bottom, not the top, while the countries full of supposedly "weak men" are doing way better. The real power from society tends to come from it's educated people. They're the ones developing the cutting edge technology and ideas that give them the edge. Glorifying the stupid tough guy is an awful mistake that I see far too many people make.
Well said. The belief that “strong men” is equal to repressing emotion and just “doin’ what needs ter be dern” is usually BS in my experience. There are times when you can’t allow yourself to feel in the moment, because someone is depending on you. But once the immediate crisis is over, you have to release that pent up emotion or it will build until it cripples your ability to handle further stress.
The way I had to pause this video to avoid bursting into tears. The Lord of the Rings is such an important story to me and hearing you delve into exactly _why_ it's so great touches my heart like nothing else could.
Hobbits are so important to me because as a person with a physical, VERY visible disabiliy (hello wheelchair), the last thing i ever feel is extraordinary. but a story like this will remind me that there's not much use in worrying about that.
I think it’s so powerful because it’s overloaded with so much humility and gratitude. Having everyone bow, so for once the Hobbits are ‘high’ is very symbolic. Their deeds make them big, and everyone recognises it.
I really loved this style with IRL footage! While I appreciate this perspective on fantasy you bring, I have a different take on the meaning of hobbits and the reason Aragorn bowed. Tolkien is not simply holding up the wholesome masses as the true humanity, but encouraging them that they can do great things without needing to become great. Personally, I think the worthiness of the hobbits is a bit more direct: the greatest courage is to stand up to evil *despite your own weakness*. Plenty of characters do heroic things in LotR, but the hobbits do these things despite their fear and lack of training. Merry rides into battle and stabs a Nazgul, Pippin defies a king and saves a prince, Sam solos an ancient spider and raids a Orc stronghold, and Frodo carries the greatest evil to its destruction. Yes, Gimli, Legolas, Aragorn, and the rest also did great heroic things. But, it's one thing for a powerful warrior to ride into battle and slay giants, it's quite another when it's a gardener. David was a great king who won wars, but he was at his most heroic as a young shepherd daring to face Goliath. That is why the great king kneels, not because the hobbits are wholesome, not even because they destroyed the Ring, but because they represent the highest form of courage: to persevere in the face of evil despite one's own weakness. Ultimately, I agree with your conclusion: Tolkien chooses small, ordinary people as his protagonists to encourage his readers that they can do great things no matter how small and weak they are. However, I would frame this courage not as simply remaining good, but as daring to *do* good despite one's weakness. That is the beautiful, everyday courage of hobbits.
Indeed. Very few people have the opportunity to be an Aragorn, Gimli, or Legolas. Even fewer will succeed. But we all can be a Frodo when facing our own demons. We all can be a Samwise Gamgee for those around us having moments on the slopes of Mt Doom. That was always what Tolkien meant to me.
Yes, this! Exactly! Thanks friend, you saved me the trouble of writing an essay. The video had many good points, but fell short with the hard times, and the whole darkness inside hard men thing. He misses the fact that Frodo carries great darkness throughout the journey and often (and ultimately) loses himself to said darkness. For that matter, none of the hobbits return from that journey free from darkness of their own. It's not about the purity, it never was about the purity. It was always about the courage.
Your videos make me cry & I struggle to properly explain why. something about your analysis is healing to me. It’s constructive, informed, and charitable. Without ever feeling naive. I guess as an artist myself, it’s so refreshing to hear a voice like this. A lot of media criticism is fundamentally anti-art. Thank you for your nuance and spirit 🙏
Being from Ukraine, I can not relate to this more. How important the battle inside the human heart is, how hard yet crucial it is to keep humanity amidst the evil and its horrors. Small people who make a big difference. You made a brilliant video, and every single thing you said can't be more true. Thank you so much for it.
Such a great analysis Your usage of “small person” made me think about a bit different thing. In Russian classical literature there is a term “small person”. It’s someone who possesses no property, no power and no moral values (because they can’t afford it). They are main characters of the stories that explore inability (and thus luck of desire) to make impact. It’s really fascinating that we chose to focus on that and not on the goodness that “small people” COULD possess. Though maybe the key is that hobbits’ life is good and they kind of can share this goodness with others (and so they possess some kind of moral power) and Russian “small person”’s life is (morally) miserable.
My memories of school literature are quite foggy, but I'd like to add that in Russian literature small people have another important side to them: they suffer a lot, suffer under the system and take it as a given. A couple of "small people" I can think of are characterized by naive, helpless kindness, they find a source of gentle joy in their joyless life, only for that source to be taken away (usually quite cruelly, usually by the system). This has little to do with hobbits, I just wanted to add to your comment a bit:)
The fact that this outlook on the "small people" exists in Russian culture - the association between power and morality - explains so much to me about current politics. Putin is afraid of being "small," so he makes himself as large as possible.
Good to know that apathy and learned helplessness isn't something that "poor oppressed russians" feel only under Putin today, but instead a national idea ingrained into their culture for literal generations. Really, really good to know
Haven't even started the video, but the part that really makes it for me is the heartfelt delivery of "My friends." Viggo completely gave himself over to the character of Aragorn in these movies.
I wish I could like this more than once. This brought a tear to my eye due to eloquently you explained it. "It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life"
To me, it has such an impact because we had three entire excellent movies to build up to it. The movies EARNED the impact. There was no tear-jerking or foreshadowing, no cheap gimmicks. You just saw them complete an epic journey and that moment felt like the crowning glory, the final acknowledgement that they accomplished something amazing that will live on for as long as tales are told.
Tolkien seems like he was such a lovely soul. I love the message you pointed out. I love everything about Tolkiens work, and having what makes it special put into such concise wording is really nice.
Gosh you reminded me of this quotes I forget who it's by!!!!!!! Through action, a Man becomes a Hero Through death, a Hero becomes a Legend Through time, a Legend becomes a Myth And by learning from the Myth, a Man takes action
I’ve also always found it fascinating that Pippin and Mary both got taller by the end of the story, but Sam and Frodo stayed the same. After everything the two had been through they were still small. But at the end of the day they were all bowed to equally.
I understand why Peter Jackson didn't include the Scouring of the Shire in the films, but I think it helps expand this theme. I loved that chapter as a kid, despite the apparent anticlimax, because it really showed how the hobbits had grown. I could relate to their heroism much more than the more fantastical characters.
I understand the symbolism, but I'm SO GLAD it was cut from the movie. Imagine watching them return home on screen for it to be completely burnt and in ruins. Yes, the message is SO important, but I just love seeing them round the corner into the lush green Shire, unchanged from War. But THEY'RE changed, and even though the home they come back to is the same, they will never truly be able to go back.
@@HiHi-lt1cb film is such a different medium from the novel, including the scouring in the movie would have completely messed up its rhythm despite how beautiful of a message it conveys. I also agree that it is beautiful seeing the alternative take on it where the place is unchanged but the hobbits are completely different... it creates a different kind of poignancy and more directly sets up Frodo sailing to Valinor
Hope you're in good health and feeling back to yourself! So thrilled to have you back, you're one of my favorite creators on this platform. It really shines through, the way you actually care about the stuff you make. Can't wait to see what you come up with in the future. cheers!
This video made me cry... thank you, schnee, I am going through a hard time and hearing that one of my all time favorite series had this kind of message gave me strength. "In times of crisis, the most heroic thing we can do it not give in to evil."
Oh my. I started watching this video because I urgently needed some escape from all the really bad news that's happening now in every part of the world . Instead, you got me thinking about why LOR and the Hobbits' roles in the story just really resonates with so many of us. You hit the nail on the head in pointing out how the smallness, wholesomeness, and lack of extraordinariness of the Hobbits in the face of pure evil made them the heroes we all connect with. I suddenly realized that in many ways we ordinary people are on our own Hobbits' journey into certain dangers, and it makes us feel powerless and fearful. I am sorry for the battles and hardships ahead for many of us, but I think you are right that its hanging onto wholesomeness and humanity that ultimately triumphs over evil and wins the day.
That bringing humanity back to humanity during the aftermath of WW1 really strikes me in a similar fashion to my favorite moment in ATLA when Iroh tells Zuko that in our darkest times, hope is something we give ourselves. Like that’s what makes the metaphorical fight between good and evil a choice, thus our doom isn’t inevitable.
Like Gandalf, Iroh was broken, then renewed, and passed his wisdom to others. Gandalf was broken through his death after defeating the balrog, and brought hope to his friends that death could be overcome. Iroh was broken after his son's death, and brought hope to Zuko that a father could show love and guidance.
Thank you for so masterfully articulating the significance and value of hobbits in such a cruel and power-driven world. This scene ALWAYS makes me cry and you shone a light on why! Stay safe!
If you boil down what a hobbit is, you get a good tasty soup. The trolls at least would be happy about this concept rundown. Thank you for the wonderful videos.They are fun, refreshing and reconstructing concepts of media I haven't looked at in a while.
Can't overlook the power of the music in this scene. It was with us for 3 movies and years, and it really hits home in this scene. Without it I don't think nearly as many would cry.
I’m going to have to watch this a dozen more times before I really internalize the magnitude of what you are saying. Man, what a video! I’m excited to see the rest of you trip and hear the rest of your ideas.
The Hobbits were literally meant to be something his children could relate to easily, its the whole reason they are portrayed with a childlike innocence and boundless love.
Oh my god, I've never thought of Tolkein like this! This video just completely changed an idea I've had for a while and I can't wait to write it. Your videos continue to impress and inspire. Can't wait to see more of this series.
Quite frankly, it’s the gravitas of Viggo’s delivery. So powerful and yet subtle at the same time. And there’s no question that if the king kneels, everyone is to kneel
This is an amazing video. It also comes at the time I really appreciate it. I'm currently fighting significant demons and an internalized evil aspect of an abusive friend I recently had. I so often want to give into temptation and seek power, become the manipulative and toxic person they claimed me to be, to do it and get what I want, but every day, I choose the battle in my heart to do good. To be good. I am good. Thank you
Here’s a little tip: you’re the villain, 99% evil. So, anytime you’re doing something good, it’s actually a huge victory. You’re the villain doing good. Not the saint doing evil. Natural man is enemy.
It's such a beautiful video and analyses, it's very inspiring and sweet, you celebrated small Hobbits, humanity, innocence and fighting small battles within yourself in uncertain times in this video
People often talk about this line but the one that always gets me is, "It is time, Frodo." Maybe that is connected to humanity as well, how we cannot always overcome our hurts, and how we must always eventually say goodbye.
I have watched the films on multiple times and I never thought about that message. Thank you for enabling us to enjoy more and in a new way this great story :)
Excellent analysis. IMO, The Lord of the Rings is the kind of story that could only have been written by someone who'd lived through war and seen the toll it takes on the goodness and kindness that we, as humans, are able to find within ourselves.
I’d argue that it’s not even about “not giving into evil”. It’s about *trying* your best not to give into evil. Frodo caves at the last second yet he did not fail. He did what was asked of him and tried his best
I think it makes you cry because its the realization that despite all the chaos that occurs during this entire epic tale, the Hobbits are the most important part of all of this, they are the glue that holds all of it together, being of such small stature, owing nothing to anyone in the world of Middle Earth in any capacity they make the biggest sacrifices. From Smeagol finding the ring first, it passing to Bilbo, and subsequently to Frodo, Merry & Pippin meeting Treebeard and all which came of that to Pippin journeying with Gandalf to Gondor & Merry to Rohan, the Hobbits are willingly & unknowingly tasked with protecting/hiding the ring from Sauron, and then fate ultimately taps them to be responsible for its destruction as well, even though Frodo seemingly decided that of his own free will. as if fate in its infinite wisdom has made this a concrete responsibility for the Hobbits. They are the true heroes of this entire sweeping epic story and Aragorn knows this, and pays homage to them appropriately as do the Elves to Bilbo and Frodo for "their part" as Frodo puts it.
I really enjoyed your take on "why hobbits". It actually is helpful for me, in looking at my latest depressive episode (which makes me look at my life). I so needed this at this time in my life. Thank you.
This is awesome. I love breaking down themes of writing. I haven't ever heard someone break down Hobbits as being wholesomeness in its extreme, nor about how it is exactly the fact that they are not extraordinarily that made them the correct heroes. The Ring brings out the (often dark) greatest attributes in people much like the super soldier serum from Captain America. "Bad becomes worse."
Wonderful video, I want to use this to explain to people why I love LOTR so much. I've also always loved how the big action star of the story (Aragorn) openly cries, reads poetry, kisses his friends, and (like you've so beautifully explained in your video) bows down to others smaller than him 😻
I always learn a lot with you, but this was my favorite analysis so far. This is such an important and necessary lesson - how we can be great heroes even (and even by) not being one of the "big people". Thank you!
I cry when Samwise starts to carry Frodo up Mt. Doom. I loved this video. You have, I believe, articulated the central theme of Tolkien's work. That theme is that it is often the ordinary people, the unsung heroes who are the ones that save the earth and who are able to defeat the enemy within. Tolkien saw these unsung heroes in the ordinary men who fought beside him during WW I. I look forward to your other videos.
Also said in the Hobbit (at least in the movie, not sure about the book), small acts of kindness keep evil at bay. That is what we need to keep in our heart and act upon.
Congratulations on 100k, and almost 150k. Like I’ve said before been here since the first arcane video and I’ve watched vid since. Kinda felt weird not seeing you in my recommended for the last month, but hope you’re back to 100% or at least close to it. Once again welcome back and congrats I’ll be looking forward to seeing more content in the future ❤.
Thank you! You have helped me understand myself better, why I am, att heart, a hobbit , and why that also makes me in my small, humble, unimportant life, a hero. I have been a Tolkien fan for 50 years, and now you, young man, have helped me to realize why.
This scene literally makes me cry every.single.time. Thank you for this wholesome analysis. I see it as great added value to understand why it gets me every time.
Seeing you show pictures from Sanderson's Cosmere makes me very happy. I don't expect you to ever cover his work in detail, but I like seeing Vin, Elend, Kaladin, and Syl in a video that I would not usually expect to see them in is very pleasant.
You’re videos are amazing! They help to understand great movies and series on a more analytical level that makes their emotional impact even more profound. This LOTR scene gets me every time 🥲 Thank you, you’re incredible!
Thank you so much for this. This is the reason Tolkien's world will always be my favorite fictional world, favorite books, and favorite movies. Tolkien is praised for many things in his creation of Middle-earth and its history and characters, and I've seen many people discuss whether his work can be matched by a new writer. People say his worldbuilding is unparalleled, people complain that his heroes are too cleanly good and his villains too cleanly evil (there isn't enough "gray" in his world), people marvel at the languages he invented. But none of that ever mattered to me as much as the goodness of Tolkien's heroes, great and small. I never enjoyed another story as much as his, and the reason was his heroes inspire me to be a better person, and nothing is as important as that. No other work of fiction turns me into the author's giddily proud mother when I see it praised.
Great video! Love that scene as well as a lot of interesting things are going on. Following Aragorn we come to the Hobbits who are still so humble and it's such a genuine humbleness that maybe we as people can't even achieve that. They seem to forget for a moment how to act and then rather innocently, take a clue from each other and all bow together. While we identify with the humans, we have seen these non-humans (outsiders in our world) risking their lives for us and I think that adds a great deal to the appeal. They could have stayed where they were and let the world pass them by, but they chose not to. On top of that, we see Aragorn at his pinnacle and despite him being king, he shows humility and recognizes that all life is saved because of the deeds of these little people. He rises to honor in the eyes of the readers and then at the end, he takes that honor and places it on the Hobbits. A lot of people are teary eyed for the Hobbits, but I think this also shows how great a man Aragorn is, and how well he will rule as a king.
I love this analysis! It crystallizes a lot that I've been thinking about, both regarding Tolkien and regarding life in general. Everything from the _Silmarillion_ through _The Hobbit_ is about how *greatness fails,* and then _The Lord of the Rings_ is about how *weakness triumphs.*
I’m so grateful that this channel exists. Every time a new video is posted, thoughts that have been brewing within me for years are clarified, and I have new words and knowledge that I can share with others. Thank you, thank you!
Amazing as always :) I love how you always manage to view Stories I am so familiar with from a different angle. And ask questions I never really considered. Every time I watch one of these Videos I get this weird feeling. Because while watching Lord of the Rings I knew how important that Scene was. I could practically feel it resonating with me and yet only now do I really ponder why. Thank you and keep up the great work. Wish you all the best
Frodo ultimately failed; were it not for Gollum the ring would not have been destroyed. But it was Frodo's (and Bilbo's) empathy that allowed the quest to succeed so, in perhaps a deeper sense, Frodo ultimately succeeded. Yet Frodo would have never succeeded without Sam, who had no pity for Gollum...I'm constantly amazed by the richness and depth of Tolkien's thought. This video was pretty amazing too 😄 I'd love to hear your analysis on the "failure" of the Fellowship.
i think that sam would have actually killed frodo because he knew that it had to be done. plus if you thought that your goal was to destroy the ring and knew that you didn't have enough food or water to get home and you didn't know that the orcs would mostly be killed in mordor then you might just assume that you were going to complete the mission even though you were going to die so if you already thought that you were both going to die then you might be able to kill him to make sure that you didn't die in vain. I know that a lot of people will not agree with this opinion, but it's just that, an opinion and you're free to have your own and state it and tell me why I'm wrong and try to convince me otherwise. After all, this comment is kind of doing that exact thing. anyways, this is by far the best trilogy i have ever seen and i doubt that there will ever be something like this in my lifetime because people seem to be drawn more towards spending the least amount of money to make the most amount instead of trying to make a good movie or book and trying to make things make sense and work instead of just doing what looks cool. You should always prioritize making a good movie or book or whatever and doing what the fans want before you worry about making a ton of money because the lotr did this and it was one of the highest profit movies of all time.
Tolkien's own opinion was that nobody had the force of will to overcome the temptation of the ring that close to Mount Doom so yes, ultimately it was Frodo and Bilbo's empathy that saved the day, long before the 'climax' of the story. Their day-to-day courage to be kind is what saves the world.
Great analysis. I think this plays on multiple levels: Aragorn is a metaphor for the christian ideal: he's the perfect man that you should strive to become, who everyone looks up to; that no real man is (he is part elf, part human part maiar!) He is the big hero who achieves all this greatness. In the end of the day, you as a human are imperfect, and you have to put yourself out of the path that was paved for you, to actively choose to do the right thing, every step of the way (that is, walk the path of salvation, for christians); to do the things that don't come naturally(easy) to you. You walk behind these great heroes knowing that you'll never reach what they are, yet you still do your best, no matter how little it seems to matter. So the true christian virtue comes from being imperfect, but making the effort to do good, as best as you can. What comes to the mind, is the story of a poor woman giving her last pennies to charity, versus the rich man giving a small part (which still is way more than what the woman gave) of what he doesn't need to charity; who in the end gave more?
I have never consumed any lord of the rings content but this makes me very interested in the series‼️ Amazing to have you back mr schnee :) ps you have great hair
By all means YES! I recommend the films first, just because, the books are soooo much deeper, that in some spots the films will leave you feeling like something you read should've been in there, but wasn't. Film is its own medium and NO FILM could ever hope to TRULY adapt the works of Prof. Tolkien. I've read all his books several times(re-reading Unfinished Tales now) but I'm ENVIOUS to you because you have yet to discover them. It's a long journey through his literary works. Take a walking stick and some waybread, and I'll meet you in Rivendell. The road goes ever on...
Galadriel: "Mithrandir, why the halfling?" Gandalf: "I don't know. Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I found. I have found that it is the small everyday deed of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? Perhaps because I am afraid, and he gives me courage.”
11:50 (ish) “the most heroic thing we can do in times of hardship is not give in to evil” perfectly sums up Tolkiens philosophy and the greatest take away from LotR.
This video made me really emotional. It's such a beautiful sentiment and you explained it so expertly and wonderfully. Thanks for making this. Man, this just makes me wanna go write fantasy stories
I think you really did a great job analyzing Tolkien's work, and this was a lot of fun. I would, however add one very important thing. Hobbits demonstrate that 'even the smallest person can make a difference." No matter how mundane you think you are, how 'ordinary', or how weak you believe yourself to be, YOU can make a difference... as you said, by not only refusing to give into to evil but to stand up to it.
Your video well done and appreciated! There are so many scenes and moments from this incomparable Trilogy that move me to tears each and every time, and Aragorn's ,"You bow to no one" proclamation is right there at the top. I look forward to the upcoming films in your series with great anticipation!!!
Thank you for making this, This is without a doubt the greatest scene in the greatest trilogy of all time. I love lord of the rings with all my heart, I grew up with the movies and action figures. I have a UC Glamdring hung over my pc as if it were over a mantle place. When I was old enough to comprehend reading the books I was blown away. These stories are timeless, they are legends by definition. To me, There is no fantasy world as fantastic as middle earth. I am happy to see others care so much about these movies and Tolkiens stories. I have uncontrollable emotions when when watching the movies today as a 26 year old man. Other stories or movies just don’t do the same for me, I grew up loving Star Wars as well but watching those movies today it is easy to see where the better story lies. Howard shores music score and the casting compliment Jackson and his teams dedication perfectly, there will never again be a labor of love even close to lord of the rings. That’s why the hobbit had more cgi, his team worked so hard on real sets out in the wilds of NZ to make middle earth in lotr come to life. They worked alot harder than anyone is willing to nowadays when you can just take the easy cgi route. A story so powerful deserves such dedication to be adapted. Crazy to me that certain a recent adaptation could be so far from the source material AND fall short of the previous adaptations even most minor of accomplishments.
The first half of the hobbits & humans section was so close to making me cry. You've hit the nail on the head for the meaning of the story and whats lacking from the modern outlook. Beautiful.
I love you for this video! You got to the heart of why I never felt the Hobbits were "lesser" when compared to the rest of the Fellowship. It's also beautiful that Aragorn calls the Hobbits his friends, signifying that they're on equal footing with the King of Men.
"Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love." -Gandalf. This is why Gandalf is the greatest and wisest of the istari. I also think that this viewpoint might have even come from Tolkien's time as a soldier. He fought in one of the most brutal wars in history, and he knows that while great warriors can do heroic deeds, the true heroes are the little folk, who simply wish to live a comfortable life and yet go above and beyond to make the world a better place.
I love this! It reminds me of the message of Everything, Evreywhere, All At Once, where, for al her dimension-hopping power, our protagonist finds the truest strength in the kindness that she can muster for the people around her.
I would also add that through hobbits Tolkien wants to point at true heroism, which is not always doing the greatest thing, but doing what requires the biggest sacrifice, and this heroism can be found in the common man as well. It is "easy" to be heroic when you are powerful (Aragorn, A Dreadnaught commander in WW2, Achilles, Aegon Targaryen) but doing so acknowledging that you are going to most likely die, because you are smaller, weaker yet you choose to do it because it is the right thing to do, that is true heroism at its core (Frodo, one of the little ships of Dunkerke, Hector, King Viserys entering the red keep in ep 8), and we recognise that sacrifice and pulls the strings of all our emotions creating a much bigger and more layered impact. Great commentary!!
It's so incredible that you took a snippet from the METAGAME documentary, Melee is one of my all time favorite games and it really has that aspect of wanting to live out those fantasies of being a hero and being victorious. Great citation and even better video.
I've been searching for this for a while now. I've been trying to put my finger on LOTR forever. I had figured out the hero's journey with aragorn pretty quick but I always felt like that was only part of the picture, and not the part that had me coming back to the series time and time again. But after watching this video I feel as though I know why now. Thank you for that
Aragorn is the epitome of masculinity. He stands up for the weak, protects something worth protecting, can forgive, is self-confident but not haughty, can admit mistakes and shows respect to others.
And in the book, he is also a healer - "the hands of the king are the hands of a healer".
@@sharontzu5 I would argue that healing is a widespreadly accepted masculine trait. Medicine/healing/nurturing is seen as feminine. If you meant that he isn't the "toxic masculine" macho action movie protag archetype then yes, absolutely. Kind and emphatetic yet disciplined, self sufficient yet not closed off and stoic. Lovely ruler
A description of what a true King should be
Absolutely. One of the best examples of positive masculinity in all media.
Aragorn's sendoff to a dying Boromir, in the book and films, shows a man that truly feels his beliefs and emotions deeply, and isn't afraid to express them. Although a very powerful man, both mentally and physically, he has a tenderness to him, that shows he is truly fighting for everything he loves, and is willing to risk everything on the razor's edge of good being triumphant, than for one second succumb to the idea that evil will prevail while he breathes.
He truly is one of the manliest men in literature and film. Dangerous, kind, intelligent, ruthless, trained, educated, travelled, artistic, noble, but has willingly lived lower than most poor common men.
He also gets himself a gorgeous, powerful elf-lass as his queen, so my man is also a mack.
This is why I love TLotR. It's not all massive wars and slaying dragons and climbing oliphants. It's having a quiet night at the pub, sharing a song on the road, and taking the time to reassure the reader that yes, the pony made it home safely.
I do love how this was expressed by Gandalf in the Hobbit film as well (he says something like it's the regular folk doing their best who keep the darkness at bay). It's the lasting sentiment from Galadriel's prologue monologue. Whether you like the hobbit or not, you have to admit that Jackson and the team working on both trilogies understood the spirit of Tolkien.
This is why the first quarter of the first book is spent in the Shire, showing the reader in intimate detail what was at stake. Humanity. This is what would be lost.
I'm just happy Bill made it back safe and sound. That pony was a champ.
Yep. Even I was so glad that Bill made it back to Bree from Hollin Gate
its totally funny that in german translation the pony is called "Lutz" cause it was bought from Lutz Farnrich (Bill Ferny in english version)
Tolkien fought in WWI. WWI had a lot Aragorns and Saurons, rallying cries, famous last stands, and drums in the deep.
But it was the hobbits, the ordinary little folk who believed in good, and who just wanted to go home, who won the war. Whose bodies littered the hills. And who, in the fullness of time, found when they got home that things could never go back to how they were before.
Loved the video, brought a tear to my eye.
I think it speaks volumes to Tolkien as a human being. He saw the very worst of humanity, and instead of taking away "people are bad", he saw the goodness in humanity. The entire LotR story is about how good triumphs and is worth fighting for. I could only hope to have such a positive worldview after seeing all of the terrible things he saw.
Yeah. He also lost his two best friends in the battle of the Somme, and then got deathly ill with trench fever and spent the rest of the war recuperating/relapsing. I feel like any dissection of hobbits misses the mark if it doesn't mention Tolkien's war experience.
You could argue that whole era is also an example of "hard men can create hard times" as well. It was the soldiers of that war who started the next one, though of course not all of them were to blame (and admittedly not everyone involved in the start of WW2 was a soldier in the previous war, but many were).
Yup. That's why, in Westminster Abbey, London, you can step on or walk over the burial sites of all great British kings, Queens, poets, artists, writers, scholars, politicians, celebrities but you're NOT ALLOWED to step on "the grave of the unnamed soldier". It's the gravestone honoring the millions of unnamed ordinary British soldiers who died on WWI.
greetings from finland. We just wanted to live in peace while ww2, but the luxyry to have so nice neighbors... we care about others business if it affects us directly. Like bombing our land etc. TY Tolkien, he makes me a lil bit prouder to be Finnish
My favorite scene of RotK is when they're about to charge the gates of Mordor, and right after Aragorn finishes his speech and says, "For Frodo." Merry and Pippin are the first ones to charge. It shows their heart, their bravery, and their gargantuan huevos.
You'd expect Gandalf to follow but no he charges forward after Gimli & Legolas who haven't seen Frodo in weeks & only knew him a short time. Also in the extended edition listen to Gimli's angry growl & look at Legolas' hate filled enraged glare at the Mouth of Sauron when he's talking about Frodo, you wonder which one would have killed him if Aragorn hadn't
@@BigBWolf90 I guess that shows the impact he and the other Hobbits had upon Gimli and Legolas.
@@SammytheTongue yep. Which makes people hating on Boromir so painful for him cuz if they actually paid attention he took an instant liking to them & was looking out for them
@@BigBWolf90 The only reason people should ever hate on Boromir is for trying to take the ring. Even then he redeemed himself by trying to fend off an assload of Uruks by himself and dying with three arrows in his torso in the process. I'd say he more than made up for his transgressions against Frodo
Logan Browning, the Boromir story line shows how an eeeant warrior often getsxthe option to perfirm extraordinarily, and redeem self. In the VietNam war, cerrain raducal bkack activusts sowed doubt and dussent among troops. They also did much worse. Their unofficial punishment was, in partolling, to take point in a march. That showed their strength, and obedience to the cause. Those who died in ambush from the enemy were called heroes. The surviving ones were accepted as equals. Biromir fought gallantly, and earned his heroic return to the great sea of his forefathers.
Reintroducing humanity back into humanity. That is such a beautiful sentiment.
But doesn't the ring represent technology itself? And aren't we addicted to it? There's plenty of corrupted human races in Lord Of The Rings. Can't help but see that we have drifted that way as well.
@@JackSparrow-re4ql There are people who are evil, there are things which try to corrupt us, but at the end of the day, humans are good, correcting our past mistakes, leading to a better tommorow
@@jacobs8000 There's a Farside comic about hell where the devil says to his imp; "You know, we do a pretty good job, considering humans are basically good."
@@JackSparrow-re4ql Yeah, I'm gonna need some context here
@@jacobs8000 I'm asking the question; 'Are humans basically good?'
I think this is why I love Eowyn's story so much. I relate to the way she matured. She begins thinking that Aragorn is the greatest hero, a charismatic leader and a typical protagonist. She wants to bring glory to her people through war.
But then as she experiences that darkness she comes to realise that healing and human goodness and peace are so much more important.
And it's Faramir, who is somewhere in between the two, that helps her understand it.
A very astute comment. Eowyn learns to eschew fighting and become a gardener and, by the side of her husband, will restore Ithilien to productivity, beauty, and peace. She has her heroic triumph in battle--and it really is heroic--but then is able to transition to peacetime creative values.
@@elainechubb971 also, incidentally, she transfers from a masculine warrior archetype towards a nurturing feminine one - together with the world, a gardener at war (although capable, contrary to that saying) and later a warrior in the garden
@@DamianSzajnowski I think it's interesting that two of the most appealing characters in the book (and film) are both gardeners: Eowyn and Sam. Neither is a warrior archetype, both can fight in defense of their homelands and those they love, and both engage in a work of restoration of the virtues of peace and the blessings it brings. Sam becomes a warrior in defense of his friend, Frodo, and Eowyn defends her loved uncle and father figure against the Witchlord. What they have in common is being overlooked as heroes. Sam is young, working-class, unambitious, not "officer" material. Eowyn is supposed to play a domestic, supportive role in a masculine society--while feeling like a bird trapped in a cage (as Aragorn explains to Eomer). Perhaps some of Aragorn's appeal to Eowyn (apart from his heroic stature) is that she senses his empathy for her in her constrained role.
Elaine Chubb, Eowyn receives her battle earned name of Eowyn Of The Shield Arm. That makes her a very empathetic healer. That came from her contact with Aragorn/Elessar the king, who, by rights was a potent healer, himself.
This is, unironically, not just one of the best videos you've ever made, but it's one of the best analyses of Tolkien's philosophy and worldview I've ever seen.
I tip my hat to you, good sir.
Thx!! I really appreciate it!!
I agree this is one of the best video essays I’ve ever seen on this platform. hands down.
@@schnee1 I can only wonder what new bombshell you're going to drop. Keep em coming, we're learning incredible things here.
Yes, I have a Master's degree in philosophy and I must say this very "humanistic" analysis is incredibly well done. Deeper and more thoughtful than much academic philosophy. Thank you.
We’ll said.
This view of Tolkien's works cuts deep when you remember he lived through the battle of the Somme.
"Gentlemen are rare among the superiors, and even human beings rare indeed." Is a quote from Tolkien himself during WW1.
I just looked it up - one million were wounded or killed. Dang. My great grandfather fought in WW1. At one point he caught the deadly Spanish flu and by a twist of fate was spared from joining a battle where his entire squadron was killed.
This is an example of why the Rings of Power is destined to fail. They have no understanding of the creator of this world. They do not understand why the story works and have no desire to because “old white Christian hetero men bad.”
I think schnee seriously understates the influence of WWI on LotR. I see this story as a direct reaction to the grimness, brutality, and moral ambiguity of the Great War.
I think its Vigo's facial expression and line delivery that gets me...its so authentic.
You can feel the respect, admiration and brotherly love as he delivers the line.
Viggo's acting in LOTR is unparalleled. I've never seen another actor deliver with as much graceful, emotional, and powerful masculine energy as Aragon had. Viggo didn't have to be taught to not act like a burly chump to be dark and heroic. He didn't have to be a broody dolt to be emotional and tragic. His softness was his edge. Aragorn cries at tragedy and cries at beauty. Viggo takes a tired and overplayed trope (wayward son buries the sins of his fathers and prevails over their darkness) and makes it into a polished masterpiece.
You can even feel his pain, hear it in his voice, see it in his eyes, after he broke a toe while kicking a metal helmet!
When Viggo speaks the dialog during these scenes, he's not acting-HE'S A KING! That's why I think it resonates and affects so much...
@@glumreaper8885 Viggo took the Aragorn of the books, who sometimes IS a little overly brooding, a little too "doomed" and "destined," and perfected him into the character I think Tolkien was going for (I suspect this is easier for a good actor to potray onscreen, having the tools of vocal inflection and facial expression at his disposal, than for even a very excellent writer to convey with words alone.) He deserves a lot of credit for bringing that character to life in a way that surpassed even the intentions of the author--in my opinion :)
I am so proud Viggo is from my Hometown
What never fails to make me cry (among so many other things on these films) is the "I would have followed you, my brother. My captain. My King."
Redemption through sacrifice is always a deeply moving plot thread.
@@rikk319 or self sacrifice for a greater good without a need for redemption
That has to be one of Sean Bean's "final last words" in any flick that he has "died" in.
HAIL! the victorious dead! Remember and never forget Boromir the Brave, son of Denethor! Be at peace, son of Gondor! Your King salutes you!
" in times of crisis the most heroic thing we can do is not give in to evil". Profound!
Your comment on "hard times make strong men" is a REALLY good point. It's a coin flip if someone's struggles will make them better or worse. Some who have struggled hurt themselves, grow weak, or hurt others. Even if they want to create "easy" times, they may lack the knowledge or capacity to, possibly making things worse. (The road to hell is paved with good intentions.)
Likewise, "easy" times don't automatically make you weak. It can also give you reflectiveness, awareness, and therefore AGENCY. I've had a much easier, more stable life than my friends. But BECAUSE OF THAT I'm in a better position to help. I have more money, energy, and resources than them. (Which technically leaves me better equipped to handle "hard" times.) The world is always shades of gray.
This ☝️
Yup. I find the "hart times make strong men, strong men, make easy times (etc...) very suspect. Some of the worst things to ever happen, including the two world wars were in part the consequence of men refusing to be humbled, to be seen as weak.
It's also a phrase used by pretty unsavoury movements who whish for harder times, because they believe they would thrive in them, not recognizing that times are hard enough for everyone but the fortunate few already.
@@maximeteppe7627 Yeah. Quite honestly if hard times made strong men, then Africa would have all the wealth and power by now. They've got constant fighting, starvation, disease and many of the tribes live without any of the "easy" modern technology or ivory tower intellectual institutions. But instead they're on the bottom, not the top, while the countries full of supposedly "weak men" are doing way better.
The real power from society tends to come from it's educated people. They're the ones developing the cutting edge technology and ideas that give them the edge. Glorifying the stupid tough guy is an awful mistake that I see far too many people make.
Well said. The belief that “strong men” is equal to repressing emotion and just “doin’ what needs ter be dern” is usually BS in my experience. There are times when you can’t allow yourself to feel in the moment, because someone is depending on you. But once the immediate crisis is over, you have to release that pent up emotion or it will build until it cripples your ability to handle further stress.
Yep Hard Times created both Batman and The Joker X_X
The way I had to pause this video to avoid bursting into tears. The Lord of the Rings is such an important story to me and hearing you delve into exactly _why_ it's so great touches my heart like nothing else could.
"I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are evil."
Hobbits are so important to me because as a person with a physical, VERY visible disabiliy (hello wheelchair), the last thing i ever feel is extraordinary.
but a story like this will remind me that there's not much use in worrying about that.
I think it’s so powerful because it’s overloaded with so much humility and gratitude. Having everyone bow, so for once the Hobbits are ‘high’ is very symbolic. Their deeds make them big, and everyone recognises it.
They bowed to the TALLEST people there. Chills.
I really loved this style with IRL footage!
While I appreciate this perspective on fantasy you bring, I have a different take on the meaning of hobbits and the reason Aragorn bowed. Tolkien is not simply holding up the wholesome masses as the true humanity, but encouraging them that they can do great things without needing to become great.
Personally, I think the worthiness of the hobbits is a bit more direct: the greatest courage is to stand up to evil *despite your own weakness*. Plenty of characters do heroic things in LotR, but the hobbits do these things despite their fear and lack of training. Merry rides into battle and stabs a Nazgul, Pippin defies a king and saves a prince, Sam solos an ancient spider and raids a Orc stronghold, and Frodo carries the greatest evil to its destruction. Yes, Gimli, Legolas, Aragorn, and the rest also did great heroic things. But, it's one thing for a powerful warrior to ride into battle and slay giants, it's quite another when it's a gardener. David was a great king who won wars, but he was at his most heroic as a young shepherd daring to face Goliath. That is why the great king kneels, not because the hobbits are wholesome, not even because they destroyed the Ring, but because they represent the highest form of courage: to persevere in the face of evil despite one's own weakness.
Ultimately, I agree with your conclusion: Tolkien chooses small, ordinary people as his protagonists to encourage his readers that they can do great things no matter how small and weak they are. However, I would frame this courage not as simply remaining good, but as daring to *do* good despite one's weakness. That is the beautiful, everyday courage of hobbits.
Fantastic comment.
Such an underrated comment. I love it! ♡
Indeed. Very few people have the opportunity to be an Aragorn, Gimli, or Legolas. Even fewer will succeed. But we all can be a Frodo when facing our own demons. We all can be a Samwise Gamgee for those around us having moments on the slopes of Mt Doom. That was always what Tolkien meant to me.
Yes, this! Exactly! Thanks friend, you saved me the trouble of writing an essay. The video had many good points, but fell short with the hard times, and the whole darkness inside hard men thing. He misses the fact that Frodo carries great darkness throughout the journey and often (and ultimately) loses himself to said darkness. For that matter, none of the hobbits return from that journey free from darkness of their own. It's not about the purity, it never was about the purity. It was always about the courage.
A beautiful perspective, couldn't agree more!
Your videos make me cry & I struggle to properly explain why. something about your analysis is healing to me. It’s constructive, informed, and charitable. Without ever feeling naive.
I guess as an artist myself, it’s so refreshing to hear a voice like this. A lot of media criticism is fundamentally anti-art. Thank you for your nuance and spirit 🙏
Healing is a great description!
Being from Ukraine, I can not relate to this more. How important the battle inside the human heart is, how hard yet crucial it is to keep humanity amidst the evil and its horrors. Small people who make a big difference. You made a brilliant video, and every single thing you said can't be more true. Thank you so much for it.
thanks for sharing this, powerful to hear this perspective from someone in your position
Stay strong!
Ukron nazi ?
@@hamzamahmood9565Stay good, despite the horrors you face.
Slawa Ukraine!
This scene is how you get an Oscar. Soul crushing moment thats so unexpected.
Such a great analysis
Your usage of “small person” made me think about a bit different thing.
In Russian classical literature there is a term “small person”. It’s someone who possesses no property, no power and no moral values (because they can’t afford it). They are main characters of the stories that explore inability (and thus luck of desire) to make impact.
It’s really fascinating that we chose to focus on that and not on the goodness that “small people” COULD possess.
Though maybe the key is that hobbits’ life is good and they kind of can share this goodness with others (and so they possess some kind of moral power) and Russian “small person”’s life is (morally) miserable.
Given how well educated Tolkien was I wouldn't be surprised if this was something he had in mind/got inspired by.
My memories of school literature are quite foggy, but I'd like to add that in Russian literature small people have another important side to them: they suffer a lot, suffer under the system and take it as a given.
A couple of "small people" I can think of are characterized by naive, helpless kindness, they find a source of gentle joy in their joyless life, only for that source to be taken away (usually quite cruelly, usually by the system).
This has little to do with hobbits, I just wanted to add to your comment a bit:)
The fact that this outlook on the "small people" exists in Russian culture - the association between power and morality - explains so much to me about current politics. Putin is afraid of being "small," so he makes himself as large as possible.
@@LincolnDWard I recommend a video by Kraut called something like "history of Russian authoritarianism."
Good to know that apathy and learned helplessness isn't something that "poor oppressed russians" feel only under Putin today, but instead a national idea ingrained into their culture for literal generations. Really, really good to know
Back in the day when the Tolkien universe had competent writers and actors. This is what makes me cry 😪
aside from Tolkien himself. Hel, even the books still make me cry. going on 30 plus years now and they still impact me.
@@olewyrdd 20 years for me. You aren't alone.
Haven't even started the video, but the part that really makes it for me is the heartfelt delivery of "My friends." Viggo completely gave himself over to the character of Aragorn in these movies.
Viggo possesses many of the qualities that made Aragorn an incredible character--he was the perfect casting choice.
i think he was just saying my friends because he really was great friends with the cast. it works either way
I wish I could like this more than once. This brought a tear to my eye due to eloquently you explained it. "It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life"
My family call me Samwise Gamgee quite a bit, for whatever reason. I don't think they realise it, but to me that is a HUGE compliment.
To me, it has such an impact because we had three entire excellent movies to build up to it. The movies EARNED the impact.
There was no tear-jerking or foreshadowing, no cheap gimmicks. You just saw them complete an epic journey and that moment felt like the crowning glory, the final acknowledgement that they accomplished something amazing that will live on for as long as tales are told.
Tolkien seems like he was such a lovely soul. I love the message you pointed out. I love everything about Tolkiens work, and having what makes it special put into such concise wording is really nice.
You could read his letters: you would find a lot about his soul.
Gosh you reminded me of this quotes I forget who it's by!!!!!!!
Through action, a Man becomes a Hero
Through death, a Hero becomes a Legend
Through time, a Legend becomes a Myth
And by learning from the Myth, a Man takes action
I’ve also always found it fascinating that Pippin and Mary both got taller by the end of the story, but Sam and Frodo stayed the same. After everything the two had been through they were still small. But at the end of the day they were all bowed to equally.
I understand why Peter Jackson didn't include the Scouring of the Shire in the films, but I think it helps expand this theme. I loved that chapter as a kid, despite the apparent anticlimax, because it really showed how the hobbits had grown. I could relate to their heroism much more than the more fantastical characters.
I understand the symbolism, but I'm SO GLAD it was cut from the movie. Imagine watching them return home on screen for it to be completely burnt and in ruins. Yes, the message is SO important, but I just love seeing them round the corner into the lush green Shire, unchanged from War. But THEY'RE changed, and even though the home they come back to is the same, they will never truly be able to go back.
@@HiHi-lt1cb film is such a different medium from the novel, including the scouring in the movie would have completely messed up its rhythm despite how beautiful of a message it conveys. I also agree that it is beautiful seeing the alternative take on it where the place is unchanged but the hobbits are completely different... it creates a different kind of poignancy and more directly sets up Frodo sailing to Valinor
Hope you're in good health and feeling back to yourself! So thrilled to have you back, you're one of my favorite creators on this platform. It really shines through, the way you actually care about the stuff you make. Can't wait to see what you come up with in the future. cheers!
This video made me cry...
thank you, schnee, I am going through a hard time and hearing that one of my all time favorite series had this kind of message gave me strength. "In times of crisis, the most heroic thing we can do it not give in to evil."
Your videos help me with writing more than anyone, truly a hidden gem in UA-cam
Oh my. I started watching this video because I urgently needed some escape from all the really bad news that's happening now in every part of the world . Instead, you got me thinking about why LOR and the Hobbits' roles in the story just really resonates with so many of us. You hit the nail on the head in pointing out how the smallness, wholesomeness, and lack of extraordinariness of the Hobbits in the face of pure evil made them the heroes we all connect with. I suddenly realized that in many ways we ordinary people are on our own Hobbits' journey into certain dangers, and it makes us feel powerless and fearful. I am sorry for the battles and hardships ahead for many of us, but I think you are right that its hanging onto wholesomeness and humanity that ultimately triumphs over evil and wins the day.
That bringing humanity back to humanity during the aftermath of WW1 really strikes me in a similar fashion to my favorite moment in ATLA when Iroh tells Zuko that in our darkest times, hope is something we give ourselves. Like that’s what makes the metaphorical fight between good and evil a choice, thus our doom isn’t inevitable.
Like Gandalf, Iroh was broken, then renewed, and passed his wisdom to others. Gandalf was broken through his death after defeating the balrog, and brought hope to his friends that death could be overcome. Iroh was broken after his son's death, and brought hope to Zuko that a father could show love and guidance.
Thank you for so masterfully articulating the significance and value of hobbits in such a cruel and power-driven world. This scene ALWAYS makes me cry and you shone a light on why! Stay safe!
If you boil down what a hobbit is, you get a good tasty soup. The trolls at least would be happy about this concept rundown.
Thank you for the wonderful videos.They are fun, refreshing and reconstructing concepts of media I haven't looked at in a while.
Can't overlook the power of the music in this scene. It was with us for 3 movies and years, and it really hits home in this scene. Without it I don't think nearly as many would cry.
I’m going to have to watch this a dozen more times before I really internalize the magnitude of what you are saying. Man, what a video! I’m excited to see the rest of you trip and hear the rest of your ideas.
The Hobbits were literally meant to be something his children could relate to easily, its the whole reason they are portrayed with a childlike innocence and boundless love.
Oh my god, I've never thought of Tolkein like this! This video just completely changed an idea I've had for a while and I can't wait to write it. Your videos continue to impress and inspire. Can't wait to see more of this series.
Quite frankly, it’s the gravitas of Viggo’s delivery. So powerful and yet subtle at the same time.
And there’s no question that if the king kneels, everyone is to kneel
This is an amazing video. It also comes at the time I really appreciate it. I'm currently fighting significant demons and an internalized evil aspect of an abusive friend I recently had. I so often want to give into temptation and seek power, become the manipulative and toxic person they claimed me to be, to do it and get what I want, but every day, I choose the battle in my heart to do good. To be good. I am good.
Thank you
Here’s a little tip: you’re the villain, 99% evil. So, anytime you’re doing something good, it’s actually a huge victory. You’re the villain doing good. Not the saint doing evil. Natural man is enemy.
The music too. The music is so absolutely gorgeous.
It's such a beautiful video and analyses, it's very inspiring and sweet, you celebrated small Hobbits, humanity, innocence and fighting small battles within yourself in uncertain times in this video
People often talk about this line but the one that always gets me is, "It is time, Frodo." Maybe that is connected to humanity as well, how we cannot always overcome our hurts, and how we must always eventually say goodbye.
Congrats! You're close to 200K already! As a animator I love hearing you talk story.
I have watched the films on multiple times and I never thought about that message. Thank you for enabling us to enjoy more and in a new way this great story :)
Excellent analysis.
IMO, The Lord of the Rings is the kind of story that could only have been written by someone who'd lived through war and seen the toll it takes on the goodness and kindness that we, as humans, are able to find within ourselves.
I cannot wait to see more of this. This is gonna be a wonderful, amazing stroll through the amazing world of Tolkien.
Didn't expect this to move me so much, thank you for all you do
I’d argue that it’s not even about “not giving into evil”. It’s about *trying* your best not to give into evil. Frodo caves at the last second yet he did not fail. He did what was asked of him and tried his best
I think it makes you cry because its the realization that despite all the chaos that occurs during this entire epic tale, the Hobbits are the most important part of all of this, they are the glue that holds all of it together, being of such small stature, owing nothing to anyone in the world of Middle Earth in any capacity they make the biggest sacrifices. From Smeagol finding the ring first, it passing to Bilbo, and subsequently to Frodo, Merry & Pippin meeting Treebeard and all which came of that to Pippin journeying with Gandalf to Gondor & Merry to Rohan, the Hobbits are willingly & unknowingly tasked with protecting/hiding the ring from Sauron, and then fate ultimately taps them to be responsible for its destruction as well, even though Frodo seemingly decided that of his own free will. as if fate in its infinite wisdom has made this a concrete responsibility for the Hobbits. They are the true heroes of this entire sweeping epic story and Aragorn knows this, and pays homage to them appropriately as do the Elves to Bilbo and Frodo for "their part" as Frodo puts it.
I really enjoyed your take on "why hobbits". It actually is helpful for me, in looking at my latest depressive episode (which makes me look at my life). I so needed this at this time in my life. Thank you.
Literally just finished watching this and this video gets recommended. Yes, I did tear up. The last 30min always gets me. Great analysis
This is awesome.
I love breaking down themes of writing. I haven't ever heard someone break down Hobbits as being wholesomeness in its extreme, nor about how it is exactly the fact that they are not extraordinarily that made them the correct heroes.
The Ring brings out the (often dark) greatest attributes in people much like the super soldier serum from Captain America. "Bad becomes worse."
Wonderful video, I want to use this to explain to people why I love LOTR so much. I've also always loved how the big action star of the story (Aragorn) openly cries, reads poetry, kisses his friends, and (like you've so beautifully explained in your video) bows down to others smaller than him 😻
I always learn a lot with you, but this was my favorite analysis so far. This is such an important and necessary lesson - how we can be great heroes even (and even by) not being one of the "big people". Thank you!
This was recommended to me all week, finally decided to watch this and this was absolutely incredible. Thank you for making this
Hobbits are somehow even farther from the uncanny valley than humans are
Well at one point humanity was about a head shorter. Maybe it's the right size afteral..
I cry when Samwise starts to carry Frodo up Mt. Doom. I loved this video. You have, I believe, articulated the central theme of Tolkien's work. That theme is that it is often the ordinary people, the unsung heroes who are the ones that save the earth and who are able to defeat the enemy within. Tolkien saw these unsung heroes in the ordinary men who fought beside him during WW I. I look forward to your other videos.
Also said in the Hobbit (at least in the movie, not sure about the book), small acts of kindness keep evil at bay. That is what we need to keep in our heart and act upon.
Congratulations on 100k, and almost 150k. Like I’ve said before been here since the first arcane video and I’ve watched vid since. Kinda felt weird not seeing you in my recommended for the last month, but hope you’re back to 100% or at least close to it. Once again welcome back and congrats I’ll be looking forward to seeing more content in the future ❤.
Thanks for the special video. It was a great analysis and the scenery made it even better. ❤️
Every damn time. 😭 There's a lot in the last movie that makes me cry out of grief, joy, hope.. and I really don't cry often.
Thank you! You have helped me understand myself better, why I am, att heart, a hobbit , and why that also makes me in my small, humble, unimportant life, a hero. I have been a Tolkien fan for 50 years, and now you, young man, have helped me to realize why.
This whole essay you made is glorious! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and can't wait for the rest of this series ^^
This scene literally makes me cry every.single.time. Thank you for this wholesome analysis. I see it as great added value to understand why it gets me every time.
Seeing you show pictures from Sanderson's Cosmere makes me very happy. I don't expect you to ever cover his work in detail, but I like seeing Vin, Elend, Kaladin, and Syl in a video that I would not usually expect to see them in is very pleasant.
Nice to see Rand and Loial make cameos, too. They need more love.
I think it comes from giving children/people a voice and showing them that they matter and can still make a difference in a big big world.
You’re videos are amazing! They help to understand great movies and series on a more analytical level that makes their emotional impact even more profound. This LOTR scene gets me every time 🥲 Thank you, you’re incredible!
Thank you so much for this. This is the reason Tolkien's world will always be my favorite fictional world, favorite books, and favorite movies. Tolkien is praised for many things in his creation of Middle-earth and its history and characters, and I've seen many people discuss whether his work can be matched by a new writer. People say his worldbuilding is unparalleled, people complain that his heroes are too cleanly good and his villains too cleanly evil (there isn't enough "gray" in his world), people marvel at the languages he invented. But none of that ever mattered to me as much as the goodness of Tolkien's heroes, great and small. I never enjoyed another story as much as his, and the reason was his heroes inspire me to be a better person, and nothing is as important as that.
No other work of fiction turns me into the author's giddily proud mother when I see it praised.
Greatest literary mind of our time IMO.
Welcome back!! Hope you’re feeling better and congrats again!
Great video! Love that scene as well as a lot of interesting things are going on. Following Aragorn we come to the Hobbits who are still so humble and it's such a genuine humbleness that maybe we as people can't even achieve that. They seem to forget for a moment how to act and then rather innocently, take a clue from each other and all bow together. While we identify with the humans, we have seen these non-humans (outsiders in our world) risking their lives for us and I think that adds a great deal to the appeal. They could have stayed where they were and let the world pass them by, but they chose not to. On top of that, we see Aragorn at his pinnacle and despite him being king, he shows humility and recognizes that all life is saved because of the deeds of these little people. He rises to honor in the eyes of the readers and then at the end, he takes that honor and places it on the Hobbits. A lot of people are teary eyed for the Hobbits, but I think this also shows how great a man Aragorn is, and how well he will rule as a king.
This analysis was both insightful and wholesome. Also, great message right before YK.
I love this analysis! It crystallizes a lot that I've been thinking about, both regarding Tolkien and regarding life in general.
Everything from the _Silmarillion_ through _The Hobbit_ is about how *greatness fails,* and then _The Lord of the Rings_ is about how *weakness triumphs.*
I love LOTR! So glad you were able to visit New Zealand. As always, your videos are greatly appreciated and I look forward to your upcoming videos!
I’m so grateful that this channel exists. Every time a new video is posted, thoughts that have been brewing within me for years are clarified, and I have new words and knowledge that I can share with others. Thank you, thank you!
Amazing as always :)
I love how you always manage to view Stories I am so familiar with from a different angle. And ask questions I never really considered. Every time I watch one of these Videos I get this weird feeling. Because while watching Lord of the Rings I knew how important that Scene was. I could practically feel it resonating with me and yet only now do I really ponder why.
Thank you and keep up the great work. Wish you all the best
I love this movie it will make me cry at least twice every viewing
Frodo ultimately failed; were it not for Gollum the ring would not have been destroyed. But it was Frodo's (and Bilbo's) empathy that allowed the quest to succeed so, in perhaps a deeper sense, Frodo ultimately succeeded. Yet Frodo would have never succeeded without Sam, who had no pity for Gollum...I'm constantly amazed by the richness and depth of Tolkien's thought. This video was pretty amazing too 😄 I'd love to hear your analysis on the "failure" of the Fellowship.
Also at the end it was Iluvatar the one who had to intervene
i think that sam would have actually killed frodo because he knew that it had to be done. plus if you thought that your goal was to destroy the ring and knew that you didn't have enough food or water to get home and you didn't know that the orcs would mostly be killed in mordor then you might just assume that you were going to complete the mission even though you were going to die so if you already thought that you were both going to die then you might be able to kill him to make sure that you didn't die in vain.
I know that a lot of people will not agree with this opinion, but it's just that, an opinion and you're free to have your own and state it and tell me why I'm wrong and try to convince me otherwise. After all, this comment is kind of doing that exact thing.
anyways, this is by far the best trilogy i have ever seen and i doubt that there will ever be something like this in my lifetime because people seem to be drawn more towards spending the least amount of money to make the most amount instead of trying to make a good movie or book and trying to make things make sense and work instead of just doing what looks cool. You should always prioritize making a good movie or book or whatever and doing what the fans want before you worry about making a ton of money because the lotr did this and it was one of the highest profit movies of all time.
Tolkien's own opinion was that nobody had the force of will to overcome the temptation of the ring that close to Mount Doom so yes, ultimately it was Frodo and Bilbo's empathy that saved the day, long before the 'climax' of the story. Their day-to-day courage to be kind is what saves the world.
Great analysis.
I think this plays on multiple levels:
Aragorn is a metaphor for the christian ideal: he's the perfect man that you should strive to become, who everyone looks up to; that no real man is (he is part elf, part human part maiar!)
He is the big hero who achieves all this greatness.
In the end of the day, you as a human are imperfect, and you have to put yourself out of the path that was paved for you, to actively choose to do the right thing, every step of the way (that is, walk the path of salvation, for christians); to do the things that don't come naturally(easy) to you. You walk behind these great heroes knowing that you'll never reach what they are, yet you still do your best, no matter how little it seems to matter.
So the true christian virtue comes from being imperfect, but making the effort to do good, as best as you can.
What comes to the mind, is the story of a poor woman giving her last pennies to charity, versus the rich man giving a small part (which still is way more than what the woman gave) of what he doesn't need to charity; who in the end gave more?
I have never consumed any lord of the rings content but this makes me very interested in the series‼️ Amazing to have you back mr schnee :) ps you have great hair
Absolutely watch the movies at least. The books are a tougher sell because they're so long, but I recommend both.
@@jodyrappin the ending of the books is deeper though in many ways because of stuff left out of the films. I recommend both.
By all means YES! I recommend the films first, just because, the books are soooo much deeper, that in some spots the films will leave you feeling like something you read should've been in there, but wasn't. Film is its own medium and NO FILM could ever hope to TRULY adapt the works of Prof. Tolkien. I've read all his books several times(re-reading Unfinished Tales now) but I'm ENVIOUS to you because you have yet to discover them. It's a long journey through his literary works. Take a walking stick and some waybread, and I'll meet you in Rivendell. The road goes ever on...
Galadriel: "Mithrandir, why the halfling?"
Gandalf: "I don't know. Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I found. I have found that it is the small everyday deed of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? Perhaps because I am afraid, and he gives me courage.”
11:50 (ish) “the most heroic thing we can do in times of hardship is not give in to evil” perfectly sums up Tolkiens philosophy and the greatest take away from LotR.
This video made me really emotional. It's such a beautiful sentiment and you explained it so expertly and wonderfully. Thanks for making this. Man, this just makes me wanna go write fantasy stories
Unquestionably the very best non-book scene in the movies. Yes! I cry every time.
I think you really did a great job analyzing Tolkien's work, and this was a lot of fun. I would, however add one very important thing. Hobbits demonstrate that 'even the smallest person can make a difference." No matter how mundane you think you are, how 'ordinary', or how weak you believe yourself to be, YOU can make a difference... as you said, by not only refusing to give into to evil but to stand up to it.
Pre-premiere comment: can't we already see your face in your old vlogs? Suspicious...
shhh..
its in my profile pic too..
@@schnee1 LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL Damn you totally got me there, out of a comedy skit that one
Your wisdom makes me cry, thanks for making these wholesome essays
Your video well done and appreciated! There are so many scenes and moments from this incomparable Trilogy that move me to tears each and every time, and Aragorn's ,"You bow to no one" proclamation is right there at the top. I look forward to the upcoming films in your series with great anticipation!!!
Thank you for making this,
This is without a doubt the greatest scene in the greatest trilogy of all time. I love lord of the rings with all my heart, I grew up with the movies and action figures. I have a UC Glamdring hung over my pc as if it were over a mantle place. When I was old enough to comprehend reading the books I was blown away. These stories are timeless, they are legends by definition. To me, There is no fantasy world as fantastic as middle earth. I am happy to see others care so much about these movies and Tolkiens stories.
I have uncontrollable emotions when when watching the movies today as a 26 year old man. Other stories or movies just don’t do the same for me, I grew up loving Star Wars as well but watching those movies today it is easy to see where the better story lies. Howard shores music score and the casting compliment Jackson and his teams dedication perfectly, there will never again be a labor of love even close to lord of the rings. That’s why the hobbit had more cgi, his team worked so hard on real sets out in the wilds of NZ to make middle earth in lotr come to life. They worked alot harder than anyone is willing to nowadays when you can just take the easy cgi route. A story so powerful deserves such dedication to be adapted. Crazy to me that certain a recent adaptation could be so far from the source material AND fall short of the previous adaptations even most minor of accomplishments.
The first half of the hobbits & humans section was so close to making me cry. You've hit the nail on the head for the meaning of the story and whats lacking from the modern outlook. Beautiful.
I love you for this video! You got to the heart of why I never felt the Hobbits were "lesser" when compared to the rest of the Fellowship.
It's also beautiful that Aragorn calls the Hobbits his friends, signifying that they're on equal footing with the King of Men.
"Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love." -Gandalf.
This is why Gandalf is the greatest and wisest of the istari. I also think that this viewpoint might have even come from Tolkien's time as a soldier. He fought in one of the most brutal wars in history, and he knows that while great warriors can do heroic deeds, the true heroes are the little folk, who simply wish to live a comfortable life and yet go above and beyond to make the world a better place.
Dude. This video is flipping amazing. Your thoughts and sentiments are truly wonderful. Thank you so much! I will show this to my students.
I love this! It reminds me of the message of Everything, Evreywhere, All At Once, where, for al her dimension-hopping power, our protagonist finds the truest strength in the kindness that she can muster for the people around her.
Very cool video. I’m looking forward to the series.
I would also add that through hobbits Tolkien wants to point at true heroism, which is not always doing the greatest thing, but doing what requires the biggest sacrifice, and this heroism can be found in the common man as well. It is "easy" to be heroic when you are powerful (Aragorn, A Dreadnaught commander in WW2, Achilles, Aegon Targaryen) but doing so acknowledging that you are going to most likely die, because you are smaller, weaker yet you choose to do it because it is the right thing to do, that is true heroism at its core (Frodo, one of the little ships of Dunkerke, Hector, King Viserys entering the red keep in ep 8), and we recognise that sacrifice and pulls the strings of all our emotions creating a much bigger and more layered impact. Great commentary!!
It's so incredible that you took a snippet from the METAGAME documentary, Melee is one of my all time favorite games and it really has that aspect of wanting to live out those fantasies of being a hero and being victorious. Great citation and even better video.
Thank you so much for this video.
It's incredible how insightful you are to human emotions and experience. And how wholesome.
I've been searching for this for a while now. I've been trying to put my finger on LOTR forever. I had figured out the hero's journey with aragorn pretty quick but I always felt like that was only part of the picture, and not the part that had me coming back to the series time and time again. But after watching this video I feel as though I know why now. Thank you for that