European International Journal of Philological Sciences
49
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TYPE
Original Research
PAGE NO.
49-51
DOI
OPEN ACCESS
SUBMITED
23 March 2025
ACCEPTED
19 April 2025
PUBLISHED
21 May 2025
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue 05 2025
COPYRIGHT
© 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms
of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License.
Material Value Concepts in
J.R.R. Tolkien's Fantasy
Nargiza Burieva
Associate professor, PhD, Jizzakh state pedagogical university, department
English theory and practice, Uzbekistan
Abstract
: J.R.R.
Tolkien’s works, primarily The Lord of
the Rings and The Hobbit, are not only celebrated for
their complex narratives and mythological depth but
also for the subtle exploration of material values.
Throughout his fantasy universe, Tolkien weaves rich
commentary on the nature of wealth, the moral
implications of material possession, and the societal
structures formed around material goods. This article
delves into how material value is portrayed in Tolkien’s
legendarium, analyzing its thematic significance, its
impact on characters and societies, and how Tolkien's
own historical and philosophical context shaped these
ideas.
Keywords:
Material value, J.R.R. Tolkien, Middle-earth,
One Ring, greed, Dwarves, treasure, Elves, Silmarils,
Hobbit, Shire, industrialization, wealth, power,
corruption.
Introduction:
J.R.R. Tolkien's works, particularly those
set within Middle-earth, often engage with themes of
power, greed, and the corrupting influence of material
wealth. Through his detailed world-building, Tolkien
offers a nuanced exploration of material value,
presenting objects of significant symbolic and practical
importance. This paper examines how Tolkien
addresses the concept of material wealth and its moral
implications, reflecting his personal beliefs on
industrialization, spirituality, and the human condition.
Central to this investigation is the question of how
material goods, be they gold, jewels, or land, shape the
destinies of individuals and entire civilizations within
Tolkien’s works.
METHODS
The most obvious and potent symbol of material value
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in Tolkien’s mythology is the One Ring, a physical
object that possesses not only immense power but also
a corrosive influence on its possessors. [2, 4] The Ring
represents the corrupting power of greed and the
overwhelming desire to control and possess. It is a
material object imbued with dark magic, turning its
bearer’s desires into compulsive, destructive actions.
The transformation of Smeagol into Gollum, driven by
his obsession with the Ring, is perhaps the clearest
illustration of Tolkien’s view on the dangers of material
greed.
The Ring’s materiality is not just as a physical object but
also as a metaphor for the illusory and ultimately
hollow nature of material wealth. Tolkien’s portrayal of
the Ring as a symbol of ultimate power points to his
critique of materialism and the human tendency to
value possessions over relationships, integrity, and
moral character. [5]
In contrast to the malefic power of the One Ring,
Dwarven culture is deeply centered around material
wealth, particularly in the form of precious metals and
gemstones. The Dwarves of Erebor, under King Thorin
Oakenshield, are portrayed as a people whose societal
structure and values are heavily influenced by the
pursuit of material wealth. The Lonely Mountain, with
its vast hoard of treasure, is a central focal point in The
Hobbit, symbolizing both prosperity and corruption.
[1]
Thorin’s descent into obsession with the treasure,
leading to his eventual downfall, mirrors the same
themes of greed and materialism that the One Ring
embodies. However, the Dwarves' relationship with
material goods is more complicated than simple greed.
It is entwined with a sense of honor, legacy, and
identity, yet it ultimately leads to strife, war, and
tragedy. This duality reflects Tolkien's understanding
of the tension between the legitimate pursuit of
wealth and the destructive force of an unrestrained
desire for it.
In stark contrast to the opulence and material struggles
of other regions in Middle-earth, the Shire represents
an idyllic agrarian society that values modesty,
simplicity, and community over wealth. Hobbits, with
their peaceful, rural lives, have little interest in
material conquest. Their wealth is defined not by gold
or jewels but by the health of their crops, the quality of
their food, and the closeness of their familial bonds.
Tolkien, who had a strong disdain for the
industrialization of England, used the Shire as a model
of a pastoral, pre-industrial society, one where
materialism has not corrupted the inhabitants. Yet,
even in the Shire, there is an awareness of material
wealth, such as the subtle competition between
families (e.g., the rivalry between Bilbo and the
Sackville-Bagginses), which reflects the less overt but
still present nature of material values.[4]
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The Elves are perhaps the most complex representation
of material value in Tolkien’s works. Unlike the Hobbits
or the Dwarves, Elves possess an understanding of both
the temporal and the eternal, being inextricably linked
to the natural world and its beauty. Yet, even they are
not immune to the corrupting allure of material wealth.
This is evident in the tale of the Silmarils, the three
radiant jewels crafted by the Elf Fëanor, whose desire to
possess and control these jewels leads to ruin, war, and
betrayal.
The Silmarils symbolize the tension between the pursuit
of material beauty and the perils of obsession. While the
Elves are depicted as having a higher understanding of
beauty and the natural world, their fallibility is shown in
their attachment to physical objects of beauty and their
desire to hoard what cannot be truly owned. In this way,
Tolkien critiques both the idealization of material
possessions and the failure of even the noblest races to
resist their pull.
Tolkien’s personal experiences, particularly his disdain
for industrialization and his nostalgic longing for a
simpler, pre-industrial world, are woven into his
representation of material value. [1, 3] He grew up
during a time of rapid industrial change in Britain, and
his works often reflect a critique of the damaging effects
of industrial progress, especially its degradation of
nature and the loss of spiritual values in the pursuit of
material wealth.
The destructive consequences of industrialization are
symbolized in the character of Saruman, whose lust for
power leads him to exploit the land and its resources for
his own gain, using industrial methods to ravage the
environment. Saruman's manipulation of nature reflects
Tolkien’s belief that mater
ialism, when taken to
extremes, leads to the destruction of the very things
that give life meaning
—
beauty, community, and the
natural world.
CONCLUSION
J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy works provide a rich,
multifaceted commentary on the nature of material
value. From the corrosive influence of the One Ring to
the wealth-obsessed Dwarves and the idealized
simplicity of the Shire, Tolkien’s exploration of material
wealth serves as a profound critique of industrialization,
greed, and the human tendency to prioritize
possessions over spiritual and communal values.
Ultimately, Tolkien’s legendarium suggests that while
material goods hold a place in human society, they must
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European International Journal of Philological Sciences
not be allowed to overshadow more enduring and
meaningful pursuits, such as friendship, honor, and a
harmonious relationship with nature.
In Tolkien’s world, the true value of material wealth is
not in what it can buy or how it can elevate one’s
status, but in how it is used and the impact it has on
the bearer and their world. The tension between the
corrupting power of materialism and the ideal of a
simpler, more spiritually aligned life forms the
backbone of many of his most enduring themes.
REFERENCES
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit. George Allen & Unwin,
1937.
Pages: 310, UK.
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings. George Allen &
Unwin, 1954-1955.
Pages: 1,200 (total for all three volumes), UK.
Shippey, T.A. The Road to Middle-earth: How J.R.R.
Tolkien Created a New Mythology. Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt, 2003.
Pages: 464, USA.
Garth, John. Tolkien and the Great War: The Threshold
of Middle-earth. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2003.
Pages: 416, USA.
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. Edited by
Humphrey Carpenter, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt,
1981.
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