Lord of the Rings is more than mythology

Lord of the Ring, by J.R.R. Tolkien, has always had a rather devout following, even though the books weren't seriously considered in mainstream culture. And while the movies certainly had a strong and vocal fan base, they are regarded as weird, and cultish.

I have a theory that I think explains the long-standing popularity of these books: while the places and stories are fantasy and excitement, the characters are realistic in their personalities and quirks. In other words, they are not perfect, and so we can all relate to them.

I'll start with the main character, Frodo. He is to be admired for his courage and willingness to do what's right, despite the dangers of which he is aware. However, he's annoying. He whines too much about what's going on, and does some pretty stupid things when it comes to the ring. In this case, I guess you could say that he gives in too easily to temptation. He is never happy. When he finds he must leave, he longs for the Shire despite his constant complaints about the inhabitants while he lives there.

Gimili and Legolas both have their prejudices, and are not able to get over them for awhile, a problem that was certainly evident in Tolkien's time, and no less today. However, they become friends, and still continue to tease each other, as I have done with my friends. Legolas is also pretty full of himself, and this leads him to talk more extensively about himself than anyone would really care to hear.

Gandalf, of course, has a short temper, coupled with his infinite wisdom, makes him very impatient. Even his fellow characters know it. However, unlike our world, he is revered as well as feared for it. Here, people tend to simply be annoyed by such traits.

Aragon, in my opinion, is a know-it-all. He also carries a “holier than thou” attitude. When he first meets the hobbits, he openly admits his doubts in their strength and says they could never survive what he has. And what kind of boyfriend let's his girl give up immortality just for him? I know all the romantics are thinking, “But she'll never love like that again!” Chances are, if she lives forever, she will.

Although most readers are tempted to dislike Boromir, I always found a good deal of empathy for him. Yes, he falls victim to temptation, but which of us wouldn't? He does it out of love for his city, something which I think is underestimated these days. And of course, there is his disfuctional family. He is the favorite, but he loves his brother, and always tries to stand up for him, usually failing. In his case, being the favorite seems like more of a curse than a blessing. He is also unusually suspicious in a story where people fear only the single enemy. Everyone else is considered a friend. But Boromir finds more suspcion where the other characters don't worry. I find that to be believable.

Merry is a somewhat quieter character, but still important. He, like other hobbits, is not big on travel and adventures, but is more than willing to take part for the sake of his friend.

Pippin serves as mostly comic relief in the movies, but he is deeper than that in the books. He reminds readers of a little kid, asking stupid questions, and being generally obnoxious.

I saved my favorite character for last: Sam. Sam is loyal, a trait I certainly wish were more evident in our world, where friends trick you into saying three just so they can punch you. But, as for his drawbacks, he's a pushover. If he had a Facebook account, he'd be in the group, “I apologize for things that aren't remotely my fault.” He never stands up for himself, even though he's brave enough to fight a giant spider.

Although I've never been a huge fan of the books or the movies, what I find most appealing about them is the reality in all the characters, despite being based on Norse mythology. We all know people who look down on others, or loose their tempers too quickly. But when we read about characters like that, their traits become endearing. We like the books because the characters do not seem so much better than us.

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