Many fantasy novels have been banned from bookshelves due to positive portrayals of magic being interpreted as problematic, and J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit are no exception. Tolkien’s high fantasy works are the forerunners of almost the entire fantasy genre as we know it today, but The Hobbit is actually much less an epic saga than a contained, fairy-tale-esque adventure aimed at children. Taking place earlier in the Lord of the Rings timeline and largely focusing on Bilbo Baggins’ personal journey and transformation, it seems less likely to be targeted by bans than its contemporaries.
Those who focus on what they think to be the dangerous elements of The Hobbit are missing out on the landmark tale of one Hobbit’s adventure, which teaches him about bravery and friendship. Additionally, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings’ religious allegories have not excused the books from being criticized on religious grounds. However, the history of book bans and burnings has unfortunately revealed that many similar books won’t sit well with someone when there are many different ways to interpret the text beyond the author’s obvious intention.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit Was Banned For Having “Satanic Themes”
“Witchcraft” In The Hobbit Is Still Occasionally Received Poorly
Both booktrib.com and bannedlibrary.com report that The Hobbit was pushed to be banned from public libraries due to its inclusion of “witchcraft and satanic themes,“ also referencing a prominent example in 2001 in Alamogordo, New Mexico, which also resulted in a Christian rights group having a book burning. While the book does not feature characters such as Saruman and Galadriel, who made it into the movie adaptations, it still highlights Gandalf as a pracтιтioner of magic, as well as Smaug as a malevolent, inherently supernatural figure. More overall world-building and themes are also likely what the complaints refer to.
The LOTR Books Are Banned For The Same Reason, But The Hobbit Is More Surprising
LOTR Features More Of What Is Probably The Cause For Tolkien Book Bans
The Lord of the Rings books have also been banned over the years, but it is easier to see why than with The Hobbit. There are more characters like Gandalf who practice what may be seen as dangerous “witchcraft,” and Gandalf’s own magic plays a larger role in the story. Galadriel is even seen by some peoples as an untrustworthy witch within the setting. Furthermore, the demonic motifs seen in figures such as Sauron, the Balrog, and other villains and monsters are also much more prominent, even if they are explicitly depicted as antagonist forces in the story.
In contrast, The Hobbit is a less magical tale than a grounded adventure that happens to take place in a magical world. Regardless, both The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings clearly display stories and themes about heroes fighting the forces of evil, which are evidently ᴀssociated with devilish ideology. Banning the books based on this might be missing the point of the story, but the other ways magic plays into the conflict perhaps make the line blurrier for some — and it is not as if this has limited Middle-earth’s influence on the cultural zeitgeist.
Source: booktrib.com, bannedlibrary.com
The Hobbit
- Created by
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Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro
- First Film
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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
- Latest Film
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The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
- Cast
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Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Lee Pace, Orlando Bloom
Summary
The Hobbit film series is a fantasy adventure trilogy directed by Peter Jackson, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel The Hobbit. Set 60 years before The Lord of the Rings, the films follow Bilbo Baggins’ quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug. The series grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide and is known for its elaborate visuals and epic storytelling.
