tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169740113013066976.post6385800291798769279..comments2024-02-10T12:12:06.028+00:00Comments on The Real Blog: OK, whose side was Tolkien on?David Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410159311875228620noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169740113013066976.post-9291262167367811152021-06-14T19:15:38.468+01:002021-06-14T19:15:38.468+01:00I agree that Pearce is probably correct. I don...I agree that Pearce is probably correct. I don't see how anyone can read Tolkien and assume capitalism. If one thoughtfully reads the explanation of Farmer Cotton to Frodo and Sam about how it all went down, one gets the feelings that Tolkien is saying rampant capitalism leads to socialism.<br /><br />Lotho Sackville-Baggins started it all and that he originally owned “a sight more than was good for him”, suggesting Tolkien believed there ought to be a limit to the amount of property one acquires. Along with this, “he was always grabbing more”, suggesting Tolkien believed it wrong to acquire more when you already have too much. Furthermore, “at first goods were paid for”, as a good capitalist will do, at least at first. But soon enough property was eventually consolidated into the hands of one man. At that point he has enough power to stop pretending to play by any moral rules and is soon a despot. Force is more easily used against the people because freedom has already been lost due to loss of property.<br /><br />To me it's telling that Witt and Richards completely ignore this passage of the Scouring of the Shire.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11092962187405828643noreply@blogger.com