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The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien - Barron's Booknotes
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The destruction of Sauron coincides with the beginning of
spring, which has long symbolized spiritual renewal.
Tolkien makes many references to renewal and to the end
of barrenness. Frodo himself, now free of the Ring, seems
to have recovered his old sense of gaiety. An eagle
announces Sauron's fall to the people of Minas Tirith with a
song that sounds almost like a Christian psalm referring to
the resurrection of Christ. Eowyn experiences a rebirth of
sorts, when she falls in love with Faramir. She no longer
desires death or glory in battle. Instead she wants to be a
healer "and love all things that grow and are not barren."
As a final symbol of the end of barrenness, Aragorn finds a
sapling to replace the white tree of Gondor that had stood
withered in the courtyard for so long.
This is a time of triumph for Aragorn. He is crowned king
of Gondor and marries Arwen, Elrond's daughter. But there
is an element of tragedy mixed in with his joy. To marry
him, Arwen has had to give up immortality. She is now
doomed to die and so is forever separated from her father
and her brothers, who will pass over to the Blessed Realm
and live there. Besides this personal loss, Aragorn also
feels the loss of many beautiful things, such as Lorien,
which will pass with the destruction of the Ring. This
mixture of tragedy with joy is characteristic of Tolkien.
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