diana

I’m going based off of the movies, but this series is amazingly progressive. Obviously, women, people of colour, and the LGBTQ+ community are extremely underrepresented in Lord of the Rings, which is disappointing, but the male characters portray some powerful positive messages. 

1. Men emotionally supporting each other. There are various times when characters, especially the Hobbits, take the time to look after one another and be grateful for each others’ company. They talk about their feelings and express their emotions, and are met with compassionate listening and understanding. There are also examples of characters helping each other grieve, like when Gandalf comforts Theoden King after he lost his son. 

2. Strong brotherhood. The very foundation of this series is loving relationships between men. The relationship between Frodo and Sam, Merry and Pipin, Gimli and Legolas, and Boromir and Aragorn are all relationships full of mutual compassion and respect. Men relying on, protecting, and caring for each other is what ultimately wins the war against Sauron and destroys the Ring. 

3. Physical intimacy between men. This series does not shy away from physical intimacy between male characters, including strong embraces and forehead kisses. 

4. Even the small can be great. LOTR reminds us that even small, seemingly insignificant people like the Hobbits can achieve great things. It tells us not to underestimate anyone. 

5. Eowyn. Let’s not forget how Eowyn from Rohan was super underestimated for being a woman and ended up being the only one capable of slaying the Witch-King and killed a freaking dragon by herself. She protected Merry and did not underestimate him, but encouraged him to stand up for his beliefs.

6. Portrayal of Mental Illness. Although not explicitly stated, it is clear that Frodo suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after carrying the Ring across Middle-Earth and enduring a lot of suffering on his quest. He struggles to deal with the psychological pain of his journey and seeks relief by travelling to the Undying Lands.