The Return of the King

Being the Third Book of the Lord of the Rings

by JRR Tolkien

‘The Return of the King’ can be summed up purely on the title of the book. It is quite literally the return of the initiate Strider to his rightful place as King of Middle Earth. It also alludes to the dignity that Sam and Frodo discover as they overcome the axis of evil in Mordor.

Simple Hobbits Just Right for the Job

This, the final book in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, is as much about reclaiming royalty and one’s absolute value as it is about the power of love and voluntary simplicity. Now simplicity here does not mean simple-minded, it rather means the ability to see the world with clarity, without the complexity of over analysis and intellectual paralysis.

Sam Gamgee in the end is able to overcome and assist Master Frodo destroy the ring; because he is able to acknowledge the practical magic and meaningful beauty in the simple gifts of a good life. It is for this very reason that Sam is not as easily swayed by the axis of evil in the ring. Remember hobbits are only really interested in celebration, eating and the simple life.

Similarly the King himself has become deeply accustomed to the simple life of a ranger. He has spent his whole life in the wilds, living off whatever is available. Aragorn is the perfect characterization of the Initiate. He has faced the harsh aspects of life, and wields a dignity and humility that is sorely lacking in modern day leadership style. He leads not because of megalomania or greed, he leads because he is a leader, and if he were not to lead, his destiny would be unfulfilled.

The Song of Your Heart

Aragorn’s battle is to acknowledge and own his royalty. His challenge is to let go of his temperance which has lasted almost an entire human lifetime. He has to acknowledge that he is ready to sing the true song of his heart. This is a challenge that all people must face when they are ready to embrace a life that is in line with their own self defined destiny.

For the Tropic of Freedom Books Finders Keepers:
Are you aware that there is something more to you than meets the eye, something that you have hidden from yourself and from others your entire life?

That something is the song of your heart, and like Aragorn and many of the other characters in the book, if you do not begin singing that song your world will be so much poorer for it. In fact your world may be lost if you do not take the time to re-discover and begin singing that song.

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