Lord of the Rings as a political narrative

[mariana_lastovyria]

Did you know that characters from the Tolkien's world are used in Russian-Ukrainian war to consolidate national moral by Ukraine to stay resilient during the terrible times?

My name is Mariana, I am a journalist of an American newsletter, 'The Counteroffensive,' and working on the article about such phenomenon I discovered that it started long before 2022.

Today, Russians are often portrayed as orcs which are inhuman, brutal invaders wreaking havoc on another nation's people. However, comparisons between Mordor and Russia go back to the Soviet era, when the regime considered Tolkien's literature politically threatening. The USSR banned Tolkien's books because they saw the orcs as an analogy for the Soviet people.

If you are interested in more details, in our story we dive into the history of Tolkien’s universe in Russia, stretching to the mid-20th century and extending to the current war in Ukraine. You can read here: https://www.counteroffensive.news/p/lor ... raines-war.

I am genuinely interested in discussion about such analogies. Is it fair, in your opinion, to associate Sauron with Putin and Mordor with Russia? Or, maybe, you have other associations?

[swords king]

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[Bohr]

Literary analogies reflect a broader human tendency to seek meaning and understanding through storytelling, especially in times of crisis... Bit It's important to consider the complexities of such comparisons. I agree with you, that the idea that orcs represent inhumanity and brutality matches with the perception of aggressors in the current conflict.
Though such comparisons may oversimplify the nuances of the situation and the diverse motivations of individuals within any nation.