Unfiltered Representation of Humanity in Fantasy Fiction: A Comparative Analysis of The Lord of the Rings and A Song of Ice and Fire

This essay explores the theme of unfiltered representation of humanity in The Lord of the Rings and A Song of Ice and Fire. It analyzes how the major characters offer an insight into the true nature of human beings and reveal the dilemma they face because of the need to live as per the entities of honor, respect, loyalty and others.

Running head: SPECULATIVE FICTION ESSAY
Speculative Fiction Essay
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1SPECULATIVE FICTION ESSAY
As opined by Young (2016), the cannon of fantasy fiction had emerged as one of the
most important ones within the cannon of contemporary Literature and is being extensively
being used by the different authors as a sieve through which they can give voice to the
ancient myths. Waysdorf and Reijnders (2017) are of the viewpoint that the .literary works
related to the genre of fantasy fiction often contains a plot that is practically impossible in the
real lives of the human beings or atleast in the dimension in which they live. As argued by
Genz (2016), one of the major reasons for the extensive popularity which this genre of
literature has gained in the contemporary times is because of the escape from the harsh
realities of modern life that the fantasy fictions offers to the human beings. Two of the
fantasy fictions that have gained much popularity in the recent times are “The Lord of the
Rings” of J. R. R. Tolkien and “A Song of Ice and Fire” of George R. R. Martin. A common
aspect between both of these works and the theme which has made both of these literary
works extremely popular among the readers is the fact that they offer an unfiltered
representation of the humanity. This essay will explore the theme of unfiltered representation
of humanity in the above mentioned two literary works.
“The Lord of the Rings” of J. R. R. Tolkien written between 1937 and 1949 is a
fantasy fiction which represents the fight between the good and the evil (Tally, 2016). The
book as a matter of fact is one of the highest selling literary works of all times having sold
more than 150 million copies and recently have even been made into a motion picture
(Chance, 2016). The book represents the fight for power between Men, Elves, Dwarves and
the evil Sauron (Schmeink, 2016). The fulcrum point of the book is the manner in which the
ring which was once worn by Sauron and was the main source of his power is being
destroyed by the hobbit Frodo Baggins (Wilkins, 2016). In a way, it can be said that Frodo
plays one of the most important parts in the book since although the other characters of the
novel in their own way fight against the evil powers of Sauron yet it he who ultimately

2SPECULATIVE FICTION ESSAY
defeats him by destroying his ring (Tally, 2016). A casual reading of the book would reveal it
to be just an ordinary epic related to the theme of good and evil and the ultimate victory of
good over evil. However, at the same time, it needs to be said that a critical analysis of the
same work would reveal different facets of human nature and even offer an unfiltered
glimpse of the human nature. Chance (2016) is of the viewpoint that this is perhaps one of the
major themes of the work under discussion here and almost all the characters of the work and
their portrayals are redolent with this theme. For example, on the one hand, there is Frodo
who although takes the onus for the destruction of the Ring yet there are various points in the
book wherein he has the temptation to dispose the ring and also to disregard his duty as the
protector of the ring (Schmeink, 2016). On the other hand, there are other characters in the
work as well who also show this dilemma that the common humans often face and by means
of this offer an unfiltered glimpse into the true nature of the human beings.
“’I don’t like anything here at all.” said Frodo, “step or stone, breath or bone. Earth, air and
water all seem accursed. But so our path is laid.’
‘Yes, that’s so,” said Sam, “And we shouldn’t be here at all, if we’d known more about it
before we started. But I suppose it’s often that way. The brave things in the old tales and
songs, Mr. Frodo, adventures, as I used to call them……But that’s not the way of it with the
tales that really mattered, or the ones that stay in the mind. Folk seem to have been just
landed in them, usually their paths were laid that way, as you put it. But I expect they had lots
of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn’t….But those aren’t always the best tales
to hear, though they may be the best tales to get landed in! I wonder what sort of a tale we’ve
fallen into?’” (Tolkien, 2012).
This conversation between Sam and Frodo not only offers an insight into the true
nature of the human beings but at the same time the dilemma that they face towards the

3SPECULATIVE FICTION ESSAY
fulfillment of their duties. For example, the conservation clearly reveals the desire of these
two central characters of the book to disregard their duties of destroying the ring and turn
back to lead a normal carefree life (Wilkins, 2016). More importantly, they even question the
representation of humanity which has been given to them by the different fairly tales and
other similar kinds of works that form the paradigm as per which the human beings are
required to act (Chance, 2016). In other words, it can be said that this conversation between
Frodo and Sam clearly reveal the façade that has been created around the virtuous or good
manner in which the human beings are required to act. This conversation and other similar
ones in the book under discussion clearly reveal the fact that the theme of unfiltered
representation of humanity forms an integral part of the work.
“A Song of Ice and Fire” of George R. R. Martin published in 1996 is perhaps the most
famous literary work of the last two decades (Steiner, 2015). As a matter of fact it has even
been converted into a very popular television series, named, The Game of Throne which is
currently running successfully (Young, 2015). The work of Martin on a casual reading
reveals a quest for power among the different individuals or characters which are being
shown in the novel (Genz, 2016). More importantly, it is seen that almost all the important
characters who are being depicted are vying for the throne of the seven kingdoms. However,
a deeper analysis of the work and the different characters, who are a part of the work under
discussion here reveals the fact that it is redolent with the theme of unfiltered representation
of the human nature (Waysdorf & Reijnders, 2017). For example, on the one hand, Cersei
Lannister is shown as a wicked and evil character whereas on the other hand the author offers
a glimpse into the various factors that motivates her to act in the manner in which she acts
(Young, 2016). It is pertinent to note that in one section of the novel she acts as a devoted
mother in another section as an adulterous one in another section as a possessive one and so
on. Furthermore, the theme becomes evident after an analysis of the different characters of

4SPECULATIVE FICTION ESSAY
the novel like Jaime Lannister, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen and others
(Genz, 2016). As a matter of fact, Martin, the author of the work under discussion here
himself said, “I’ve always agreed with William Faulkner—he said that the human heart in
conflict with itself is the only thing worth writing about” (Martin, 2011). This is perhaps one
of the major reasons why Martin has made the theme of unfiltered representation of humanity
as one of the major themes of the novel discussion here.
“What is honor compared to a woman's love? What is duty against the feel of a newborn son
in your arms . . . or the memory of a brother's smile? Wind and words. Wind and words. We
are only human, and the gods have fashioned us for love. That is our great glory, and our
great tragedy” (Martin, 2011).
The above quoted lines of Maester Aemon to Jon Snow clearly reveal the prominence
of the theme of unfiltered representation of humanity in the work under discussion here. For
example, these lines of Maester Aemon clearly reveal the façade which have created around
the notions of honor, respect, loyalty and other similar concepts on the basis of which the
human beings are supposed to lead their lives (Waysdorf & Reijnders, 2017). More
importantly, these lines at the same time reveal the dilemma as well as the conflicts that the
human beings face when they had to lead their lives on the basis of these entities (Young,
2015). For example, as the lines clearly reveal there is a tendency within the heart of all the
human beings to disregard these entities and follows their heart’s desire to lead the kind of
lives that they want to lead. However, at the same time it needs to be said that the human
beings are required to lead their lives on the basis of these entities which is not often in
synchronicity with the desire of these individuals.
A close analysis of the two literary works under discussion clearly reveals the fact that
the theme of unfiltered representation of humanity forms a common theme between them. It

5SPECULATIVE FICTION ESSAY
is pertinent to note that although the two literary works are different regarding the stories that
they narrate and also the characters they portray yet the basis theme is common in both of
them. More importantly, the major characters in both of these works not only offer an insight
into the true nature of the human beings but at the same time reveal the dilemma that they
face because of the need to live as per the entities of honor, respect, loyalty and others
(Young, 2016). Furthermore, although the main central characters in both the work under
discussion here seem to be dedicated towards the achievement of the goal that they want to
achieve yet there is a dilemma in them regarding the worth of the goal itself (Steiner, 2015).
Moreover, the major characters in both of these works had to face various dilemmas and
decide the course of action that they want to follow and this in turn offers an insight into the
true nature of the human beings. This is perhaps one of the major reasons for the extensive
popularity as well as critical praise that the two works under discussion here has received in
the recent times.
To conclude, the genre of fantasy fiction has emerged as one of the major ones within
the cannon of contemporary world Literature. This can be explained on the basis of the fact
that these fantasy fiction works offers an escape to the individuals from their mundane lives
and offer a world to them in which they do not have to face the harsh realities of their lives.
More importantly, it is seen that although these literary works take the help of unrealistic
plots and settings yet one of the major themes which is a common factor among the majority
of the fantasy fiction works is the unfiltered representation of humanity. This becomes
apparent from an analysis from the two famous works of contemporary literature, namely,
“The Lord of the Rings” of J. R. R. Tolkien and “A Song of Ice and Fire” of George R. R.
Martin. It is pertinent to note that although the storyline as well as the setting of both of these
works are completely different from one another yet at the same time it is seen that the theme
of unfiltered representation of humanity is a common factor between both of them.

6SPECULATIVE FICTION ESSAY
References
Chance, J. (2016). “Usually Slighted”: Gudrún, Other Medieval Women, and The Lord of the
Rings, Book 3 (1925–1943). In Tolkien, Self and Other (pp. 177-214). Palgrave
Macmillan, New York.
Genz, S. (2016). I’m not going to fight them, I’m going to fuck them: Sexist liberalism and
gender (a) politics in Game of Thrones. Women of ice and fire: Gender, Game of
Thrones and multiple media engagements, 243-266.
Martin, G. R. (2011). The Song of Ice and Fire Series. Bantam Books.
Schmeink, L. (2016). How Bilbo lost his innocence: Media audiences and the evaluation of
The Hobbit as a ‘Childern’s Film’. Participations, 13(2).
Steiner, T. (2015). Steering the author discourse: The construction of authorship in quality
TV, and the case of Game of Thrones. Series-International Journal of TV Serial
Narratives, 1(2), 181.
Tally, R. T. (2016). Tolkien’s Geopolitical Fantasy: Spatial Narrative in The Lord of the
Rings. In Popular Fiction and Spatiality (pp. 125-140). Palgrave Macmillan, New
York.
Tolkien, J. R. R. (2012). The Lord of the Rings: One Volume. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Waysdorf, A., & Reijnders, S. (2017). The role of imagination in the film tourist experience:
The case of Game of Thrones. Participations, 14(1), 170-191.
Wilkins, K. (2016). From Middle Earth to Westeros: Medievalism, Proliferation and
Paratextuality. In New Directions in Popular Fiction (pp. 201-221). Palgrave
Macmillan, London.

7SPECULATIVE FICTION ESSAY
Young, H. (Ed.). (2015). Fantasy and Science Fiction Medievalisms: From Isaac Asimov to A
Game of Thrones. Cambria Press.
Young, J. (2016). Faces of Evil in Modern Fantasy. Epiphany, 9(3), 61-78.