Well I mean arrogance was one of their traits. The elves were the racists of middle Earth
To be completely fair they lived in a world where there actually were real differences between the races. In our world racism is silly because there aren’t any actually relevant differences between the races, but the differences between elves, men, and dwarves are very real in middle earth. Not enough to pull everyone over a comb (to use a swedish proverb), but at least there’s some substance to it.
Would you still say that if you knew Tolkien based elves on early “true” Christians, dwarves on Jews, Western men on Europe as a whole and their decline a metaphor for growing secularism, and the Eastern/Southern men given to evil on brown people who, even worse, aren’t Christian?
Because he did.
I am quite sure he based them on stereotypical views that were prevalent during his times and not actual people. Still he showed that these perceived differences come from their internal worst traits manifesting in their views on others and can be overcome for the good of all.
You are not wrong but nuance in reading is important.
Elves looking down on the other races in middle earth? Say it ain’t so!
See also Galadriel’s words in the prologue to Fellowship of The Ring: Three rings were given to the Elves - immortal, wisest, and fairest of all beings.
Where’s that meme of Obama putting a medal on Obama?
Even better
IIRC, Elrond isn’t as stuck-up in the book, but it’s been a year or two since I last read Fellowship.
Yes, elves in the books are a lot more… human.
They feast, they sing, they dance, they do stupid things, they prank each other. If anything they seem the most playful race.
Shit, in The Hobbit, a soldier on duty gets so drunk that he passes out, allowing Bilbo and the Dwarves are able to escape in barrels.
PJ very much took the Elves and said “let’s make them into Star Trek Vulcans!”
One of my biggest problems with the movies is that they made Elrond (and all of the other elves) so angry and stodgy, and completely ignored all of the joyful aspects of his character from the books. The elves, especially the Noldor, are a people defined by the way their joy for life is inextricably mixed with sorrow as they fight the long defeat, which is part of what makes them so compelling.
Agreed. Hugo weaving is a good actor, but played the part so stoically that in my head I automatically insert “, Mr. Anderson” after everything Elrond says as if he’s agent Smith
Frodo reappears after putting the ring on, disorientated from the experience
Elrond: “MISTER BAGGINS!”
Juno Reactor music starts playing
Cut to the Battle of the Morannon, but it’s not an army of Gondor but just an endless stream of Agent Smiths bumrushing the Orcs with Kung Fu.
Funnily enough, one of my main problems at first was that they did the opposite to Gandalf in the opening scene: in the book, he’s strict gravitas personified, but in the movie he’s genially chuckling over a line he said seriously in the books.
Granted, he was pretty much spot on for pretty much the rest of the movie, in no small part because of how brilliant Ian McKellen was and is.
I thought Legolas was portrayed as too sympathetic compared to the books, though. His haughty attitude and general jerkness towards the also very proud Gimli was a big part of what fleshed out Gimli as a character.
Making Legolas one of the biggest Marty Stus outside of fan fiction in turn relegated Gimli to almost only a comic relief parody.
There’s a lot said about that particular dynamic and why it exists in the actual dwarf community.
the actual dwarf community.
…you mean like “little people” or whatever the preferred term is? 😛
I suspect this is about the silmarils and not the rings
#FeanorDidNothingWrong
Feanor: Look at this! I’ve made the 3 coolest jewels EVER!!! 🥹
The Gods: Congrats, those are indeed the 3 coolest jewels ever made.
Feanor: I know, right! ☺️
The Gods: Now, hand them over to us.
Feanor:
Morgoth: I wasn’t asking!
I’m literally shaking right now
The Elves are going to the ships now, and they’re taking their bling.