This essay is from Austin Johnson
Published on November 21, 2002

Frodo and the Force:
A Comparison of Modern Epic Stories

• Introduction
• JRR Tolkien
• The Rings of Jung and Tolkien
• Frodo as the Suffering Savior
• Aragorn, The Triumphant King
• Boromir and Saint Peter
• The Star Wars Enigma
• Heroism and the Warrior-Mage
• Obi-Wan Kenobi, Post-Modern Guru
• Taoism and the Nature of the Force
• Luke Skywalker, The Human Yin-Yang
• In Conclusion

In Conclusion

George Lucas' Star Wars series has abandoned all pretense of being a medieval tale in his newer trilogy, and the shades of Post Modernism are becoming much more evident in the original trilogy because of that. The story he has told is truly a reflection of our times. People are searching for a fairy tale to call their own. George Lucas gave them just that. He has combined medieval characters and themes with post-modern ideals to create a strange new brew that has become a timeless classic of American filmmaking.

How is it possible for two classics of storytelling to exist so closely together, and be so closely tied, for indeed George Lucas was greatly influenced by JRR Tolkien, and yet still portray such greatly differing worldviews? This is another reflection of our times. JRR Tolkien writes from a Christian perspective and a Christian worldview. It is reflected throughout his works. George Lucas writes from a Post-Modern view, which reflects throughout his epic, Star Wars. Both of these theories have become prevalent today. Perhaps someday, historians will look at works like these in much the same way we look at Beowulf. We have learned much about Norse culture from this epic, and perhaps someday, people will infer as much from these stories as we have from those who have come before us.

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