J.R.R. Tolkien had an excellent point about The Return of the King's title, but this perspective behind the third volume of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales being published after his death, using his in-depth notes to provide readers with more details about his tales.
Beyond just the love for the stories of the Lord of the Rings books, Tolkien fans have a deep iration for the legendary writer's process. Along with all of his notes, which have been compiled into numerous extensive volumes, readers have long taken an interest in Tolkien's letters, which have provided insights into his perspective on Middle-earth. For example, his letters offered a perspective on Orcs that conflicted with his portrayal in the novels. In Letter 140, written on August 17, 1953, he discussed the titles of his three volumes.
Tolkien Was Afraid The Return Of The King's Title Gave Away The Story's Ending
The Title Hints At Aragorn's Rise & Sauron's Defeat
Letter 140 was sent one year before the publication of The Fellowship of the Ring, and Tolkien shared his thoughts on the planned titles for the three books. He approved of Fellowship and The Two Towers, though he suggested The War of the Ring as his pitch for the third volume. The recipient of this letter was Rayner Unwin, who preferred The Return of the King, but Tolkien felt that his title idea encomed the narrative of the volume in a more non-committal way that "gives less hint about the turn of the story."
Why Frodo Never Got Married After The Lord Of The Rings Even Though Sam Did
Frodo ended up a bachelor in The Lord of the Rings, but Sam didn't, leaving some to question the circumstances of Frodo's bachelorhood.
In praise of "The War of the Ring," Tolkien also liked the idea that the title mentioned the One Ring again, which was arguably the most crucial part of the story. He planned his chapter titles in an effort not to give away much of the story, and he hoped his title would accomplish the same. Of course, The Return of the King is the title widely recognized as the third volume of Tolkien's saga, as well as one of the best movies ever made, so it won the day, with the book published in October 1955.
Tolkien Made A Good Point About The Final LOTR Book's Title, At Least Initially
Tolkien Rightfully Didn't Want To Give Away The Ending
J.R.R. Tolkien wasn't wrong about The Return of the King's title; it gives away a pivotal plot point in the story. Sure, Aragorn being crowned as the King of Gondor isn't the biggest moment in the volume, but it represents a turning of the tide, with him uniting the world of Men in defiance of Sauron. This isn't a restoration of the monarchy; it's the return of leadership in an Arthurian sense, suggesting that any person can learn from the great heroes and legends of old and take up arms in the name of goodness.
The volume's title essentially suggests that good will prevail, and that Aragorn's leadership will give hope to Men
With that in mind, the volume's title essentially suggests that good will prevail, and that Aragorn's leadership will give hope to Men, allowing them to win against the great evil of Mordor. The One Ring must be destroyed for the heroes to eventually win the day, but the title implies an ultimately positive ending result, which may detract from Tolkien's stakes that suggest a doom-like threat. In 2025, this may not matter anymore.
Why Tolkien's Return Of The King Criticism Isn't As Important Now
Everyone Knows The Heroes Win, & It Doesn't Ruin The Story
While I totally understand what Tolkien had in mind when he wrote this letter in 1953, the issue has essentially resolved itself due to the greatness of his material. The Lord of the Rings is a multi-billion-dollar-grossing movie franchise, and the books are one of the highest-selling series ever written. Even beyond the immense ion countless viewers have for Tolkien's material, a broader perception of his work exists in the vernacular that makes spoilers somewhat irrelevant.
Like Star Wars or most superhero titles, The Lord of the Rings is widely perceived as a story where good triumphs over evil. Of course, this is reductive of the complexity in Tolkien's world, but it coincides with the general tone of his epic, as does the title for The Return of the King. It doesn't matter if you know the good guys win going into this story; most people do; the true value in this tale is the characters, their dynamics, the themes, and the vast, unparalleled imagination.
- Created by
- J.R.R. Tolkien
- First Film
- The Lord of the Rings (1978)
- Cast
- Norman Bird, John Hurt
- TV Show(s)
- The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
- Character(s)
- Frodo Baggins, Gandalf, Legolas, Boromir, Sauron, Gollum, Samwise Gamgee, Pippin Took, Celeborn, Aragorn, Galadriel, Bilbo Baggins, Saruman, Aldor, Wormtongue, Thorin Oakenshield, Balin Dwalin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Nori, Dori, Ori, Tauriel, King Thranduil, Smaug, Radagast, Arondir, Nori Brandyfoot, Poppy Proudfellow, Marigold Brandyfoot, Queen Regent Míriel, Sadoc Burrows
