THE LANDSCAPE OF TYRANNY AND THE SANCTUARY OF THE BODY: AN ECOCRITICAL ANALYSIS OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN’S THE LORD OF THE RINGS AND TAHEREH MAFI’S SHATTER ME

Abstract

This thesis presents a comparative ecocritical analysis of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic high fantasy epic, The Lord of the Rings, and Tahereh Mafi’s contemporary dystopian young adult novel, Shatter Me. Despite their generational and generic differences, both books express anxieties regarding the exploitation of the natural world by oppressive political structures. Using a literary approach called ecocriticism, I examine how villains in both worlds like Sauron destroying forests in Middle-earth, or The Reestablishment ruining the sky and weather in Shatter Me destroy nature to build their empires. The paper also looks at how a dying planet effects the characters personally. I contrast Juliette’s dangerous, lonely touch in Shatter Me with Tolkien’s heroes, like Samwise Gamgee, who find mental strength just by staying connected to the soil. Finally, I show that untamed, wild spaces like hidden elven valleys or underground rebel bases are the only places where the heroes can safely heal, train, and plan their revolutions. Ultimately, this thesis argues that in both classic and modern fantasy, human freedom and a healthy earth are completely tied together; you cannot save one without saving the other.