Law Government and Society in J.R.R. Tolkien's Works

Law and government are aspects of J.R.R. Tolkien's works that have not received much scholarly attention. However they are present in many facets of his sub-creation. In describing the various societies that populate it Tolkien addressed aspects of their legal and governmental systems such as the succession of kings inheritance or the Mayor of Michel Delving. In many cases he did so to add a further thread to the rich tapestry of his descriptions.But in other cases law appears as an important narrative element functioning as a test of spirit for the characters who encounter it. Thus the trial of Beregond reveals Aragorn's justice while Turgon's ordering the execution of Ëol shows his ruthlessness.Law and philology appear together in several passages of Tolkien's work. It is no coincidence that the most relevant objects of his sub-creation the One Ring and the Silmarils are described in archaic legal terms. In parallel law and the tools of government are used as a humorous element in other fragments.Law and government are in short present in Tolkien's work. They are not a central element but without what is studied in this book Arda would have been much poorer.