I’ve heard folks dis the LotR films a fair deal. Now, is the book pretty much always better than the movie? Yes. But I must say, that out of all the books-turned-into-movies I’ve seen, Jackson’s trilogy was the best. Why? Not only did he stick closer to the storyline than any book-remake film, but he captured the heart of the books.
He captured the grandeur and detail of Middle Earth, he captured the momentous struggle between good and evil, and… he captured the joy. (To be specific, I am using joy to mean not forgetting the good moments which are just as much a part of life as the bad. It’s not the perfect word, and I know that Christians could discuss the definition of joy all day long. But I simply mean the blessings of life and a strong hope.)
The LotR films had the classic hobbit lines, the protests about no second breakfast, the affable friendliness of the Shire and the banter between Legolas and Gimli, and Merry and Pippin. It had the goodness amidst the evil.
There’s just something different about those stories that can effectively capture goodness as well as evil. Sure, the world is big and dark and scary, and it’s the Christian author’s job to portray evil for what it is — the result of our fallen state, the nature of the devil, and rebellion against God, rather than a byproduct of a misordered society. Our world has trouble recognizing evil, and would prefer to believe that all people are good at heart.
As a result, our world also struggles with seeing true good. And it was seeing the happy moments, the goofy moments, the simple, quintessential hobbity moments amidst great despair and darkness that reminded me of this in a fresh way.
Life is full of both sorrows and joys. For every nasty Fang, there’s a silly animal or a line from Oskar. For every lost friend, there’s the banter between Picket and Helmer. For every wicked warlord, there’s a Salamandastron hare with an accent and an attitude. For every nuclear threat, there’s Benji screaming through a car chase. For every threat from Mordor there’s Pippin kicking Boromir in the shin. Even though the world we live in is broken, we are still blessed. We are blessed with touching relationships and old jokes, good food and great stories, beautiful music and hilarious animals, gorgeous landscapes and wonderful design. And part of our mission as authors involves not forgetting that.
There is a time and a place for everything in a story. Certainly, you don’t want your sidekick cracking a joke at some inappropriate time, when your readers truly need to feel the gravity of the moment. And even irony, though funny, is not really true joy, in a book, for it’s tempered. Allow for some happy moments, perhaps some fond reminisces or amiable quirks. Without them, your character and your story will not be as faithful to the reality of life.
You may have read the short stories I have on here. If so, you know I like powerful stories with deep, redemptive themes.
But I also like making people laugh. The times when I’m able to say or do the perfect thing at the perfect time fill me with a special sort of happiness. As a writer, you can do the same thing. Maybe it’s a sweet scene or a funny joke or just simply letting your characters relax and enjoy for a bit. But regardless, your story cannot be all doom and gloom, and though the recipe for a story is to get your main character in trouble and on his way towards the pit of despair as soon as possible, don’t rush it. Allow him to make some happy memories before you completely crush him.
And, let him make some more after he’s done the hard work of climbing out and winning the day.
When I saw the LotR films for the first time, I was moved for the characters, even though I already knew how it was going to end. I connected with them and worried for their safety. But I could also laugh. I could smirk at the nods to the books, and I could grin when they got a moment or a character perfect.
It’s not easy. I’ve seen writers who nail this, leaving you with a warm feeling and yet prepared to take on the heavy dark stuff, but I struggle with it myself. We must balance good and evil in our books — not in some sort of Buddhist, ‘I am one with the Force,’ way, but in a way that highlights both for what they are and causes the writer to feel and know truth. After all, should it not be the Christian who can best experience joy, because he or she is forgiven and free? Will not sharing this joy with the world awaken it just as well, if not better than, showing it what real evil is?
I know my last posts have been dealing with gloomy stuff, from villains to despair. And sure, these are key parts of a story. But I don’t want to forget the happiness either, the redemption and the rest and the victory.
We are to be salt and light, and that’s multifaceted. Light exposes, but it also shines, and salt preserves. So let the light of your joy shine in your stories, my dear reader, and let your everlasting hope always preserve. Life can absolutely stink sometimes. But it can also be pretty nice. I took a tiring week-long trip a while ago, and if there was one thing I came back with, it was a gratitude for the little things. My plain, boring breakfast biscuits that don’t unsettle my stomach. My books, my dog. My own room, my own bathroom, my predictable routine of homework and my time to write. I’d kinda forgotten how much those things meant to me. Sure, adventures are great, but they’re also kinda exhausting, and we all need our cozy hobbit holes to return to.
Don’t forget the blessings of life — in reality or in your writing. Even if your story is some epic struggle between some powerful evil and an underdog Chosen One or the narrative of overcoming some horrible personal flaw, leave a little time for joy.
Alright, folks. Have a good day, and don’t forget second breakfast. Namárië!
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