The 2008 Election and the Lord Of The Ring Analogies

I was thinking last night watching the debate that it was like watching that scene in Lord of the Rings when everyone was at the counsel, fighting about who would take the ring to Mordor.

And then I wondered who would be who in this story.

Hillary, I think, is like Boromir. She wants to help her people, but she risks the ultimate goal by wanting to deviate from the plan and take the ring to Gondor to fight Sauron head-on. In the story Boromir tried to take the ring in a pretty devious way, ultimately failing in the process. His end was met in a valient way, and he proved his honor.

This has an analogy in that Hillary wants to change the country. IMO, she wants to fight the Republicans, but too many people don't like her for her to overcome the odds, even with the ring of power. Her negatives are too great. In the end, if she loses the contest for the nomination, she'll have proven herself worthy by preparing Obama for the fight of his life.

Edwards, I think, is like Aragon. He is wise and noble, and willing to fight the enemy, but he can't take the ring, and realizes this, but wants to do his part to help his side win in the end. In the end he gets to be king.

This has an analogy in that Edwards has tried to stay above the fighting in his own camp. He will gladly take on the Republicans, but maybe realizes now that he won't be the one to take the ring to Mordor (the White House) to ultimately defeat Sauron (the GOP nominee). By making his last stand in battle (going all the way to the convention with a nice amount of delegates) he gets to be the kingmaker.

Obama, I think, is like Frodo. He's young and inexperienced in battle, but has tremendous heart. He probably never thought he'd be asked to carry a burden like this. And he's pushed on a quest and is trying to take a different path. He doesn't want to do combat, but he'll fight when he has to defend himself. He is a symbol of hope to all those who seek to put an end to the reign of terror and oppression at the hands of Sauron's army (the Republicans).

In terms of side characters...

Bill Clinton = Bilbo Baggins.
Michelle Obama = Eowyn.
Elizabeth Edwards = Arwen.
Joe Biden = Theoden.
Bill Richardson = Eomer.
Chris Dodd = Faramir.
Dennis Kucinich = Pippen.
Mike Gravel = Gimli.
John Kerry = Elrond.
Ron Paul = Gollum.
Rudy Guiliani, Mike Huckabee, Fred Thompson = Ringwraiths.
Mitt Romney = Grima Wormtongue.
John McCain = Saruman.

will be like the Scrubbing of the Shire (when Sam and Frodo rebuilt it). I still don't know why the movie left that scene out!

You are lacking a Sam and a Gandalf, though.

I don't want to watch your movie. :hide:

Though not a big enough character, someone wrote a piece about Hillary as Galadriel on a blog once, in the context of whether she would retain Bush's imperial presidential powers.

I see John McCain as Gollum... probably an ok guy in some ways, but utterly twisted by proximity to the Republican ring.

(Plus, Gollum was imprisoned and tortured, and never at home on either side.)

enjoyed that - thank you!