Utilitarianism In Lord Of The Flies

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We live in a world that’s constantly debating the value of nature. Some believe that nature should be used for the resources it provides. This utilitarian perspective on nature leads to a decreased value of nature itself, while also augmenting the value of resources, such as oil and timber. As a result, a utilitarian perspective dictates that the environment should be protected in order to provide resources for future generations. Contrasting environmental utilitarianism is the belief that nature should be protected because nature has its own intrinsic value. Rather than focusing on what the environment can provide for humans, seeing nature intrinsically dictates that nature has value separate from resources. This perspective is taken by many…show more content…
“Land holiness” is present in environmental movements, and is especially poignant in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. The idea of “land holiness” is exemplified by the contrast of Tolkien’s Sauron and Tom Bombadil, therefore reflecting his belief in the biblical traditions of protecting nature. There are many ways of interpreting Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, but a common interpretation is the epic battle between good and evil. In the trilogy, the force of good is represented by many characters at many different points in time. But never in the trilogy is the force of evil under any question of identity, for it’s Sauron. From the beginning, we know that Sauron created the One Ring in order to control the world and shroud it in darkness. But it’s not until a few chapters into the trilogy that we are…show more content…
This concept of conquering nature is evident in both the narrative of The Lord of the Rings, and in words chosen in this passage. The story of this passage creates a snapshot of the Shire, or nature, untouched by malevolent, outside forces. In direct contrast is the style of this passage. The majority of what’s said is dialogue, presented in a cut-and-dry style unlike much of the rest of The Lord of the Rings. This creates a very factual presentation of the narrative, illuminating the differences between a sensory natural environment, and a formal and monotonous industrialized world. The monotonous world of technology is a direct effect of human involvement in the affairs of the natural world. Rather than align “Bal taschchit” 2 (Schwartz, 437) –The Biblical tradition of protecting and revering nature-, “human violence…corrupts the world” (Simkins et al, 18) and “a fear and dread of humans…[characterizes] the animal world (Simkins et al, 18). Technology and human violence coexist in a self-perpetuating cycle. While human violence can exist without technology, technological advancements augment human violence towards the environment. On the other side, the majority of technological advancements are made at the cost of the natural world. This leads to “the impact of our race upon the environment… [increasing] in force” (Clowney, 56) until it alters the very structure of the world. Sauron
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