What’s In A Name?

I thought I’d kick off my MMO blogging by not actually discussing Lord of the Rings Online, but rather by talking about my name – the two of course being inextricably linked.

The magic of Tolkien’s Middle-earth was opened up to me from a quite young age, my earliest experience being whispered references to the Black Riders around an autumn bonfire from a father intent on scaring me witless. But a fear of what might be abroad just beyond the circle of firelight quickly became a fascination when, during the early 80′s, I would lie in a darkened room week after week listening with rapt attention to the BBC Radio 4 adaption of Tolkien’s masterpiece work. And innumerable viewings of Ralph Bakshi’s 1978 animated film left vivid imagery imprinted on my mind and established John Hurt as the definitive voice of Aragorn.

What does this have to do with consequential hobbits? Everything.

Despite being so young, I was deeply impressed by perhaps the foremost and most potent ‘message’ contained in the trilogy which is that even the most insignificant person, from the lowliest of backgrounds can affect and change the world. This basic concept is repeated several times through a number of characters, all of whom are Hobbits – a race the reader comes to appreciate are predominantly shy and unassuming by their very nature. Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry (and lest we forget others such as Fatty Bolger) all play their role in a series of events that decisively changes the course of the War of the Ring, saving all peoples of Middle-earth. In the end, ultimately it is not might of arms that conquers the Shadow, but a strength of heart and of true friendship.

It’s that underlying principle that I find myself living by, both when gaming and in RL, that no matter who we are, whatever abilities we may have, we can all become a Hobbit of Consequence and change the world around us for the better.

//HoC

Related posts:

1. Fall From Grace
2. Moria Warrior