Reverend Dr. Malcolm Guite

And what he's doing is he's exploring the way a thing could be done well and the way the same thing could be abused, the way a person could flourish or the way a person could be corrupted in themselves. So if you think about it, how do you be the kind advising wizard who actually has more power than the people he's advising but doesn't want to exploit them? Well, Gandalf is an example of that.

But Saruman is the counter example. And you kind of know that Gandalf could degrade into Saruman if he's not careful. There are various points where Gandalf could have had the ring and he says, no, no, no, you know. So, but you think about it the same, the brothers Boromir and Faramir. In the end, what is kingship? What is good and just rule?

But Saruman is the counter example. And you kind of know that Gandalf could degrade into Saruman if he's not careful. There are various points where Gandalf could have had the ring and he says, no, no, no, you know. So, but you think about it the same, the brothers Boromir and Faramir. In the end, what is kingship? What is good and just rule?

But Saruman is the counter example. And you kind of know that Gandalf could degrade into Saruman if he's not careful. There are various points where Gandalf could have had the ring and he says, no, no, no, you know. So, but you think about it the same, the brothers Boromir and Faramir. In the end, what is kingship? What is good and just rule?

You have, I mean, the two persons who are contending for the kingship of Middle-earth are Aragorn, Strider and Sauron. One is living in a highly defended castle, and the other has taken on the appearance of a wandering vagabond and walked along and is comrades and has shared the sufferings with the people. Those are two different pictures of leadership.

You have, I mean, the two persons who are contending for the kingship of Middle-earth are Aragorn, Strider and Sauron. One is living in a highly defended castle, and the other has taken on the appearance of a wandering vagabond and walked along and is comrades and has shared the sufferings with the people. Those are two different pictures of leadership.

You have, I mean, the two persons who are contending for the kingship of Middle-earth are Aragorn, Strider and Sauron. One is living in a highly defended castle, and the other has taken on the appearance of a wandering vagabond and walked along and is comrades and has shared the sufferings with the people. Those are two different pictures of leadership.

Now, and even, I mean, you can take it further. If you think about Frodo and Gollum, you know, what is a good hobbit and how might a hobbit, even in their hobbititude, as it were, become corrupted? And yet, you know, there's a little bit of the good side, you know, the smear goal, dare goal, you know, thing. And there's something in, I mean, there's a kind of bonding between those two characters.

Now, and even, I mean, you can take it further. If you think about Frodo and Gollum, you know, what is a good hobbit and how might a hobbit, even in their hobbititude, as it were, become corrupted? And yet, you know, there's a little bit of the good side, you know, the smear goal, dare goal, you know, thing. And there's something in, I mean, there's a kind of bonding between those two characters.

Now, and even, I mean, you can take it further. If you think about Frodo and Gollum, you know, what is a good hobbit and how might a hobbit, even in their hobbititude, as it were, become corrupted? And yet, you know, there's a little bit of the good side, you know, the smear goal, dare goal, you know, thing. And there's something in, I mean, there's a kind of bonding between those two characters.

And of course, you know, probably one of the most deep, I think, moral lessons. I mean, lessons makes it sound too explicit in that whole book. is when Frodo, who's frightened, says, it's a pity Bilbo didn't stab Gollum while he had a chance. And Gandalf says, pity? It was pity that stayed his hand. The pity of Bilbo may come to rule the fault of many."

And of course, you know, probably one of the most deep, I think, moral lessons. I mean, lessons makes it sound too explicit in that whole book. is when Frodo, who's frightened, says, it's a pity Bilbo didn't stab Gollum while he had a chance. And Gandalf says, pity? It was pity that stayed his hand. The pity of Bilbo may come to rule the fault of many."

And of course, you know, probably one of the most deep, I think, moral lessons. I mean, lessons makes it sound too explicit in that whole book. is when Frodo, who's frightened, says, it's a pity Bilbo didn't stab Gollum while he had a chance. And Gandalf says, pity? It was pity that stayed his hand. The pity of Bilbo may come to rule the fault of many."

And of course, in the end, Frodo gets as far as he can, and almost against his own will, for different motivations. But in the grand plot, Gollum steps in and still has a part to play.

And of course, in the end, Frodo gets as far as he can, and almost against his own will, for different motivations. But in the grand plot, Gollum steps in and still has a part to play.

And of course, in the end, Frodo gets as far as he can, and almost against his own will, for different motivations. But in the grand plot, Gollum steps in and still has a part to play.

um so there's something extraordinary going on there now talking doesn't stop in the middle of his narrative and wag his finger at you and say now i'm teaching you this lesson and if you as a parent did that when you're reading that would be terrible just give them the story and let the story tell you and i'm still i i fell in love with this story when my dad started to read it to me and then you know he sent me off to a boarding school in england so he couldn't keep reading

um so there's something extraordinary going on there now talking doesn't stop in the middle of his narrative and wag his finger at you and say now i'm teaching you this lesson and if you as a parent did that when you're reading that would be terrible just give them the story and let the story tell you and i'm still i i fell in love with this story when my dad started to read it to me and then you know he sent me off to a boarding school in england so he couldn't keep reading

um so there's something extraordinary going on there now talking doesn't stop in the middle of his narrative and wag his finger at you and say now i'm teaching you this lesson and if you as a parent did that when you're reading that would be terrible just give them the story and let the story tell you and i'm still i i fell in love with this story when my dad started to read it to me and then you know he sent me off to a boarding school in england so he couldn't keep reading

So I hated this boarding school. I was very homesick. But I opened the Lord of the Rings and suddenly I was in Lothlorien or Rivendell. You know, I could be there. And so I was about 16 when I went like full fanboy totally into it. Right. Now, I am 67. So I've had 51 years.