Part 4/11:
The panelists argued that such accusations distort the original intent and context of Tolkien’s writing. They posited that Tolkien was a product of his time, and his writings should be appreciated as artistic creations rooted in the cultural landscape of early 20th-century England. Tolkien and his contemporaries, such as C.S. Lewis, wrote stories based on the common themes of heroism, loyalty, and sacrifice, which remain relevant and meaningful today.
Furthermore, they pointed out that Tolkien, being an author who shared drinks with fellow writers, was unlikely to harbor the racist assumptions some modern critics attribute posthumously. If he had embedded racist ideas, it’s unlikely his contemporaries would have remained silent or failed to criticize such views during his lifetime.