For a humorous take on this perspective, I recommend this spoof commentary on the trilogy by Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn: https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/u

For a humorous take on this perspective, I recommend this spoof commentary on the trilogy by Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn: https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/unused-audio-commentary-by-howard-zinn-and-noam-chomsky-recorded-summer-2002-for-the-fellowship-of-the-ring-platinum-series-extended-edition-dvd-part-one https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/unused-audio-commentary-... CHOMSKY: But without the pipe-weed, Middle Earth would fall apart. Saruman is trying to break up Gandalf’s pipe-weed ring. He’s trying to divert it. ZINN: Well, you know, it would be manifestly difficult to believe in magic rings unless everyone was high on pipe-weed. So it is in Gandalf’s interest to keep Middle Earth hooked.