Was Tolkien an anti-Semite?
I had a very frustrating conversation with a friend last night who said that the character of Golum from the Lord of the Rings trilogy was an anti-Semitic representation by Tolkien. I have a hard time believing this because the books clearly promote understanding among races (i.e., elves and dwarves). Also, I have to think that the Anti-Defamation League would have come out against the film if Tolkien were an anti-Semite.
Her argument was that Golum's posture and demeanor and focus on the gold ring were a reflection of how Jewish people were portrayed during Tolkien's time. I'm going to have to go on a mission to prove her wrong because I love those movies and books almost as much as my jewish friends!