The Return of the King

By J.R.R. Tolkien

Victory Through Sacrifice

Tolkien's epic climaxes not with military victory but with complete self-sacrifice. Aragorn, the rightful king, serves in the shadows until the moment of need. Frodo destroys himself carrying the Ring to Mount Doom, losing everything to save Middle Earth. Sam becomes the truest hero—faithful unto death, carrying his friend when no strength remains. The eucatastrophe arrives: grace breaking into despair, joy piercing sorrow, the happy ending we didn't earn but desperately needed. Tolkien shows us Catholic truth incarnate—that victory comes not through power but through complete self-gift.