In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, technology is often depicted through craftsmanship and creation. The Elves, Dwarves, and other Free Peoples of Middle-earth make use of tools and skills that enhance life and embody harmony with nature. For example, the Elves of Rivendell and Lothlórien employ subtle technologies—such as cloaks that blend into the landscape or lembas bread that sustains travelers over long distances—that emphasize sustainability and balance. Dwarves, on the other hand, use advanced smithing and engineering to create powerful weapons, armor, and intricate underground cities like Khazad-dûm. These technologies are deeply tied to culture, tradition, and artistry rather than mass production or exploitation. Tolkien portrays such creations as noble because they are rooted in respect for the natural order and a desire to preserve, rather than dominate, the world around them. In this way, technology is not inherently corrupt but is meaningful when directed toward beauty, resilience, and survival.
In stark contrast, the forces of Sauron and Saruman represent technology twisted toward domination and destruction. Saruman’s industrialization of Isengard illustrates this perfectly: once a green valley, Isengard becomes a fortress of machinery, smoke, and deforestation, all harnessed to mass-produce weapons and breed armies of Uruk-hai. Similarly, Sauron uses the One Ring as the ultimate technological artifact—crafted not just with skill but with domination at its core, designed to control all others. Tolkien critiques such uses of technology by highlighting the environmental devastation, loss of individuality, and moral decay that follow. The sharp division between creative, artisanal technology and destructive, industrial technology reflects Tolkien’s larger concerns about modernity, mechanization, and the human tendency to abuse power. Ultimately, the triumph of the Fellowship symbolizes not the rejection of technology itself, but the rejection of its corrupt, exploitative applications.