Published Paper Details:

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire are renowned for their grand conflicts and richly imagined worlds, yet both also explore the often-unseen tensions between the powerful and the disenfranchised. This study investigates how these fantasy epics depict class struggle, economic inequality, and acts of resistance, dismantling the illusion of a stable, just feudal society. Though Tolkien's Middle-earth presents a more romanticized vision compared to Martin's gritty Westeros, both narratives expose the fractures in their social orders--whether through the quiet resilience of ordinary folk or the outright revolts of the downtrodden. Using a comparative approach, this paper analyzes the mechanisms of power and dissent in these fictional realms. In The Lord of the Rings, the Shire's egalitarian simplicity clashes with Saruman's industrialized tyranny, while Aragorn's ascension to the throne subtly reaffirms traditional hierarchies. Conversely, A Song of Ice and Fire unflinchingly portrays the brutality of feudal oppression, with movements like the Brotherhood Without Banners and the Faith Militant embodying the rage of the exploited. Despite their differing ideological leanings, both authors embed sharp critiques of concentrated power and wealth, though Tolkien's conservative resolution contrasts with Martin's ongoing cycle of rebellion. Drawing on Marxist and materialist perspectives, this research contends that fantasy literature does more than offer escape--it reflects and interrogates real-world systems of domination. The struggles between lords and laborers, or between rulers and the ruled, echo historical and contemporary conflicts over resources and autonomy. By examining these themes, the paper reveals how even mythic storytelling engages with the enduring question of who benefits from societal structures--and who pays the price.