LOTR--The Books This Time--Frodo as True Hero

FRODO AT MOUNT DOOM

Tolkien is rightly perceived as the man who, alongside C.S. Lewis, brought fantasy to the modern Western world. Granted, it was here all along, even in America. But the popularity of The Lord of the Rings and the Narnia books opened up markets in the West for British and American writers--and later, manga writers--of sword and sorcery. Alongside the growth of mystery novels (and, much later, the elevation of romances), I call this the Genre Revolution!

Here is the "however": although Tolkien is responsible for (re)establishing all the classic elements of a fantasy novel--the quest, the companions, the magical item--he didn't stick all such elements in a bag, shake them up, and say, "Hey, here's a fantasy!" The elements did not dictate content (in fact, one could argue that Tolkien, like Lewis, was so steeped in Norse and Anglo-Saxon tales and legends, he didn't even realize how consistently he was utilizing such elements or motifs).

Consequently, when Tolkien brings Frodo to Mount Doom, he does not have Frodo simply toss the ring in on the classic justification that he is the hero--ergo, he can do everything!

Sam & Frodo's trip takes a week. Aragorn attacks

Mordor at the top-hand Northwest gate. As the

map illustrates,  this would distract the eye at Bara-dur.

The ring has been a true burden, not a token one (ha ha). No one else could have carried it so far, as Gandalf and Galadriel acknowledge when they refuse to take it. By its nature, the ring consumes a person's will. It is the ultimate nothingness which sucks up light and hope and thought. It must have an impact, and its impact must go beyond the physical (although it does weigh Frodo down). Frodo must be affected psychologically in order for the entire trilogy not to be a waste of time. The pay-off must merit the problem.

Frodo doesn't throw the ring in Mount Doom. I know some people consider this a lack of heroism, but to me, Frodo's heroism is everything he has done before arriving at Mount Doom, everything that makes the climax possible. Gollum's arrival is not a deus ex machina; Gollum is there precisely because Frodo made it possible for him to be there. Like his uncle, Frodo spared Gollum's life (Frodo more than once). Frodo used Gollum (in the absence of other guides) to lead him into Mordor. Frodo crossed Mordor despite great weariness, bringing himself, the ring, and Gollum in his wake to the crucial place and exactly the right time.

Martin Freeman as Bilbo contemplating

what to do with the pitiful Gollum.

To me, Tolkien is painting the ultimate picture of grace, and I find it downright comforting. Frodo--who has suffered so much--is only required to do what is possible, what he can do, what is within his abilities. He is stretched to the limit, but in the end, he isn't expected to be some supranormal superhero who can do everything and resist everything, etc. etc. He is only supposed to be himself.

Consider that Frodo surely tells Gandalf and Aragorn what occurred at Mount Doom--he did lose a finger! No one reproaches him. No one behaves as if he was a failure. He is, rather, honored by wizards and men and elves. The point is that he got the ring where he said he would against fearful odds, not that he adopted the proper role of "hero" at the proper time.

Tolkien is completely underestimated in this regard. Since he was writing world fantasy and since he created a good versus evil story, his comprehension of basic human nature is sometimes ignored. Granted, C.S. Lewis was a little more obvious and direct in his explorations of human fallibility and variability. But it's all there in Tolkien!

LOTR--The Books This Time--Frodo

This extremely clever pastiche or tribute

by Mechtild portrays Frodo the way

Tolkien appears to have seen him.

FRODO

Let me get Elijah Wood out of the way first: I think physically he was the perfect choice for Frodo. Overall, I enjoyed his performance in the LOTR movies. I am very glad he has shown up in the latest trilogy even if his appearance in The Unexpected Journey proves that men gain considerable breadth in their shoulders after their early-20s.

He doesn't quite capture the Frodo of Tolkien's trilogy, though it is hard to say if this is due to the script, Jackson's direction, or Wood's youth at the time.

Tolkien's Frodo is almost exactly like Wood's Frodo with one exception: Tolkien's Frodo has an almost otherworldly air right from the beginning. Where his uncle is down-to-earth, even a little vulgar (in the older meaning of the term), Frodo is more . . . refined, for lack of a better word. Where Bilbo goes on little jaunts for the sake of adventures and to meet up with friends, Frodo seems to go for the sake of being alone; like the Arthurian poets, he seems to want to be captured by fairies and dragged underground.

Bilbo, on the other hand, always likes to return home to his books and his pipe.

Frodo's more refined, "princely" nature means that unlike his uncle, he assumes leadership/authority over his traveling companions. Where Bilbo is willing to join a group (and then leave it when it becomes tiresome), Frodo is destined to be a group's leader or prophet. Sam is his best friend--but also his servant. Even Gollum/Smeagol swears allegiance to Frodo "on the ring".

Frodo Accepting Gollum's Oath: "The Ring will hold you to your word."

Throughout their journey, Sam and Gollum defer to Frodo's wishes and higher status, including when they encounter outsiders, who behave accordingly. Faramir, for example, assumes Frodo is in charge; in response, Frodo falls back on an almost stern authority/composure that his milder uncle never exhibits.

This status (and the noblesse oblige behavior that comes with it) is partly forced on Frodo but also part of his intrinsic nature. The otherworldly part of Frodo--the saint-like part--becomes more and more pronounced during his journey to Mordor. He isn't merely exhausted (as Wood ably portrays). He is almost exalted, his more comfortable, human characteristics burnt away. Perceiving this, Sam reflects that Frodo will eventually become as clear as glass, a comparison associated with saints, poets, and other rare beings. 

Like the Fisher King, Frodo is permanently wounded by his trials. Like Joseph Campbell's monomyth hero, he returns home so changed, he can never settle back into his previous life. Bilbo is granted a place on the ship to the Undying Lands out of respect and kindliness. He could as easily stayed. Frodo, however, must go. He has become too remote, too otherworldly to rest easy in Middle Earth.

Wood does capture some of Frodo's kingly, mystical attributes--as when he deals with Gollum. However, perhaps by necessity, the final movie dwells mostly on Frodo's weariness. Hints of Tolkien's approach are there; I can't help but wish there were a few more. 

"The Lord of the Rings--The Book This Time" posts address the following topics:

Galadriel 

Boromir 

Orcs 

Fatty Bolger et al. 

Poetry 

War 

The Ring! 

Frodo

Mordor

and Frodo as True Hero