March 5, 2003

The Heroism of Frodo
Dwian

Frodo is the undisputable hero of the Lord of the Rings and this is why I was upset by his portrayal in the Two Towers. Frodo appears to be giving in too soon and in one awful moment offers the ring to the winged Nazgul. This looks like total capitulation and only Sam and Faramir's quick thinking saves the day.

I know Frodo didn't just breeze into Mordor to then suddenly falter at the Crack of Doom. Frodo fought his battle over many months. There was no great single act of courage to glory in. Instead Frodo's struggle was a daily one against pain, despair and the lure of the ring. The knowledge that his journey was seemingly impossible with little hope of return was a heavy weight to carry. Added to this burden was the ring's increasing power as it came closer to Mordor.

At one point Frodo did yield to despair when he saw the amassed army of Minas Morgul. He felt no hope that anyone could resist that black tide and even if he accomplished his task of destroying the ring noone would ever know it. These thoughts passed with the sound of Sam's voice. However the wraith-King didn't see Frodo because Frodo resisted him (as he did on Weathertop) with all his free will. I can't find any other scene in the book resembling the one with Frodo & the Nazgul at Osgiliath. Frodo never gave up the struggle until the very end when the pressure was too much for him to bear, in fact too much for anyone to bear.

I wish Frodo hadn't succumbed at the last moment but the really amazing thing was how he got so far in the first place against such great odds. Frodo gave his all to try to destroy the ring and this task eventually took his life. As he says to Gandalf, "I have been wounded with knife, sting and tooth and a long burden, where will I find rest?" Sadly nowhere in Middle Earth. This is the true source of Frodo's heroism and I think it has been lessened by his depiction in the film.