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05-01-2002, 10:22 AM

Frodo's light is vastly different than that of the Elves. The Elves are practically pure spirit, very close to all Creation and its radiant beauty, as well as its Creators. They glow faintly with "starlight" because it is a mark of their higher nature.

I am doubtful that being an Elf-Friend has much to do with Frodo's light. For example, Aragorn is an Elf-Friend, yet he doesn't shine. All an Elf-Friend denotes is an individual from another race who proves friendly to the Elves, and is of good standing and/or service to them.

Frodo was most likely considered an Elf-Friend even before Gildor Inglorion said anything about the matter. The Elves knew who Frodo was and greeted him by name at their meeting. Gildor explained to Frodo that he had been seen walking with Bilbo many times by the Elves, even if he had not seen them.

When Gildor later names Frodo an Elf-Friend twice, the second time, with a more serious bent in the conversation than the first, I think that he was trying to comfort Frodo and give him some assurance that the Elves in the surrounding region would hear of his plight and his need for assistance, and further, that the Elves would be on the look-out for him, as well as the Black Riders.

Later, when Frodo meets Goldberry, there is a light in his eyes. Frodo felt a delight in seeing Goldberry that he could not quite grasp. To him, it was much like the delight of hearing the Elves, but it was a different experience, because he perceived the joy as being closer to a "mortal heart" and "less keen and lofty."

He then is moved to sing a few lines of a song that Tom Bombadil had sung, and he suddenly becomes self-conscious and abashed. Goldberry, delighted by his praise and aware of his embarrassment remarks, "I had not heard that folk of the Shire were so sweet tongued. But I see you are an elf-friend; the light in your eyes and the ring in your voice tells it."

I think that this was simply Goldberry's way of greatly complementing Frodo by comparing him with so fair a race as the Elves and putting him at ease. Furthermore, Goldberry is much higher on the food chain than the average Elf. She is of such a high degree of spiritual nature, that I suspect she could look into any heart and glean what is there in an instant. Frodo is who he is, and he greatly admires the Elves. So it is written in his heart and can be read by those keen enough to do so.

The light that Frodo perceives in Strider's face when they are standing on the mound of Cerin Amroth -- well, that's just pure love. That whole bit has more to do with Aragorn and Arwen and what is between them than anything else. Frodo merely acts as a silent witness.

Also, the Ruling Ring itself has the effect of causing Frodo's senses to become more keen. He can perceive things with his mind that others can not see. This is greatly illustrated later when he is beckoned by Galadriel to come to her garden and look into her Mirror. He perceives Nenya upon her finger, which due to the nature of its "magic," few can see. They speak of it openly, yet Sam is befuddled and has no idea what they were talking about. His only remark is that he "saw a star through her finger."

The very key to Frodo's light I think, is foreshodowed when he is recovering from his near-fatal wound in the House of Elrond. Gandalf, sitting by Frodo's bed when he awakens, speaks with him for a bit, and Frodo begging for more information about what has gone on, prompts Gandalf to do so. Before Gandalf divulges anything to him, it is written:

Gandalf moved his chair to the bedside and took a good look at Frodo. The colour had come back to his face, and his eyes were clear, and fully awake and aware. He was smiling and there seemed to be little wrong with him. But to the wizard's eye there was a faint change, just a hint as it were of transparency about him, and especially about the left hand that lay outside upon the coverlet.

"Still that must be expected," said Gandalf to himself. "He is not half through yet, and to what he will come in the end not even Elrond can foretell. Not to evil, I think. He may become like a glass filled with a clear light for eyes to see that can."

Thus, Frodo's light is an inner quality. He is, after all, reflective of the Mystic Hero archtype. He is on a physical quest, but one in which he will have to wrestle with his own nature and/or inner demons in order to succeed. Such quests require great sacrifice on the part of those who chose to endeavor them.

All that Frodo did, he did for the love of his people and the love of all he treasured in his heart. He bore a burden beyond imagining for love. Despite this, at the absolute last, he failed. In "punishment" for his "denial" of his own true nature, Frodo quite unwillingly sacrifices his own ring finger when Gollum bites it off in a fit of madness. Gollum accomplishes his own personal quest of reclaiming the ring for himself, though this proves to be Gollum's own undoing, his demise is for the greater good of all Creation.

Frodo goes further than anyone else, and deserves praise, but like Sir Lancelot, he unfortunately doesn't go quite far enough.

In the end, Frodo is so haunted by the spectre of the Ring and perhaps his own failure, that he at last chooses to pass into the West, and thus, gives up everything he fought for because he is so wounded and overcome by weariness.

Frodo takes his "light" to the Blessed Realm. Perhaps, it was only the wise Elves, who could look beneath the surface and into the heart, that could see Frodo's goodness, love, and ultimate spirit of sacrifice. Maybe only they could see how wounded he had become during the course of his quest, and in pity for all he had suffered, attempt to heal him.

05-01-2002, 10:22 AM	#3
Raven_Winter Guest Posts: n/a	Frodo's light is vastly different than that of the Elves. The Elves are practically pure spirit, very close to all Creation and its radiant beauty, as well as its Creators. They glow faintly with "starlight" because it is a mark of their higher nature. I am doubtful that being an Elf-Friend has much to do with Frodo's light. For example, Aragorn is an Elf-Friend, yet he doesn't shine. All an Elf-Friend denotes is an individual from another race who proves friendly to the Elves, and is of good standing and/or service to them. Frodo was most likely considered an Elf-Friend even before Gildor Inglorion said anything about the matter. The Elves knew who Frodo was and greeted him by name at their meeting. Gildor explained to Frodo that he had been seen walking with Bilbo many times by the Elves, even if he had not seen them. When Gildor later names Frodo an Elf-Friend twice, the second time, with a more serious bent in the conversation than the first, I think that he was trying to comfort Frodo and give him some assurance that the Elves in the surrounding region would hear of his plight and his need for assistance, and further, that the Elves would be on the look-out for him, as well as the Black Riders. Later, when Frodo meets Goldberry, there is a light in his eyes. Frodo felt a delight in seeing Goldberry that he could not quite grasp. To him, it was much like the delight of hearing the Elves, but it was a different experience, because he perceived the joy as being closer to a "mortal heart" and "less keen and lofty." He then is moved to sing a few lines of a song that Tom Bombadil had sung, and he suddenly becomes self-conscious and abashed. Goldberry, delighted by his praise and aware of his embarrassment remarks, "I had not heard that folk of the Shire were so sweet tongued. But I see you are an elf-friend; the light in your eyes and the ring in your voice tells it." I think that this was simply Goldberry's way of greatly complementing Frodo by comparing him with so fair a race as the Elves and putting him at ease. Furthermore, Goldberry is much higher on the food chain than the average Elf. She is of such a high degree of spiritual nature, that I suspect she could look into any heart and glean what is there in an instant. Frodo is who he is, and he greatly admires the Elves. So it is written in his heart and can be read by those keen enough to do so. The light that Frodo perceives in Strider's face when they are standing on the mound of Cerin Amroth -- well, that's just pure love. That whole bit has more to do with Aragorn and Arwen and what is between them than anything else. Frodo merely acts as a silent witness. Also, the Ruling Ring itself has the effect of causing Frodo's senses to become more keen. He can perceive things with his mind that others can not see. This is greatly illustrated later when he is beckoned by Galadriel to come to her garden and look into her Mirror. He perceives Nenya upon her finger, which due to the nature of its "magic," few can see. They speak of it openly, yet Sam is befuddled and has no idea what they were talking about. His only remark is that he "saw a star through her finger." The very key to Frodo's light I think, is foreshodowed when he is recovering from his near-fatal wound in the House of Elrond. Gandalf, sitting by Frodo's bed when he awakens, speaks with him for a bit, and Frodo begging for more information about what has gone on, prompts Gandalf to do so. Before Gandalf divulges anything to him, it is written: Gandalf moved his chair to the bedside and took a good look at Frodo. The colour had come back to his face, and his eyes were clear, and fully awake and aware. He was smiling and there seemed to be little wrong with him. But to the wizard's eye there was a faint change, just a hint as it were of transparency about him, and especially about the left hand that lay outside upon the coverlet. "Still that must be expected," said Gandalf to himself. "He is not half through yet, and to what he will come in the end not even Elrond can foretell. Not to evil, I think. He may become like a glass filled with a clear light for eyes to see that can." Thus, Frodo's light is an inner quality. He is, after all, reflective of the Mystic Hero archtype. He is on a physical quest, but one in which he will have to wrestle with his own nature and/or inner demons in order to succeed. Such quests require great sacrifice on the part of those who chose to endeavor them. All that Frodo did, he did for the love of his people and the love of all he treasured in his heart. He bore a burden beyond imagining for love. Despite this, at the absolute last, he failed. In "punishment" for his "denial" of his own true nature, Frodo quite unwillingly sacrifices his own ring finger when Gollum bites it off in a fit of madness. Gollum accomplishes his own personal quest of reclaiming the ring for himself, though this proves to be Gollum's own undoing, his demise is for the greater good of all Creation. Frodo goes further than anyone else, and deserves praise, but like Sir Lancelot, he unfortunately doesn't go quite far enough. In the end, Frodo is so haunted by the spectre of the Ring and perhaps his own failure, that he at last chooses to pass into the West, and thus, gives up everything he fought for because he is so wounded and overcome by weariness. Frodo takes his "light" to the Blessed Realm. Perhaps, it was only the wise Elves, who could look beneath the surface and into the heart, that could see Frodo's goodness, love, and ultimate spirit of sacrifice. Maybe only they could see how wounded he had become during the course of his quest, and in pity for all he had suffered, attempt to heal him.