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Child of the 7th Age · 08-02-2004, 08:46 AM

I have always felt that the immediate practical reason for the switch was what luthien-elven princess suggested: the fact that Frodo may have been wholly undressed or placed in a gown in the process of tending his wounds and lying him down to rest.

On a practical basis of course, placing the Ring about his neck next to his body rather than on a chain hanging from his belt and tucked in his pocket would have afforded additional protection. It would be harder for anyone to grab onto it and tug.

But I think there is symbolism intended here as well. It is one thing to have the Ring in Frodo's outside pocket and attached to his belt and another to have it literally hanging about his neck, nestled against his skin, on the inside so to speak. It is as if the thing is bearing directly on him, all its weight and influence. No longer on the outside, the Ring has become almost part of his body. It is just one more step on the road to Mordor. In the ensuing scenes, we will see it go further and actually get inside his head and how that will affect his behavior. All this is inevitable, yet there is a certain sadness to me in seeing it hanging about the Hobbit's neck, while he enjoys the sparkling Elven halls. Even here, the chains draw tighter.

As to who did the physical switch, Tolkien apparently did not want to let us know. Perhaps because that would have required him to depict some response from the character as to the pull and lure of the Ring. He intentionally let us see how Tom Bombadil was not influenced in the slightest when he picked up the thing. Plus, we have already seen how Bilbo and Gandalf had difficulty letting it go, and later on we will be shown how Sam dealt with the temptation. And Faramir will at least tell us how he thinks he would have reacted.

Apparently, Tolkien didn't want to "overuse" this device. And if he had simply mentioned the name in passing without further comment on how that person felt, we would be sitting here forever arguing how "X" could handle it and yet not take it, what "X" felt, etc. Instead, the focus of the temptation remains on poor Frodo!

As to whether JRRT knew who it was in his own head, we'll never know unless someone finds a clue in some unpublished letter tucked away somewhere.

08-02-2004, 08:46 AM	#16
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	I have always felt that the immediate practical reason for the switch was what luthien-elven princess suggested: the fact that Frodo may have been wholly undressed or placed in a gown in the process of tending his wounds and lying him down to rest. On a practical basis of course, placing the Ring about his neck next to his body rather than on a chain hanging from his belt and tucked in his pocket would have afforded additional protection. It would be harder for anyone to grab onto it and tug. But I think there is symbolism intended here as well. It is one thing to have the Ring in Frodo's outside pocket and attached to his belt and another to have it literally hanging about his neck, nestled against his skin, on the inside so to speak. It is as if the thing is bearing directly on him, all its weight and influence. No longer on the outside, the Ring has become almost part of his body. It is just one more step on the road to Mordor. In the ensuing scenes, we will see it go further and actually get inside his head and how that will affect his behavior. All this is inevitable, yet there is a certain sadness to me in seeing it hanging about the Hobbit's neck, while he enjoys the sparkling Elven halls. Even here, the chains draw tighter. As to who did the physical switch, Tolkien apparently did not want to let us know. Perhaps because that would have required him to depict some response from the character as to the pull and lure of the Ring. He intentionally let us see how Tom Bombadil was not influenced in the slightest when he picked up the thing. Plus, we have already seen how Bilbo and Gandalf had difficulty letting it go, and later on we will be shown how Sam dealt with the temptation. And Faramir will at least tell us how he thinks he would have reacted. Apparently, Tolkien didn't want to "overuse" this device. And if he had simply mentioned the name in passing without further comment on how that person felt, we would be sitting here forever arguing how "X" could handle it and yet not take it, what "X" felt, etc. Instead, the focus of the temptation remains on poor Frodo! As to whether JRRT knew who it was in his own head, we'll never know unless someone finds a clue in some unpublished letter tucked away somewhere. __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.