[littlemanpoet]

Thanks, all, for taking this discussion in such interesting directions.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

To lose hope is to lose everything, if you don't have hope what do you have? And I think a lot of the characters struggle with hope.

So despair is the worst thing.

Originally Posted by luthien-elvenprincess

I think that the most difficult thing to overcome, for the characters in Middle Earth, was their own personal preferences, or the love of self.

Selfishness.

Originally Posted by luthien-elvenprincess

To me, the greater reward received would be the knowledge that you are actively fulfilling the plan for your life.

I like this.

Originally Posted by luthien-elvenprincess

So, it is true LMP, that hope need never be lost if you consistently make the choices that keep it alive.

But who can actually be so consistent? Everybody fails. In fact, every single member of the Fellowship made mistakes, maybe even Gandalf (if one can say that it was a mistake to go into Moria).

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

Yes.

Now now, Kuru, don't be coy. Please illustrate.

Originally Posted by Kuru

I'm not clear that by the end (particularly after his Cirith Ungol experience) Frodo had hope. I think it was more of an act of will on his part to continue the journey and resist the Ring without hope.

My readings of LotR lead me to agree with Kuru on this point. In Mordor, Frodo himself says that he has no hope. I think we can take him at his word. He is moving forward on will alone. When he loses strength, it is Sam's strength of hope and will, that literally carries Frodo onward.

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Whichever decision Arwen makes, she is doomed to be permanently parted from either her father or her betrothed.

The worst thing for Arwen, then, having to permanently choose between to loved ones.

As Mithalwen notes, Gimli finds his meeting with, and parting from, Galadriel, to be his greatest peril, his worst thing to face. But was it?

As Lush said, the worst thing for Denethor was his despair after losing first his wife, then his eldest son.

Originally Posted by Farael

By killing Faramir, [Denethor] owns his destiny and in such way, he owns Faramir himself.

Do you really think so? I find this to be an interesting thought. Would Denethor really own Faramir? Or would he only believe that he did?

Originally Posted by Lalwende

It might be useful to compare two Ringbearers - Sam and Frodo; the former (although not long a Ringbearer) manages to integrate the experience while the latter simply cannot cope. Bilbo was also a Ringbearer and like Sam he too is much more able to cope than Frodo.

Huh? What do you mean? How can he not cope? It seems to me that he copes most successfully, and finally succumbs only because of the sheer immensity of the burden.