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How long did Frodo carry it, before he began to truly feel the effects?
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The effects started telling on Frodo even before he ever wore it. Recall his concern for the Ring when Gandalf threw it in the fire? (Of course, that was after seventeen years of owning the thing, but that wasn't the same as wearing it, which Frodo doesn't do until Gandalf shows up again.) And don't forget Boromier, who not once even touched the Ring but was driven mad by it. The length of time one wears the Ring doesn't always matter. It started to get to Sam just at it did to Frodo but Sam rationalized (in his simple way) the draw of the Ring away. Frodo could not deny the Ring's call, especially so near Mordor. But I digress. (Now I think I'm back to where I started with favorite characters: Frodo and Sam are equal again, though I love them each for different reasons.)
Regardless, neither Frodo nor Sam would have finished the quest without each other; that's the true strength seen in this book. The stength of friendship. You'll notice that it isn't just Frodo and Sam who are bound by it; Merry and Pippin would not have fared well without each other; even Legoalas and Gimli were made stronger by their bonds of friendship. The one who suffered the most dire consequences of the fellowship was the one who was, ultimately, alone: Boromir.