Halbarad, very good. I have been reading this thread since it was posted. And for my 300th post, I decided that I would get on my soapbox, as my mother says. [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]
Earlier I stated that Sam was the strongest person, what I was trying to say was that Sam's loyalty to Frodo made him strong. Now if he had to carry the ring, I don't know if he could. We don't get to see much of the "spiritual" side of Sam. Sam's weakness is exposed in the situations with Smeagol/Gollum. But again, this anger is cause by his loyalty to Frodo. He doesn't want harm to come to his master.
Now, back to Frodo. I again state what I said in a previous post.
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As far as Frodo being weak because he couldn't bring himself to kill to defend the Shire, I do not see this. The reason he did not want to kill was because of mercy and pity. He had learned pity through Gollum. Remember the line that Gandalf said to Frodo?
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Frodo: He deserves death.
Gandalf: Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.
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It takes a stronger person to stay the hand in mercy than it takes to strike with the hand.
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Also, note that when Frodo is wounded at Weathertop by the Morgul blade, he remains strong. Even at the chase at the Ford Frodo states
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"Go back! he cried. Go back to the Land of Mordor, and follow me no more!"... "By Elbereth and Lùthien the Fair," said Frodo, with a last effort, lifting up his sword, "you shall have neither the Ring or me!"
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Gandalf himself stated that Frodo was made of stronger stuff than most men. In the chapter "Many Meetings" Gandalf and Frodo speak of what happened.
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Gandalf: "Elrond is a master of healing, but the weapons of our Enemy are deadly. To tell you the truth, I had very little hope; for I suspected taht there was some fragment of the blade still in the closed wound. But it could not be found until last night. Then Elrond removed a splinter. It was deeply buried, and it was working inward."
Frodo shuddered, remembering the cruel kife with notched blade that had vanished in Strider's hands. "Don't be alarmed!" said Gandalf. "It is gone now. It has been melted. And it seems that Hobbits fade very reluctantly. I have known strong warriors of the Big People who would quickly have been overcome by that splinter, which you have borne for 17 days..."
"Yes, fortune or fate have helped you," said Gandalf, "not to mention your courage. For you heart was not touched, and only your shoulder was pierced; and that was because you resisted to the last. But it was a terribly narrow shave, so to speak..."
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 though 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."
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Frodo, even though he failed in completing the mission, though it was completed, came back with a pure heart. He was strong in the defense of the Shire, stronger yet was his resolve in pity and mercy. He extended mercy those who destroyed the Shire, even Saurman and Grima Wormtongue. I believe that Sharkù, old Saurman said it best when he said
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You have grown, Halfling. You have grown very much. You are wise and cruel. You have robbed my my revenge of sweetness, and now I must go hence in my bitterness, in debt to your mercy. I hate it and you!.."
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