The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - frodo was both the weakest and strongest person in the Trilogy?

mark12_30 · 05-28-2002, 12:01 PM

Sharon, 7th age Hobbit:

Greetings and thanks for a number of deep posts.

In answer to your question you voiced at the end of your analysis of Sam and Frodo as archetypes: Practical and locally focused, versus Seer and visionary. Your question was "Has anyone else sensed this in their reading?"

What can I say but a resounding Yes? I definitely sense what you describe, and am heartily grateful that you were able to clarify it so well.

And I find it fascinating, as a starry-eyed idealist, that my closest friends through the years (including my spouse) have been reality-driven practical types-- as you describe Sam. (I might add, the hardest years in my life were also the years when I was without a "Sam.")

And indeed, some of those Sam-like friends do not necessarily understand why Frodo behaves the way he does in The Return Of The King, and denounce his actions on Mount Doom and in The Scouring of The Shire. (When they do I seem to take it as a personal attack...) Your idea of the archetypes could explain why.

So on several levels, thanks for your explanations.

I wish I was as certain as you that Frodo took the path that was right for him in going to Valinor (or Tol Eressea); I read Mithadan's fanfic on that topic, and was haunted by the image of Frodo waiting for some sixty-odd years between Bilbo's death and Sam's arrival. I know he's an elf-friend, but still, being the only hobbit among a host of elves could get lonely after a while? I hope I'm wrong.

Regarding Frodo's choice to sail, there is a great article referenced for the hall-of-fire chat for this past weekend, and the link is:
http://home.mn.rr.com/karynmilos/ess...eeplyhurt.html

I highly recommend it. That, combined with re-reading "The Sea-Bell" from that Tom Bombadil collection, finally persuaded me that Frodo's choice to leave was a valid one... for three decades now I've always hated that choice, and it was nice to finally come to some sort of peace about it.

Even so, I still find myself wishing he could have stayed.

So.. Sharon, thanks again for your many thoughtful posts.

--mark12_30

[ May 28, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

05-28-2002, 12:01 PM	#77
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Sharon, 7th age Hobbit: Greetings and thanks for a number of deep posts. In answer to your question you voiced at the end of your analysis of Sam and Frodo as archetypes: Practical and locally focused, versus Seer and visionary. Your question was "Has anyone else sensed this in their reading?" What can I say but a resounding Yes? I definitely sense what you describe, and am heartily grateful that you were able to clarify it so well. And I find it fascinating, as a starry-eyed idealist, that my closest friends through the years (including my spouse) have been reality-driven practical types-- as you describe Sam. (I might add, the hardest years in my life were also the years when I was without a "Sam.") And indeed, some of those Sam-like friends do not necessarily understand why Frodo behaves the way he does in The Return Of The King, and denounce his actions on Mount Doom and in The Scouring of The Shire. (When they do I seem to take it as a personal attack...) Your idea of the archetypes could explain why. So on several levels, thanks for your explanations. I wish I was as certain as you that Frodo took the path that was right for him in going to Valinor (or Tol Eressea); I read Mithadan's fanfic on that topic, and was haunted by the image of Frodo waiting for some sixty-odd years between Bilbo's death and Sam's arrival. I know he's an elf-friend, but still, being the only hobbit among a host of elves could get lonely after a while? I hope I'm wrong. Regarding Frodo's choice to sail, there is a great article referenced for the hall-of-fire chat for this past weekend, and the link is: http://home.mn.rr.com/karynmilos/ess...eeplyhurt.html I highly recommend it. That, combined with re-reading "The Sea-Bell" from that Tom Bombadil collection, finally persuaded me that Frodo's choice to leave was a valid one... for three decades now I've always hated that choice, and it was nice to finally come to some sort of peace about it. Even so, I still find myself wishing he could have stayed. So.. Sharon, thanks again for your many thoughtful posts. --mark12_30 [ May 28, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ] __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.