Oh wow, this has all given me a completely new and entirely mind-altering view of Frodo.
Gordis, you wrote:
Quote:
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I don't think Frodo was thinking of saving the Shire at the moment. Not anymore. In his deluded mind, poisoned by the Ring, he contemplated becoming the Ringlord, ruling ME, ordering about the nazgul. He was not Frodo anymore, he was a strange mixture of Frodo and Sauron from the Ring, with the latter clearly prevailing. The Ring acted not so much on Frodo's own desires, but on Sauron's desires implanted in him. That's why he felt so empty and broken with the Ring destroyed and could never enjoy the Shire again.
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Thanks so much for bringing me to this point, for I agree now with almost all that you write...except for one thing: "The Ring acted not so much on Frodo's own desires,
but on Sauron's desires implanted in him." From everything we see of the Ring, it just doesn't work like that. Yes, it is motivated by the same selfishness and desire for mastery that motivates Sauron, but it always and only works on or with the material of the person being corrupted...using their own desire for good and perverting it (Gandalf's desire to protect, Galadriel's to preserve, Isildur's for glory, Boromir's for conquest, Sam's for Gardens, Bilbo's for long life, Gollum's for fish). But as
Gordis has argued, and I now agree, Frodo succumbs to the desire to be the Dark Lord...which means that at some level
this has always been his desire.
See what I mean by mind-altering? Frodo as actually wanting on some level to be the Dark Lord of Mordor??? But really, is there any other option here, given how the Ring works and given the absence of any other explicit kind of temptation. The visions that people have motivated by the Ring are clear indications of how they imagine themselves with it on their finger: Galadriel as a queen, Sam as a Gardener, Gollum as The Gollum, Boromir leading the West to victory. But, again as
Gordis points out, Frodo sees himself as the Dark Lord…which means that this vision is coming from somewhere inside.
Again: wow!
So now I’m realising I’m going to have to rethink the entire tale in terms of finding if or where Frodo reveals this desire. I don’t think I could or would ever condemn him for it…not having been a Ringbearer myself and all…but I mean, come on, Frodo! Visions of glory or wealth, the idea of protecting and saving the Shire, these I could understand, but the promise of sitting on the Dark Throne itself and waging war against the Free West…that’s what the Ring finds in you????????????????
[Take that you silly people who want to see Frodo as a Christ-figure!]