Frodo at Sammath Naur - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Essex · 01-28-2004, 01:07 PM

Davem,

You seem to have thrown a curve ball with your last post. Are you now going against the whole premise of the book to say that Frodo did not show Gollum Mercy? That I cannot agree with........No Mercy, no redemption, which (to me) is the core of the story, not anything to do with failure/success.

Frodo's words to Gollum were one of warning. "...you shall be cast yourself into the Fire of Doom". This did not actually happen. Frodo did not forsee this, becuase, as we know, Gollum slipped and fell. He was not cast into the Fire by Frodo or the Ring.

I believe we will not agree on the failure/success side no matter how much we post, but I have a healthy regard for all the points of view (except maybe the last one!) I've read here.

PS the reason I mentioned Pullman is that he uses the term "The Authority" in his Dark Materials trilogy. I haven't yet read Tolkien's Letters, but it's on my list, so I'll no doubt come across Tolkien's words on the Authority.

01-28-2004, 01:07 PM	#27
Essex Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Essex, England Posts: 886	Davem, You seem to have thrown a curve ball with your last post. Are you now going against the whole premise of the book to say that Frodo did not show Gollum Mercy? That I cannot agree with........No Mercy, no redemption, which (to me) is the core of the story, not anything to do with failure/success. Frodo's words to Gollum were one of warning. "...you shall be cast yourself into the Fire of Doom". This did not actually happen. Frodo did not forsee this, becuase, as we know, Gollum slipped and fell. He was not cast into the Fire by Frodo or the Ring. I believe we will not agree on the failure/success side no matter how much we post, but I have a healthy regard for all the points of view (except maybe the last one!) I've read here. PS the reason I mentioned Pullman is that he uses the term "The Authority" in his Dark Materials trilogy. I haven't yet read Tolkien's Letters, but it's on my list, so I'll no doubt come across Tolkien's words on the Authority.