The Ring bearer

[Boromir88]

Oh stop the nonsense Foley, those are good observations made to start a good thread. And on a personal note, it feels good to put my brain back to use for more than just sporty and werewolfy stuff. So, thank you.

Frodo is clearly changed, and we could list a whole 2 pages worth of reasons, easily, from all the physical and emotional pain he endured throughout the quest, but it goes beyond that. Frodo may not have a giddy-happy personality at the beginning, but he does love the Shire, there's no doubt.

"He would come with me, of course, if I asked him. In fact he offered to once, just before the party. But he does not really want to, yet. I want to see the wild country again before I die, and the Mountains, but he is still in love with the Shire, with woods and fields and little rivers."~A Long-Expected Party

It's Bilbo stating this, true, but I see no reason to think he's not spot on about Frodo (at this time immediately after Bilbo's party) is still in love with The Shire.

Then, fastforward to Frodo post-ring destruction and my impression is much like yours, it's a major change. The best way I can describe it, is Frodo is a zombie. Think about it, I'm sure we've all seen people who are physically present, but mentally checked out. And that's Frodo, he's lifeless. So why?

I think it's the destruction of the Ring. To us, Sam, an everyone else in the story, it would seem weird. It's a moment of triumph and defeat against the biggest evil of the age. Woo! Right? Not Frodo, he's literally got nothing left. One of the most chilling parts of the book is right before Frodo gets inside Mount Doom, he says this to Sam:

"Now, I am afraid not, Sam," said Frodo, "At least, I know that such things happened, but I cannot see them. No taste of food, no feel of water, no sound of wind, no memory of tree or grass or flower, no image of moon or star are left to me. I am naked in the dark, Sam, and there is no veil between me and the wheel of fire. I begin to see it even with my waking eyes and all else fades."~Mount Doom

How horrifying would that be? The Ring has sapped all the life and beauty out of Frodo. He's got nothing left, except him and the Ring. Destroy the Ring, then what do you have left?