Inkling Explorations//The Return of the King

The subject for this month's Inkling Explorations is: A scene with a traveler arriving home in book or film.

I've chosen the ending paragraphs of The Return of the King where Merry, Pippin, and Sam return home after saying good-bye to Frodo.  I know it's really short but well, short can be good sometimes, right?

Check out Heidi's blog for more posts!

*****

"At last the three companions turned away, and never again looking back they rode slowly homewards; and they spoke no word to one another until they came back to the Shire, but each had great comfort in his friends on the long grey road.

    

At last they rode over the downs and took the East Road, and then Merry and Pippin rode on toe Buckland; and already they were singing again as they went.  But Sam turned to Bywater, and so came back up the Hill, as day was ending once more.  And he went on, and there was a yellow light, and fire within; and the evening meal was ready, and he was expected.  And Rose drew him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap.

    

He drew a deep breath.  'Well, I'm back,' he said."

 

~The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

 

 

Isn't that a beautiful piece of writing? 

 

*****

 

Have you read The Return of the King?

Which is your favorite book in the Lord of the Rings trilogy? 

(If you have a favorite, that is.  Personally I'm horrible at picking favorites.)

Oh!  And isn't the ending just soooo sad?

(Why does Frodo have to leave? Why, oh why, oh why?  *sob*)



Why Frodo is NOT a weak character

 

Basically this is a "defend Frodo" post.   Why does he need defending?  Well, because I feel like a lot of people underestimate him.  He's the hero of the story, and yet he doesn't seem to be a general favorite.  Sam probably has a larger fan base than Frodo, and I find that rather curious.  Not because Sam shouldn't have such a large fan base, but because I think Frodo is an equally interesting, strong, and loveable character himself and ought to be as highly talked of  as any of them. 

So, can we talk about Frodo?
 

[First, though--before I begin--I must give an explanation.  I am not defending the Frodo of the movie.  I am defending the Frodo of the book.  The Frodo of my imagination.   The real Frodo.  (And yes, of course the Frodo of my imagination is the real one.   How could there be any doubt?)]
 

[And secondly--before I begin--I'd like to dedicate this post to my sister who's just above me in age, because Frodo has always been her special character.  Also to my sister-in-law because she understands Frodo, too.  Sisters dear, this post is for you.  I hope I can do justice to the subject.]

 

Now to begin.  (Oh, and just so you know, I won't be warning about spoilers, so if you're concerned about that then you probably don't want to read this.  Just sayin'.)

 

One common complaint I've heard about Frodo is that he is a weak character, so that's what I aim to address in this post.  (Surprise, right?  I mean, the above title never gave the slightest suspicion of what my subject was going to be about, did it?  ;))  Anyway, I'm not sure if people get this idea of Frodo being weak from reading the book or mostly from watching the movie.  If it stems from their view of him in the movie then I have nothing else to say except read the book--because in my personal opinion Frodo does appear rather weak in the movies, so I can't really defend him on that point--but the Frodo of the book is anything but weak. 

 

Allow me to expound on that.

 

• To begin with, Frodo willingly undertakes the task of destroying the ring, which shows an amazing amount of courage and selflessness.     The destruction of the ring was an impossible task from the beginning.  No one could have succeed at it.  And yet Frodo walks blindly forward, choosing to do the right thing even though he has no clear idea what he's getting himself into.  And those are traits of a strong character, not a weak one. 

• Secondly, Frodo shows enormous strength in resisting the power of the ring on more than one occasion.  Understand that the ring really is powerful. It poses a huge temptation to anyone who has it in their possession, and it's a temptation which goes beyond the strength of most people to resist.

 

Then as a flash from some other point of power there came to his mind another thought: Take it off!  Take it off!  Fool, take it off! Take off the Ring!

    

The two powers strove in him.  For a moment, perfectly balanced between their piercing points, he writhed, tormented.  Suddenly he was aware of himself again.  Frodo, neither the Voice nor the Eye: free to choose, and with one remaining instant in which to do so.  He took the Ring off his finger.

The struggle is painfully real.  But he makes the right choice.  He does it.  And any of us who have been faced with strong temptation in our lives know how hard it is to make the right decision in the heat of the moment.

 

• Point number three.  Some seem to think that Sam is a stronger character than Frodo because after carrying the ring for a few days he didn't hesitate to give it back to Frodo, while Frodo on the other hand goes berserk if anyone suggests that he hand the ring over to them.  Ahem.  Weellll...that is true, but only if you're considering the end of the book and not the entire story, because there are parts nearer the beginning when Frodo willingly offers to give the ring to someone else.  Galadriel, for instance.  He as good as says to her, "Take it.  I don't want it."  And then there's that undeniable fact, that the longer one has the ring in one's possession, the harder it is to give it up.  Frodo had the ring for years.  Sam only carried it a couple of days at the most.  So it's not really an equal comparison.

 

• Frodo also shows great strength in his ability to make wise decisions even when he's feeling terribly afraid.  His conversation with Boromir is an excellent example of that, and will explain it better than I can, so I'm going to include it.

"You are kind," answered Frodo.  "But I do not think that any speech will help me.  For I know what I should do, but I am afraid of doing it, Boromir: afraid."

     Boromir stood silent.  Rauros roared endlessly on.  The wind murmured in the branches of the trees.  Frodo shivered.

     Suddenly Boromir came and sat beside him.  "Are you sure that you do not suffer needlessly?"  he said.  "I wish to help you.  You need counsel in your hard choice.  Will you not take mine?"

     "I think I know already what counsel you would give, Boromir," said Frodo.  "And it would seem like wisdom but for the warning of my heart."

     "Warning?  Warning against what?" said Boromir sharply.
     "Against delay.  Against the way that seems easier. Against refusal of the burden that is laid on me..."

I find Frodo's words in this passage truly inspiring.  "Against the way that seems easier."  How often do we ourselves choose the way that seems easier?  How often do we settle for that which is comfortable and self-serving, and refuse to give ourselves up to the hard tasks--which while difficult in the moment, will yet in the end bring unbounded good to those around us.   

Oh, no.  Frodo is anything but a weak character.

 

• Of course, I suppose I must also mention the obvious fact of Frodo's failing at the end.  His inability to destroy the ring, and his claiming it for himself, might seem to speak loud and clear to a weak character.  And yet, again, I'd like to say different.  As we've already said, it was an impossible task.  No one could have tossed that ring into the fire after carrying it for so many months, with it's power growing stronger every day.  Frodo gave up everything to perform a task which was utterly impossible for him to perform.  He struggled through, enduring all the pain, all the hardship, all the endless torment, firmly fixed upon that end goal.  And yet in the end he wasn't able to do it.  It proved too much for him.  And help had to come to him from elsewhere.  (Kind of reminds me of us.  There's only so much we can do with our limited abilities, but when we put our faith and trust in God and walk according to His plan for our lives, He'll never fail us.  He'll always send us what we need, just at the right moment.)  And so it's true.  Frodo did not succeed in destroying the ring, but that does not annul the fact that he went to the extreme limits of his own powers to do what he knew to be right.  And that's a success in and of itself.   And a huge indication of a strong character.  Indeed, how many of us can say as much for ourselves? 

"Well, this is the end, Sam Gamgee," said a voice by his side.  And there was Frodo, pale and worn, and yet himself again; and in his eyes there was peace now, neither strain of will, nor madness, nor any fear.  His burden was taken away.  There was the dear master of the sweet days in the Shire.

     "Master!" cried Sam, and fell upon his knees.  In all that ruin of the world for the moment he felt only joy, great joy.  The burden was gone.  His master had been saved; he was himself again, he was free.  And then Sam caught sight of the maimed and bleeding hand.

     "Your poor hand!" he said.  "And I have nothing to bind it with, or comfort it.  I would have spared him a whole hand of mine rather.  But he's gone now beyond recall, gone for ever."

     "Yes," said Frodo.  "But do you remember Gandalf's words: Even Gollum may have something yet to do?  But for him, Sam, I could not have destroyed the Ring.  The Quest would have been in vain, even at the bitter end.  So let us forgive him!  For the Quest is achieved, and now all is over.  I am glad you are here with me.  Here at the end of all things, Sam."

I just have to say, I love how Frodo's first thought is to forgive.  To let the past rest and move forward, grateful for having been brought through it.  The pain in his hand at the moment must have been excruciating, but it was as nothing compared to the joy and relief in his heart.

 

• Just one more point I can't leave out.  Frodo is merciful.  And really, it takes a lot of strength to show mercy to one's enemies--to let them go free when you know they deserve to suffer for their wrongdoings.  To stand unwavering in your decision even after they show gross ingratitude to you for your kindness.  To humble yourself and allow them to walk away with nothing to gain from it for yourself except the hope that by giving them a second chance they just might live a better life and be a different person.  Frodo shows mercy to others on more than one occasion.  And I really like that about him.

 

Well, I was going to say more, but I decided this was a rather good place to stop--and besides I think I've talked your ear off long enough. (Now, now.  You don't have to agree with me so completely.)  

 

 

What is your opinion of Frodo?

Among the things I mentioned, is there anything in particular to which you agree or disagree?

 

 

And don't forget.  If you're in the mood for more Lord of the Rings posts (which you may  very well not be after this one) check out Cordy's blog here and join the fun!

 

Another of Cordy's "Would You Rather Games"! Lord of the Rings Edition

Cordy is hosting a Lord of the Rings week over at her blog Write on Cordy!.  If you're a Lord of the Rings fan and would like to join in on the fun, just click on the link to her blog and head straight over there.  Everyone is welcome to participate.

 

As for me, I have tentative plans for writing a couple LOTR posts this week, but I won't make any guarantees because when it comes to meeting deadlines like this I'm not always up to the mark.  For now, however, I thought I'd simply fill out the answers to Cordy's Would You Rather Game. 
 
Not that there's anything simple about that, as Cordy certainly didn't go out of her way to make things easy for us.

 

Yeah, and about that, Cordy.  I think we need to have a talk. 

 

*Ahem*  The questions:

 

1. You have been tasked with your own quest, your own fellowship has been gathered, and you have the pick of one last member, would you rather choose Eomer or Imrahil to join you on your journey? (Imrahil is a member of the Dunedain.)

I'm going to copy Cordy on this one and say Imrahil, because I really do think he would be a good guy to have along on a quest.  As stated above he is a member of the Dunedain, and the Dunedain are particularly well suited for facing difficulties in wild and unknown lands.  Yes.  I would definitely feel safest if I had one of the Dunedain along on the journey.

 

2. Would you rather have to track an army of Uruk-Hai, or climb the 'stairs'?

Oh, bother.  What a question.  Hold it, though!  I've got an answer.  I've decided I'm going to track the Uruk-Hai.  However, I'm going to make sure I run very slowly and stay far enough behind them so that I never actually catch up with them.  *grin*

 

 

(Well, all you said was I had to track them.  You didn't say I had to catch them!  And I ain't catchin' no orcs.  Yeah, and I ain't speakin' no good English, neither.)  (Don't even ask...)

 

3. Who would you rather, slap/shake/glare, some sense into, Denethor or Wormtongue?

Oooh!  I don't want to be around either of them.  But if I must choose, well then my answer would have to be Denethor.  He needs some sense shaken into him.  "BE NICE TO YOUR SON!  AND  STOP BEING SUCH A SOURPUSS."  "Okay, so you're all broken hearted because your son is dead, and now you're going to make him thoroughly dead by burning him and yourself on a pile of old sticks.  That makes sense!"  Honestly.  Denethor needs some serious help.

4. Would you rather attend Bilbo's birthday and have to dance a jig or have to sing a solo at Aragorn's coronation?

CORDY!!!!  How can you do this to me?!  Singing in front of such a large crowd would be terrifying! But then dancing a jig?  *shudders*  I'm embarrassed already.  Alright, I've got it.  I will do the jig.  However it will be a five second jig, and it will be danced behind the party tents where no one can see me.  (Haha.  Now wasn't that a clever way to get out of this scrape?  I'm so proud of myself.)

5. Would you rather, soar on an Eagle's back to pick-up Frodo and Sam or participate in the last march of the Ents, courtesy of Treebeard's shoulder?

 

Soar on an Eagle's back.  It would be fun to fly.  Also I'd love to pick Frodo and Sam up after their long, dangerous journey and whisk them back to safety. 

6. Would you rather have to face an enraged Oliphant or Shelob?

 
The Oliphant, indubitably.  It doesn't seem as likely to single me out with the direct purpose of killing me for dinner.  Also, Oliphants are much more lumbering and awkward, so I think it would be a lot easier to dodge one of them than Shelob.   (And I fully intend to dodge.)

7. Would you rather have to wear the full armor of Gondor for a day or the full armor of Rohan for a day?

 

Let's go with Gondor.  (Well, I have to pick a different answer than Cordy sometime.)  No armor would be comfortable, of course, but it strikes me that the men of Gondor are a bit more clean and tidy than the men of Rohan, and, well, if you have to be uncomfortable you may as well have the comfort in knowing that you look tidy in your uncomfortableness. 

 

8. Would you rather have an axe or a bow?

 

A bow of course!  I'd much rather fight my enemy from a safe distance.  (And I'm giving my enemy the axe.  Because I'm nice.  Heehee.)

9.Would you rather visit Lothlorien or Rivendell?

 

If we're going by the movies, then definitely Rivendell.  It looks more homey.  Lothlorien on the other hand is rather creepy...mostly because of Galadriel.  But that's a story for another day.

10. Would you rather have to get through the Mines of Moria or take the Path of the Dead? (In each situation, you are with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. Haha, so, you're not alone!)

WHAT?!  You're joking, right?

Okay, when I first read this question I was like, "no way!"  That's impossible to answer.  But I've thought about it a little more since then and have decided that I'd much rather go through the Paths of the Dead (Cordy, seriously, I'm not trying to copy you on every single question.  It's just happening).  The reason for that is  because I'll have Aragorn with me.  And with Aragorn beside me there's nothing really to fear in going down that path, because all we'll be facing is dead people who practically have no choice but to do what he says.  And we'll all come out safe and sound, unlike the Mines of Moria.  So yes.  Definitely the Paths of the Dead.  

11. Would you rather stay and help rebuild the Shire, or sail to the Undying Lands? 
 

Stay and help rebuild the Shire.  Absolutely.  The Undying Lands sound rather boring, frankly.  And, again, if we're looking at this from the perspective of the movies I'd have to say that another major objection would be the company I would have to keep in that place.  Seriously, I just know I'd suffer extreme frustration being surrounded by so many gloomy elves.  *ducks head as the all the elf lovers gasp at such a scandalous declaration*  Sorry, but they are gloomy in the movies, and they kind of drive me nuts.   I like hobbits much better.  :D

 

 

Well, that's that!   Thanks for the fun game, Cordy! 

 

So long, everyone!  Check out Cordy's blog if you're in the mood for more Lord of the Rings related posts!  :)

 

Until next time...

 

 

Heart-breaking Moments in Fiction

Hello, people.  I'm here today with another 'moments in fiction' post.  (My first post like this was written back in November.  You can read it here if you're interested.)  In my last post I highlighted four story snippets which I found to be particularly relatable and true to life.  In this post I want to highlight a few of those emotional scenes which have the ability to grip your heart with an almost literal pain.  (Speaking for myself, at least.)

I've been reading David Copperfield lately--if ever there was a book full of emotion it is that book--and I came across a passage the other day which literally made me groan.  It was that sad.  Afterward I started thinking.  Are there are other scenes in books that have broken my heart in this way?  And the answer was, yes.  So I decided to put together a deliciously sad post for you all to enjoy.  ;)

Seriously, if you're anything like me you enjoy these sorts of scenes.  Because tragedy and heartache make you feel deeply for the characters you're reading about.   And one likes to feel for their characters.  A story would be boring otherwise.

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
[Note:  I had to edit a bit of this because it was so long.  Where you see "..." is where I removed a bit of the original text.  Just so you know.]  

As the door closed, little Em'ly looked at us three in a hurried manner, and then hid her face in her hands, and fell to sobbing.

     'Doen't, Em'ly!' said Ham, tapping her gently on the shoulder.  'Doen't, my dear!  You doen't ought to cry so, pretty!'

     'Oh, Ham!' she exclaimed, still weeping pitifully, 'I am not so good a girl as I ought to be!  I know I have not the thankful heart, sometimes, I ought to have!'

     'Yes, yes, you have, I'm sure,' said Ham.

     "No! no! no!' cried little Em'ly, sobbing, and shaking her head.  'I am not as good as girl as I ought to be.  Not near! not near!'

     And still she cried, as if her heart would break.

     'I try your love too much.  I know I do!' she sobbed.  "I'm often cross to you, and changeable with you, when I ought to be far different.  You are never so to me.  Why am I ever so to you, when I should think of nothing but how to be grateful and to make you happy!'

     'You always make me so,' said Ham, 'my dear!  I am happy in the sight of you.  I am happy, all day long, in the thoughts of you.'

     'Ah! that's not enough!' she cried.  'That is because you are good; not because I am!  Oh, my dear, it might have been a better fortune for you, if you had been fond of some one else--of some one steadier and much worthier than me, who was all bound up in you, and never vain and changeable like me!'

...

'Oh, pray, aunt, try to help me!  Ham, dear, try to help me!  Mr. David, for the sake of old times, do please, try to help me!  I want to be a better girl than I am.  I want to feel a hundred times more thankful than I do.  I want to feel more, what a blessed thing it is to be the wife of a good man, and to lead a peaceful life.  Oh me, oh me!  Oh my heart, my heart!'

...

I saw her do, that night, what I had never seen her do before.  I saw her innocently kiss her chosen husband on the cheek and creep close to his bluff form as if it were her best support.  When they went away together, in the waning moonlight, and I looked after them, comparing their departure in my mind with Martha's, I saw that she held his arm with both her hands, and still kept close to him.

Oh, this part.  Knowing what comes afterward makes it so terribly sad.  The description of Emily holding on to Ham and keeping close to him as if, yes!  as if he were indeed her "best support".  Oh!  It's painful!  Because it's so true, he was her best support; he was a place of safety and protection and goodness.  And she knew it.  She knew the protection and love Ham had to offer her; and it's so sad to see how she instinctively clings to it, even while preparing to throw it from her.  Ahhh!  Why Emily?  Why?  You and Ham could have been happy together.  I know you could have, if you'd chosen to.  But human nature is a complicated thing, and too often we fail to comprehend what it is we're throwing away until it's too late to get it back.


Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

By eight in the morning Edmund was in the house.  The girls heard his entrance from above, and Fanny went down.  The idea of immediately seeing him with the knowledge of what he must be suffering, brought back all her own first feelings.  He so near her, and in misery.  She was ready to sink as she entered the parlour.  He was alone, and met her instantly, and she found herself pressed to his heart with only these words, just articulate, "My Fanny-my only sister-my only comfort now."

Ahhhh. Talk about clinging to another human being for strength and support.  I love how Edmund in his sorrow, and without a second thought, turns instinctively to Fanny for comfort.  His heart-break is so real, and it is evident from the few simple words he speaks that he has full confidence in Fanny's sympathy and understanding.  I love the feelings in this passage!  The desperation and the sorrow, and yet the joy of having one faithful human being to rely on and trust.  Also the fact that Edmund is seeking Fanny for comfort.  It's just...oh!...it's just too much!  *sob*


The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

Sam knelt by him.  Faint, almost inaudibly, he heard Frodo whispering, "Help me, Sam!  help me, Sam!  I can't stop it.'  Sam took his master's hands and laid them together, palm to palm, and kissed them; and then he held them gently between his own.

Okay.  Seriously.  This part gets me every time.  The utter hopelessness in Frodo's  voice; his simple, yet urgent cry for help; and Sam's calm and quick response.  Ahh!  Way to wrip my heart out.  Also, I just want to say, that though this is a very short snippet, it's a very powerful one.  Frodo's plea is utterly helpless, and yet looking at it closer there is extraordinary strength hidden beneath it.  The sort of strength which comes from being able to recognize one's own weakness and limitations and to plead for help before it's too late.  (Whoever said Frodo was a weak character?)

 

Are there any books that are particularly emotional for you?

Do you enjoy tragic, heart-rending scenes, or do you prefer cheerful and happy ones?