This was an excellent analysis. I completely agree there is something unfathomable about Frodo's story arch, but also Frodo's character as a whole. We do get to see a lot of the story "through his eyes", so to say. But at the same time he is the hobbit who remains the most detached to us, the one whose inner life is, after all, not fully revealed. I can't substantiate this based on specific passages at this moment, it's more of a vague impression. Is it because some aspect of his experience, with him being the ringbearer and the victim of a Morgul blade, is bound to remain beyond the reader's comprehension?
I also get that impression about Frodo. The more the story goes on, the less we get to see what’s really going on in his mind. It’s like he becomes less and less of himself. Part of that seems to be the effect of the Ring, but I also think it’s the humility that he learns to live by.
Maybe one reason Frodo is so detached by the end is not only because of his experiences with the Ring but because he's the one writing the story, and no longer considers himself a character, if that makes any sense.
Thank you for this enlightening video. I'm writing a video essay on character arcs in LotR and I will try not to copy your points, but I may build on some of them with your permission. I appreciate your knowledge and insight!!!
22:33 not sure if its true but i saw something saying that Eru himself interfered and pushed Gollum in. Not sure if its true but i thought it was something interesting to share.
I think I’ve heard that theory before, but I think Tolkien would probably go with the theory that Gollum’s own evil is what really did him in rather than that Eru directly interfered.
"Frodo deserved all honour because he spent every drop of his power of will and body, and that was just sufficient to bring him to the destined point, and no further. Few others, possibly no others of his time, would have got so far. The Other Power then took over: the Writer of the Story (by which I do not mean myself), 'that one ever-present Person who is never absent and never named'..." - Excerpt from Tolkien Letter 192 Other Power is obviously Eru Ilúvatar, "took over" is subject to interpretation.
This was an excellent analysis. I completely agree there is something unfathomable about Frodo's story arch, but also Frodo's character as a whole. We do get to see a lot of the story "through his eyes", so to say. But at the same time he is the hobbit who remains the most detached to us, the one whose inner life is, after all, not fully revealed.
I can't substantiate this based on specific passages at this moment, it's more of a vague impression.
Is it because some aspect of his experience, with him being the ringbearer and the victim of a Morgul blade, is bound to remain beyond the reader's comprehension?
I also get that impression about Frodo. The more the story goes on, the less we get to see what’s really going on in his mind. It’s like he becomes less and less of himself. Part of that seems to be the effect of the Ring, but I also think it’s the humility that he learns to live by.
@@lenamorrison3700 Well put. This is something I want to pay close attention to when I read the book the next time.
Maybe one reason Frodo is so detached by the end is not only because of his experiences with the Ring but because he's the one writing the story, and no longer considers himself a character, if that makes any sense.
Thank you for this enlightening video. I'm writing a video essay on character arcs in LotR and I will try not to copy your points, but I may build on some of them with your permission. I appreciate your knowledge and insight!!!
As long as you don’t straight up copy my words I don’t care lol
Best analysis I've heard anywhere on this aspect of the 4 hobbits.
Thanks!
22:33 not sure if its true but i saw something saying that Eru himself interfered and pushed Gollum in. Not sure if its true but i thought it was something interesting to share.
I think I’ve heard that theory before, but I think Tolkien would probably go with the theory that Gollum’s own evil is what really did him in rather than that Eru directly interfered.
"Frodo deserved all honour because he spent every drop of his power of will and body, and that
was just sufficient to bring him to the destined point, and no further. Few others, possibly no others
of his time, would have got so far. The Other Power then took over: the Writer of the Story (by
which I do not mean myself), 'that one ever-present Person who is never absent and never named'..." - Excerpt from Tolkien Letter 192
Other Power is obviously Eru Ilúvatar, "took over" is subject to interpretation.
Keep up the good work the world of arda is the greatest work of fantasy of all time / my favorite character arc was pippins