Weblog Entry - 2001 May 08: "Fellowship: BOOK II

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2001 May 08: "Fellowship: BOOK II - Chapter 1"

"Many Meetings"

This chapter had some great lines. Like the first thing Gandalf says to Frodo when he wakens in the House of Elrond:

"'Gandalf!' cried Frodo, sitting up. There was the old wizard, sitting in a chair by the open window.
'Yes,' he said, 'I am here. And you are lucky to be here, too, after all the absurd things you have done since you left home.'"

Yay, Gandalf! Except he ruins it a page later when he says that he didn't really mean it.

And Frodo has a point when he says he could never have done it without Strider.

At the risk of being tarred and feathered by Tolkien fans, I have to ask:

What HAS Frodo done so far in the story, really?

He didn't take the Ring voluntarily. And Gandalf pretty much admitted that he didn't really have a choice but to let Frodo have the Ring so that it didn't fall into the hands of the Enemy; Gandalf knew that he himself wouldn't be able to resist the lure of the Ring. When Frodo says he wishes he had never seen the Ring and asks why he was chosen, Gandalf replies:

(From Fellowship, Book I, Chapter 2) "'Such questions cannot be answered,' said Gandalf. 'You may be sure that it was not for any merit that others do not possess: not for power or wisdom, at any rate. But you have been chosen, and you must therefore use such strength and heart and wits are you have.'"

Am I correct in interpreting this as Gandalf basically saying: "Well, we sure didn't choose you for any of your good points. But hey, you've been chosen, so you should just try to make the best of it."

Anyway, here's what Frodo has managed to accomplish, as far as I can tell:

He reluctantly agrees to become the bearer of the Ring, at least until Gandalf can find someone else.

He insists on taking a shortcut early on in the journey and nearly gets caught by a Black Rider.

His impatience during the trek through the Barrow-Downs helps him get separated from the others, not that this would have helped much anyway.

He makes a fool of himself at The Prancing Pony, and "accidentally" puts on the Ring with near disastrous consequences.

He puts on the Ring in the dell under Weathertop, making it easier for the Riders to hunt him down.

Have I missed anything?

In each case, someone else manages to rescue him...Tom Bombadil, Strider, Glorfindel and the other elves.

In sum, I'm not too crazy about Frodo so far. But I quite like the other hobbits (though Merry and Pippin seem interchangeable), especially Sam. Also like Strider. Gandalf's a bit too "gloom and doom" for me...I imagine him saying everything in sepulchral tones, which is why I had to laugh at the following passage:

"'Hush!' said Gandalf from the shadows at the back of the porch. 'Evil things do not come into this valley; but all the same we should not name them. The Lord of the ring is not Frodo, but the master of the Dark Tower of Mordor, whose power is again stretching out over the world! We are sitting in a fortress. outside it is getting dark.'
'Gandalf has been saying many cheerful things like that,' said Pippin."

Hurray for Pippin! If anything really bad ends up happening to Pippin, I'm not going to be happy.

Glad to see that Bilbo's okay after all! Though I still think it was cruel of him not to at least have let Bilbo know he was alive.

Woohoo! Love the sparks flying between Aragorn and Arwen. I also feel somewhat smug...I had a feeling that part of Aragorn's angst had to have been caused by a woman. Jeff's gagging as I type this; he thinks I'm such a sap. And I am, I admit it. Though it would have been nice to hear Arwen actually -say- something in this chapter instead of just sitting there looking beautiful and being admired.

Anyway, I'm rooting for Sam now. I think Frodo should give the Ring to Sam. If anyone could handle the temptation of the Ring, it would be Sam. You go, Sam!

[Previous entry: "Fellowship: BOOK 1 - Chapter 12"] [Next entry: "Fellowship: BOOK II - Chapter 2"]

Replies: 29 comments

I like Frodo. He's gotten stuck with a rather thankless task and though he doesn't want it, he takes responsibility for it, anyway. Which isn't to say he didn't do a lot of foolish things in Book 1 :). Still, it's easy for Gandalf to give Frodo a hard time when he avoided the Ring with a ten foot pole knowing the foolish things he'd do if he carried the Ring.

As for Gandalf being too "gloom and doom", well, he is one of the few characters in the saga so far who really understands just how much trouble Middle Earth is in. Hard to be cheery on the edge of disaster :).

Posted by Allison @ 2001 May 09 10:04 AM EST

Debbie,

Be patient with Frodo. As in any good quest myth, the hero needs to grow and mature as he follows his path. Personally, I hate stories where the "hero" is fully formed at the beginning, and the other characters are mere appendages. One of the things that makes LOTR special is that there are many characters who play vital roles in the story, and all undergo tremendous growth as a result.

Posted by Jeff Bohnhoff @ 2001 May 09 12:01 PM EST

With regards to Frodo, ask yourself what you would likely do if you got tapped as the ringbearer. Not what you'd imagine yourself to do, but what would really happen.

Frodo is all too human (all too hobbit?). Hobbits are not by their nature heroic in the "Knights in Shining Armor" sense. They like their comforts and their food and their baths and such. Yet what heroism can be find in such a modest heart!

Little Frodo will soon enough prove his mettle. And he'll do it like we all must -- by putting one foot in front of the other and perservering!

Rob

Posted by Rob Wynne @ 2001 May 09 12:34 PM EST

I think Gandalf isn't so much putting Frodo down, it's more like 'we didn't make the choice; it's fate. You might have thought some high and mighty guy would have been chosen, but no. So there must be a reason. Just keep your head on straight."

Posted by Daniel Malament @ 2001 May 10 12:20 AM EST

No you didn't miss anything Debbie, as others have mentioned Frodo is going to grow somewhat. I tend to agree with the concept of the hero not being perfect and watching him/her grow in to the role. I do agree about Sam I've always had a soft spot in my heart for him.

Heather

Posted by Heather @ 2001 May 10 06:26 PM EST

At a Tolkien panel at Philcon last year, the consensus of the group was that Frodo was not actually the hero of the story. After you finish it, Deb, ask me who we thought it was.

Posted by Randy Hoffman @ 2001 May 10 06:55 PM EST

I have to agree with Jeff that the heroism in the story gets spread among many characters, all who have vital roles to play and moments to shine and moments to be rescued or protected. I think Frodo is right up there among those heroic characters. LOTR is essentially his story, but there are many heroes in the saga.

Posted by Allison @ 2001 May 10 10:43 PM EST

I think a lot of the things Frodo desides on in book one are not at all his fault. Especially regarding the wearing of the ring. The ring tends to control its bearer. It sometimes has the tendency to reveal that it's master has got it.

Posted by Martijn @ 2001 May 16 08:09 AM EST

The romance of Aragorn and Arwen gets 10 full pages in Appendix A(v), though that also describes what happened after the story ends.
The sacrifice she made shows how deep her love must be.

Posted by Robert @ 2001 May 16 08:53 AM EST

Interesting comments... Reading them is almost like reading the book again for the first time (Which is probably the second-greatest wish of all LotR lovers--the greatest is that the book would have had a sequel or two).

After finishing the book, probably the first part (and the only essential part) of the Appendices that you should read is part V of Appendix A, titled "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen". It tells a lot more about Aragorn and Arwen and their relationship.
Tolkien considered it integral to the story, but couldn't fit it in consistently with the story supposed to be as the hobbits experienced the events.

Posted by Andrew @ 2001 May 16 09:00 AM EST

Merry and Pippin are NOT interchangeable. If you read the
previous chapters a little more
closely, you'd see the differences,
but admittedly I didn't really see
them so much when I first read it
(approx. age 13).
Pippin is a little more flippant
than Merry. Merry is more responsible and confident.

What Frodo accomplished is a lot,
actually. You'll grow to appreciate is more later.

Posted by Ufthak @ 2001 May 16 09:48 AM EST

Asking these questions about Frodo is wonderfully appropriate. A casual observer would be inclined to think exactly the same things...BUT...fear not, there is a good reason Frodo was *chosen* by Gandalf. You should have your answer but it may take another 1000 pages or so. ;)

Posted by Paul Halasz @ 2001 May 16 10:47 AM EST

Merry has always been my favorite hobbit.

Posted by J'nae Rae Campbell @ 2001 May 16 11:13 PM EST

Now that I'm on Book IV, I can indeed more clearly see the differences between Merry and Pippin. I also confess I appreciate Frodo more in all this.

Posted by Debbie @ 2001 May 24 09:46 AM EST

I'm rather amazed that you picked up on the Aragorn/Arwen romance; most everyone else misses the few hints Tolkien puts out. I know I did when I read it the first time as a teen. Anyway so far your comments have been quite interesting; I think I'll be staying up a bit later tonight to finish the ones you have done so far.

Posted by Kendra Malm @ 2001 Jun 01 12:40 AM EST

I have to admit that I found Frodo annoying all the way through. I see where he's heroic and all, I just liked the other hobbits better...

Merry and Pippin develop a lot of differences later, if I recall correctly. Merry's more serious.

Posted by Teshi @ 2001 Jun 01 01:29 AM EST

Ah yes, the Aragorn/Arwen. Well, romantics like yourself (and me) will be pleased to know that the romance is expanded in the movies. When I last read this bit, I found Bilbo's "The Lady Arwen was there." comment to Strider/Aragorn highly amusing - I had this mental image of the old hobbit going 'wink wink, nudge nudge'!

Posted by Keith Fraser @ 2001 Jun 01 05:40 AM EST

Have you ever hear the BBC radio version? Bilbo's 'the Lady Arwen was there' is clearly accompanied by a big leer and painful elbow-jab in Strider's ribs. Personally, I think there's a lot to Arwen, for all her scant 'page-time' and I hope they get the right tone for her in the films (she had to be in there - films don't have appendices).
And Frodo's strengths will come through. YOu can't show what you're capable of until fully tested...

Posted by Catherine McKiernan @ 2001 Jun 01 11:13 AM EST

Strangely enough, I found myself liking the other hobbits more than Frodo, as he is quiet and responsible. However, I admired him for his wisdom and toughness. Carrying the ring, you have to understand, is a huge task, and weighs more on him as the journey continues. He does take a hand at more things, but, unfortunately for his character, a lot of the Return of the King is told through Sam's eyes from his point of view, and, from the outside, Frodo does make a strikingly uninteresting Character. However, you gotta love him. He IS still a hobbit, after all.

Posted by Glen @ 2001 Jun 01 01:48 PM EST

Frodo is the leader of the company, the lord of Sam. You have to be a bit more boring to do that proper.

That one was good, Glen! I never thought of that the reason could be the point of view!

Posted by Turin @ 2001 Jun 13 11:00 AM EST

i think the problem with Frodo's character is that we basically only know him in the presence of the Ring. i would really love to know what he was like as a young hobbit growing up in the Shire. ever since the beginning of the book, the Ring has been altering his personality, almost as if the "character" of the Ring was taking over

and speaking of arwen and aragorn, i am 16 and just finished LOTR for the 2nd time. to tell you the truth, i didnt see the whole love thing coming either. when i read it again i noticed it and my reaction was kinda like "oh! now i get it!"

one more thing...sorry if i write too much, especially if its just my own thoughts that might not be accurate

Posted by aurora @ 2001 Jun 18 02:58 PM EST

i've got to find the bbc production of lotr.

the aragorn/arwen thing okay, but i liked the faramir/eowen love senario better.

Posted by vikki @ 2001 Jun 27 02:09 PM EST

Vikki,

If you go to ...

http://www.Winmx.com

and download WinMX (A file sharer much like Napster)

Run a search on Lord of The Rings BBC...

There are 13 1 hour episodes (absolutley wonderful!)... and you'll find them all there, ripe for the download! :o)

Paul.

Posted by Paul @ 2001 Jul 01 11:14 AM EST

I've just started LOTR, so I'm not writing this with any perspective on what happens later...

But I picked up on the Arwen/Aragon thing right away too. I'm 19 - I'm not sure if age makes much of a difference in this case. I think it's that I'm a sucker for sappy stuff, and I'm always on the lookout for it.

I have a friend named Arwen - I wonder if she was named after LOTR?

Posted by Lyanne @ 2001 Jul 01 08:52 PM EST

Interesting point about Frodo, Debbie. You're absolutely right. So far he's messed up, made mistakes, and got himself into trouble and in over his head. This is what makes him a superb hero character. He's so accessible, flawed, and yet incredibly determined and brave. (I adore Frodo, but not as much as I adore Sam). Frodo's character development is excellent.

Hear, hear! Merry and Pippin are indeed NOT interchangeable. Merry seems something of a grump and seems "older" in some ways. Pippin is more merry. Although both I think have been nasty to Sam--was it Pippin or Merry who made that crack about fixing breakfast? I think Merry has been nastier to Sam than Pippin.

I wonder if the four hobbits can break down under the archetypal heart, mind, strength, and intuition? Merry is strength, Pippin mind, Sam heart, and Frodo intuition. Anyone agree? Or would you arrange them differently?

Posted by constance @ 2001 Jul 03 10:04 AM EST

Thanks 4 the suggestion paul.

13 Hours! i don't even spend that much time reading the BOOKS. not to mention my dad isn't exactly crazy about me down loading stuff of the internet, especilly LOTR stuff( he's an anti-fantasy type person)

Posted by vikki @ 2001 Jul 21 02:16 PM EST

Vikki,
I can simphasize with you. My father didn't like me reading fantasy either. If he knew what kind of stuff was in Romance novels he probably would have approved of my choice much more.

Posted by J'nae Rae Campbell @ 2001 Jul 27 10:06 AM EST

A lot of what happens with Frodo at this point in the story makes *much* more sense when you go back and re-read it after finishing the book the first time.

And yes, virtually any woman with the name Arwen is named after this particular character. I don't think the name occurs anywhere else.

Posted by Celine @ 2001 Aug 05 08:11 PM EST

Tolkien was very much a writer of his times. He was a part of the 'old boys club,' and didn't relate well to female characters (the stereotype of the stuffy Englishman who was patronizing of women comes to mind). This, from all I've heard, is why Jackson has changed the story to make Arwen a more 'Action' character.

Posted by Eric @ 2001 Aug 19 02:39 PM EST

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