J.R.R. Tolkien’s breakdown and overview of Frodo Baggins and the Destruction of the One Ring
There are fierce debates over Frodo Baggins on whether he was the hero that destroyed the One Ring or was he just another greedy character that claimed the One Ring.
Many people praise Samwise Gamgee as the true hero instead.
However. J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of Lord of the Rings and the creator of the Legendarium addressed these debates concise and clearly in the “J.R.R Tolkien’s Letter to Eileen Elgar, September 1963”
J.R.R. Tolkien Official – Frodo Baggins is a hero
J.R.R. Tolkien did state that Frodo Baggins couldn’t resist the temptation of the One Ring at the final end at the Cracks of Doom in Mount Doom.
However, J.R.R Tolkien also states that judging the morality and the accomplishments of Frodo Baggins for that only final moment is unfair.
J.R.R. Tolkien notes that Frodo Baggins have already achieved the impossible, carrying the One ring for months being tortured by the One Ring every night.
Frodo was also exhausted, starved and pushed to the very limit. J.R.R. Tolkien mentions that Frodo Baggins cannot be blamed for the final temptation of the One Ring as Frodo Baggins has already exceeded the limits as a hobbit. J.R.R.
Tolkien also questions on the rather ‘cruel’ criteria in terms of perfect absolute ideal morality that Frodo Baggins is assessed on.
J.R.R. Tolkien believes that such judgements have oversimplified Frodo Baggins and explains that it is complicated to understand why Frodo Baggins was the hero of middle earth that destroyed Midde Earth.
Is Samwise Gamgee the true hero?
J.R.R. Tolkien rather disagreed and stated that the debates over Sam and Frodo on whether who is the true hero is oversimplified based on the final results only.
J.R.R. Tolkien states that the successful destruction of the One Ring by Frodo Baggins and Samiwse Gamgee is much more complicated than perceived.
J.R.R. Tolkien states that there were moments where Gollum wouldn’t have tried to betray them if Sam was kind to Gollum at the first place. J.R.R. Tolkien’s overall thesis of the Lord of the Rings is stated by the quotes of Gandalf.
Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.
- Gandalf -
J.R.R. Tolkien surely agreed that Samwise Gamgee was one of the contributors in destroying the One Ring, but he also stated that Sam was a rather stubborn and rigid character so he couldn’t have been the ringbearer to destroy the One Ring.
J.R.R. Tolkien mentions that Sam had rather pride and somewhat even arrogant as the Ring Bearer Frodo’s servant.
Despite Gollum and Smeagol’s help, Sam never gave them even one chance and distrusted them since the beginning.
J.R.R. Tolkien explained that these moments eventually made Gollum betray Sam and Frodo and Frodo and Sam wouldn’t have even entered Shelob’s lair if Sam trusted Gollum just one time.
Frodo’s selfless hospitality and sacrifice led to the Destruction of the One Ring
J.R.R. Tolkien asserts that tossing the One Ring into the magma of Mount Doom wasn’t how the One Ring was destroyed. J.R.R. Tolkien states that the will of self-sacrifice and the little kind deeds of Frodo Baggins was most crucial in destroying the One Ring.
J.R.R. Tolkien explained that only Frodo Baggins didn’t have any purpose to use the One Ring so the One Ring couldn’t tempt him nor provoke him.
Frodo Baggin’s kindness to offer himself and sacrifice for middle earth was the sole purpose that Frodo wanted the One Ring. Frodo Baggins’s kindness led to Gollum and Smeagol’s trust that led Frodo and Sam through Mordor.
Gollum and Smeagol even withdrawing their plans to betray Sam and Frodo but Sam’s distrust blew this up. Eventually, even by Frodo’s hospitality, Gollum and Smeagol were alive as Sam constantly insisted on taking them out so Gollum eventually brawled with Frodo and fell into the Cracks of Doom.
J.R.R. Tolkien explains that it is very complicated but the small kindnesses and good actions of Frodo Baggins eventually piled up and built up and became crucial in destroying the One Ring
Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins’s mercy on Gollum
Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins sparing Gollum and Smeagol’s life was eventually the most crucial event for the destruction of the One Ring.
Gollum and Smeagol eventually became an insurance or safeguard in destroying the One Ring at the final moment. If Gollum and Smeagol didn’t betray they might have also been praised as the heroes of middle earth.
J.R.R. Tolkien explains regardless of the consequences, the mercy of Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins sparing Gollum’s life was the key to destroy the One Ring.
If Gollum was dead, how would Frodo and Sam have passed through Mordor nor no one would have known what happened at the final moment at the Cracks of Doom.
Frodo Baggins was the only being that could destroy the One Ring
Depicted in the Council of Elrond, the elves, dwarves and humans all coveted the One Ring and only thought of how to use the One Ring against Sauron.
They never thought the One Ring was the cause of all evil and the survival of Sauron. The powerful descendants of Numenor, the king of Gondor and Arnor Isildur failed to resist the One Ring.
How could an ordinary man resist the One Ring? The elves have already shown their ambition and frenzy over the Three Silmarils that led to the tragedy of the 1st Ages; thus, they were already failures.
The dwarves never cared for the faith of middle earth. Even Gandalf and Galadriel feared Frodo simply offering them the One Ring as it brought their temptation to take the One Ring and use it to overpower Sauron.
J.R.R. Tolkien mentioned that Gandalf and Galadriel with the One Ring may have been even more terrible terrors on middle earth as they would have taken any kinds of measure and disguise them in the words of justice.
Thesis of the Lord of the Rings – Good Deeds everyday maintain our world
Conflict between Saruman and Gandalf is the perfect example for the thesis of the Lord of the Rings. Saruman believed that centralized control and stronger power with order was the only way to maintain peace.
Saruman favored rules, order and efficiency and although he was tempted by Sauron by the Palantir of Orthanc, Saurman believed that betrayal was the most efficient and quickest way to gain power and overpower Sauron to earn peace.
Gandalf, however believed that control and power didn’t hold society and the simplest methods such as greeting someone with a smile, treating someone fair eventually lead to the grace and mercy of the society.
J.R.R. Tolkien explained by Gandalf’s logic people suffer every day and have a hard day living, however the small things that we love and good events of life help us endure and keep living on.
Thus the overall thesis of the Lord of the Rings is the importance of small good deeds of life and its grace.
Frank Herbert’s Dune vs. J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings
J.R.R. Tolkien emphasizes that the good deeds and little actions of kindness eventually maintains the society and gives us hope to live life. J.R.R. Tolkien acknowledges the complexity of life and although there might be undesired results, J.R.R. Tolkien insists on the continuous cycles of good deeds.
However, Frank Herbert’s Dune emphasizes that the consequences eventually determine good or evil.
Frank Herbert also insists that consequences should be carefully assessed but his work also emphasizes breaking the bad cycles no matter how much sacrifice is taken.
J.R.R Tolkien’s Letter to Eileen Elgar, September 1963 Source
https://www.tolkienestate.com/letters/letter-to-eileen-elgar-september-1963/
Letter to Eileen Elgar, September 1963 - The Tolkien Estate
‘I do not think that Frodo’s was a moral failure. At the last moment the pressure of the Ring would reach its maximum – impossible, I should have said, for any one to resist’.
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