When we think about the outcome of The Lord of the Ringsone always stays with the part in which Aragorn is crowned King of Gondor, peace returns to Middle-earth, the hobbits return to the peaceful Shire, and that emotional goodbye of Frodo and Bilbo, sailing with the elves towards the Undying Lands in a little boat It is an ending that conveys relief and redemption, a reward after the horrors of war. But beneath that layer of comfort lies an uncomfortable truth: Frodo, the little hairy-footed hero who bore the fate of everyone, failed miserably in his mission to destroy the One Ring.
Yes, in the end, the ring was not destroyed by Frodo. I was Gollumthat creature consumed by its obsession with ssssssu Dear Tessssorowho sealed the fate of the most dangerous object in Middle-earth. A twist that may seem surprising, but that contains tremendous depth about the fragility of the hero and the overwhelming power of evil. And, as the song says, “no one is free from evil. Because evil never rests.”
Scene from The Fellowship of the Ring
The fallible hero
The decisive moment occurs in the fiery bowels of Mount Doom, where Frodo, after a long and exhausting journey, faces the task for which he was chosen: to throw the One Ring into the fire. But it doesn't. Instead of destroying it, succumb to his power. Hard moment for readers and viewers: Frodo puts on the ring and declares that it belongs to him.
Gollum's intervention at that precise moment is what saves the day, albeit by accident. Jumping on Frodo to retrieve his treasure, the two fight frantically. Finally, Gollum manages to tear off the ring, but in his ecstasy he loses his balance and falls into the abyss, taking with him the object of his obsession. In an ironic twist, The fate of Middle Earth depends on an act of pure greednot one of sacrifice or kindness.
Scene from The Fellowship of the Ring
Frodo's fall into Mount Doom is not a gratuitous narrative twist; is a carefully constructed consequence by J.R.R. Tolkien. From the beginning of his journey, Frodo shows admirable resistance to the power of the Ring, but that burden begins to slowly and inexorably wear him down. Each step towards Mordor becomes a harder fight, physical and mental. The One Ring not only seeks to enslave those who wear it, but exploits their deepest desires. Frodo is not immune to that influence. As Tolkien confirms in his letter 181Frodo's will was ultimately “bent and worn away” by the weight of the evil inherent in the Ring. His initial resistance was admirable, but even the noblest soul has a limit when he faces the power of Sauron.
The Lord of the Rings (NE revised). Illustrated by Alan Lee (JRR Tolkien Library)
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It is important to remember that Frodo is not the only one who succumbs to the ring. Boromir, Faramir, even Gandalf and Galadriel, feel the pull of his influence. However, Frodo is unique because two reasons that seem opposite but complement each other: his unique strength and that in the end, he cannot resist and deny the Ring, as the other characters do. This vulnerability humanizes him and reinforces one of the most interesting messages in Tolkien's work: no one is perfect.
Scene from The Return of the King
Redemption through failure
Although Frodo fails, his journey is not a waste. By carrying the One Ring to Mount Doom, Frodo demonstrates incomparable bravery and endurance. As Gandalf predicted, He was not asked to succeed, but to do his best. It is in that effort where his heroism lies. Gollum's final act also has a symbolic reading. Despite being a corrupt and tragic character, his obsession with the ring makes him the instrument of destiny. In a way, Gollum fulfills the purpose that Frodo could not complete. The fight between these two characters encapsulates the duality of good and evil, and how even the darkest acts can bring positive consequences. Another genius of Tolkien, that it is the dark reflection of his hero who finally manages to make good prevail.
Scene from The Return of the King
What would have happened if Frodo ran away with the Ring?
If you're wondering what the story would have been like if Frodo had escaped Mount Doom with the Ring, you're not alone. Peter Jackson, director of the film trilogy, also explored this idea in a deleted scene from The Return of the King. In that alternate scene, the fight between Frodo and Gollum takes on a darker tone. Frodo, consumed by the power of the Ring, faces a more desperate and violent version of himself, almost unrecognizable as the kindly hobbit who left the Shire. Although the scene never made the final cut, it serves as a fascinating “what if?” which highlights the impact an even grimmer ending would have had.
Deleted scene from The Return of the King
As we delve deeper into the analysis of The Lord of the Rings, it becomes clear that Frodo's failure is intentional on the author's part. This nuance adds a tragic dimension to the narrative, reminding us that triumph against evil is not always clean or simple. The next time you rewatch The Return of the King, when Frodo and Sam say goodbye on the shores of the Gray Havens, remember that the true hero is not the one who destroys the ring, but who took it to where it was to be destroyedeven if he couldn't do it himself.
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