No sooner had he come in sight of Mount Doom, burning far away, he was aware
of a change in his burden. As it drew near the great furnaces where, in
the deeps of time, it had been shaped and forged, the Ring’s power grew, and it
became more fell, untamable save by some mighty will. As Sam stood there,
even though the Ring was not on him but hanging by its chain about his neck, he
felt himself enlarged, as if he were robed in a huge distorted shadow of
himself, a vast and ominous threat halted upon the walls of Mordor. He
felt that he had from now on only two choices: to forbear the ring,
though it would torment him; or to claim it, and challenge the power that sat
in its dark hold beyond the valley of Shadows. Already the Ring tempted
him, gnawing at his will and reason. Wild fantasies arose in his mind;
and he saw Samwise the Strong, Hero of the Age, striding with a flaming sword
across the darkened land, and armies flocking to his call as he marched to the
overthrow of Barad-dur. And then all the clouds rolled away, and the
white sun shone, and at hi command the vale of Gorgoroth became a garden of
flowers and trees and brought forth fruit. He had only to put on the Ring
and claim it for his own, and all this could be.
In that hour of trial it was the love of his master that
helped most to hold him firm; but also deep down in him lived still unconquered
his plain hobbit sense: he knew in the core of his heart that he was not
large enough to bear such a burden, even if such visions were not a mere cheat
to betray him. The one small garden of a free gardener was all his need
and due, not a garden swollen to a realm; his own hands to use, not the hands
of others to command.
This passage contains a lot of information that I feel is
very important to the rest of the Frodo and Sam’s journey. The passage is
filled with a lot of strong imagery and we get to see quite clearly here what
the Ring can do on or off one’s finger.
Q: What are your thoughts on the Ring’s reaction to having its home in
sight? A clear description is given hear of exactly how the Ring will
make one feel physically now that we have entered Mordor. After Frodo
gets the Ring back, the description of the Ring’s effects on Frodo are quite
vague through the rest of the story. Q: What are your thoughts on
Tolkien using Sam instead of Frodo to show the effects of the Ring?
Q: Does establishing the effects of the Ring through Sam effectively
carry through the rest of the story and onto Frodo for the reader?
This passage also has us see the Ring really make a direct
attempt at Sam’s will. Q: What do you think about Sam’s power
fantasy? Any guesses or thoughts on what power fantasy Frodo would have
had in this position? What specifically is Tolkien saying about power in
this passage? What do you think about Sam really seeing and feeling that
he has only two choices to pick from in regards to what he should do?
I found Tolkien’s reminder of general hobbit sense at this
moment to be quite comforting and effective. He takes us away from just
Sam being good and having simple needs to reminding us that hobbits are good
and have simple needs. Q: Did this part of the passage seem more
intended to prepare the reader to reestablish Frodo as Ring-bearer to you?
Finally, Q: what are your thoughts on the passage highlighted with bold
text?
Q: Anything I missed in regards to this passage? Speak now or
forever hold your piece :
)
****************
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.
"The most sacred acting experience I've ever had was at the top of Mount Ruapehu with Elijah Wood in my arms."
Sean Astin
There is a seed of courage hidden (often deeply, it is true) in the heart of the fattest and most timid hobbit, waiting for some final and desparate danger to make it grow. Frodo was neither very fat nor very timid; indeed, though he did not know it, Bilbo (and Gandalf) had thought him the best hobbit in the Shire.
