These are fascinating essays - and very well thought out. You are not alone in thinking of Frodo as martyr rather than hero, which I tend to think is one of the reasons a lot of people think, "poor Frodo, it's not fair," about him. Because he is giving everything up voluntarily for the sake of something he loves.

And much as a lot of people don't like it, Sam's "she had ribbons in her hair," is a lovely line - it brings home what Sam has given up as well - the simple life that should have been his. The scene at the top of Mount Doom is beautiful and lyrical and romantic in all the right ways.