Website update:

[butterfly]

Saturday, January 3rd, 2004: Switched up things a little - added a section for Lord of the Rings Real Person Slash (Lotrips). Added The Problem and This is how... to the new section. Added Something More to Perfect Possible - Dawn, Andrew, and Far Future sections. Added Inside the Worst of Them (Essay) to Harry Potter. Added Hope is Kindled, Not for Me, Into the West, and Don't Leave Me to Return of the King Essays.

Comments

[ex-grievous-115.livejournal.com]

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.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

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.

I can't think "poor Frodo" because, though he went through far more than any one person should have to - one person did have to and it was him and he accepted that task. It feels wrong to feel sorry for him, to pity him for something that he chose. I think that he deserves the peace and healing of Valinor, but he did chose. It wasn't fair, but it was his. I'm probably not explaining it quite right - Frodo saved the Shire, saved Middle-Earth, and he did it knowing that he, the Frodo that was, wouldn't come back - whether by death or inner destruction. It's to be admired, not pitied.

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.

Exactly, yes. And it sets up Frodo's line at the end. If he hadn't brought up Rosie to Frodo's, Frodo's line about Sam being torn in two would sound less real. We had to see that Sam did desire that life of good green earth and little hobbit bairns and Rosie. Because we know how much he values the clear light and soft water that is Frodo - we needed to see his other side again.