Frodo's Alter Ego
by Varda & Overlithe
In the film Frodo and Gollum have a much closer relationship than in
the book and Jackson plays out the idea that Frodo sees himself in
Gollum, and feels that if Gollum can be saved so can he.
Film Frodo is much less objective about Gollum than book Frodo, who
says to Sam who is fretting about Gollum running off; 'If he is false
he is false!'
Jackson shows how different things are for Gollum and Frodo...at the
start of the film Gollum says;
'We wept to be so alone' and at the end we see Frodo surrounded by his
friends of the Fellowship when he awakes after being rescued. When he
leaves the Grey Havens he is also accompanied, and even on the ship he
has Gandalf and Bilbo and Galadriel with him.
But Jackson also shows how terrifyingly similar Frodo and Gollum are
becoming. At the start Gollum says;
'I forgot the taste of bread', and when Sam comforts Frodo on the
slopes of Mount Doom he says to Sam
'I can't recall the taste of food'. However different Frodo and Gollum
are, the Ring works to make them the same, and Frodo admits they are
both in the same boat when he says;
'I have to destroy the Ring for both our sakes'
In the Two Towers Gollum and Sméagol were alternative sides to
the one character, but these are less distinct in The Return of The
King, where Gollum seems to triumph over Sméagol early on and
the battle is between Frodo and Gollum, the creature he tries to save.
In a way he does save him, for it was he who accomplished the
destruction of the Ring, albeit involuntarily, and thereby attains some
measure of rehabilitation. The death of Gollum also signals the death
of something in Frodo. These two are linked, and Frodo seems a shell
after his escape from Mount Doom. Perhaps he really did 'die' with
Gollum.
Just musing!
Response by Overlithe:
"I can't recall the taste of food"~~Shudder~~I took note of this
right off and I agree with your muse here, though rather than..
.(((( These two are linked, and Frodo seems a shell after his escape
from Mount Doom. Perhaps he really did 'die' with Gollum. ))))
I'd say that the part of Frodo that was obsessed, controlled and in
love with the Ring went with it and Gollum. It has long been my opinion
that it was this hollow, torn apart feeling and mental
anguish...((Madness)) that drove Frodo to the Havens. The line sequence
in the film points at this...Some wounds never heal, some hurts go to
deep....Surely he had physical pain and his "anniversary illnesses",
but it was the constant void and longing for that which had been lost
that drove him to the brink of sanity.
The book more than the film I think leads me down this path, though
Obviously Physical pain is much easier to show on screen and so PJ used
it.
When I look at Frodo as he writes his last entry into the RedBook I see
the continual battle, the pallor of his skin the dark smudges beneath
his eyes. The Ring is gone but its legacy lives on, wearing dear Frodo
down until finally he must seek healing.
What choices did he really have, to stay was to make himself an invalid
and charge Sam with his care and finally the anguish of his death after
long tortures.
Part of Frodo died that day, I agree, his mind could never be the same.
And yet he managed to salvage his soul and his spirit. The important
parts of Frodo survived, his humor, his love for his friends and his
willingness to give with out thought of himself. His greatest gift to
Sam...to allow him to live unhindered by being torn in two.
As I said before...The look on Frodo's face as he turns back to look
upon his beloved friends one last time is worth every tear I shed
before, during and after that moment. To see him as he once was, free
of the madness and the painful anguish and cruel memories is indeed
priceless.
A muse with in a muse.
