Combined with courage was often the virtue of self-sacrifice: the willingness to place oneself in danger to assure the safety of others. This noble attitude has often been trivialized and made almost into a cliche in some fiction, but its origins in heroic literature are much more serious as numerous squires die protecting their knights. (58) Although Sam is not a warrior he shows undying devotion to his master as he follows him into danger and refuses to leave him.
Frodo is a hero because he is willing to keep going and is willing to make great sacrifices. It is important to note that Frodo is not forced to carry the Ring but chooses to take the task upon himself despite not wanting to. All the Council sat with downcast eyes, as if in deep …show more content…
He is not a weak character because of his longings for safety and home, but exactly the opposite; Frodo has strong urges to abandon the burden of the Ring but is able to overcome them. This takes a great deal of strength and Frodo is able to admit these moments to himself, which not only makes him more relatable to the reader but also keeps him aware of his own feelings so that he is not in danger of unknowingly abandoning his commitment and the quest. Writer and translator Ross Smith posits that “...Tolkien wished to get certain messages across, particularly the concept of ‘hope (or faith) without guarantees’, which imbues the quest to destroy the ring, and ‘no victory without sacrifice’, which leads to Frodo’s demise” (49). Frodo sacrifices everything to destroy the Ring and in the end finds himself so broken, physically and mentally, that he departs Middle-earth. Frodo is an example of extreme loyalty because he is willing to give his life to complete a task that he volunteered for; he is the first to join the Fellowship, which is a major part of the story and demonstrates themes of loyalty. He is an unlikely individual who is able to complete a great task, much like the rest of the Fellowship. The Fellowship is not a draft of the most brave and worthy candidates in Middle-earth but is
Frodo is a hero because he is willing to keep going and is willing to make great sacrifices. It is important to note that Frodo is not forced to carry the Ring but chooses to take the task upon himself despite not wanting to. All the Council sat with downcast eyes, as if in deep …show more content…
He is not a weak character because of his longings for safety and home, but exactly the opposite; Frodo has strong urges to abandon the burden of the Ring but is able to overcome them. This takes a great deal of strength and Frodo is able to admit these moments to himself, which not only makes him more relatable to the reader but also keeps him aware of his own feelings so that he is not in danger of unknowingly abandoning his commitment and the quest. Writer and translator Ross Smith posits that “...Tolkien wished to get certain messages across, particularly the concept of ‘hope (or faith) without guarantees’, which imbues the quest to destroy the ring, and ‘no victory without sacrifice’, which leads to Frodo’s demise” (49). Frodo sacrifices everything to destroy the Ring and in the end finds himself so broken, physically and mentally, that he departs Middle-earth. Frodo is an example of extreme loyalty because he is willing to give his life to complete a task that he volunteered for; he is the first to join the Fellowship, which is a major part of the story and demonstrates themes of loyalty. He is an unlikely individual who is able to complete a great task, much like the rest of the Fellowship. The Fellowship is not a draft of the most brave and worthy candidates in Middle-earth but is