Tolkien's Philosophy: Why couldn't Frodo destroy the One Ring?

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[@HelloFutureMe]

Leave me your Q&A questions down below! I've always loved looking into these elements of Tolkien's thinking. AND remember 1 new patron each month will win a free paperback signed copy of On Writing and Worldbuilding, so come say hi and join the community :D

[@JesusRodriguez-gu1wv]

Dang, finally someone who actually covers Tolkien's Religious views and how it reflects in the story. Almost everyone avoids it.

[@chowyee5049]

I think that Tolkien and Lewis diverged when it came to the Paragon. While both refrained from imposing said archetype on their protagonist, Lewis was perfectly willing to do so with an allegory of God. Lewis's idea of God was that of a deeply personal being, something he could fashion into an allegorical character. Tolkien on the other hand saw God as a more hidden and unknowable force, not something that could be represented by any character.

[@wizardsuth]

When Frodo says, "The Ring is mine!" outwardly he appears to be claiming the Ring but inwardly it has just claimed him.

[@Dirtgut]

As an atheist and former Christian, I still am very moved by the idea that mercy/forgiveness is something that is given freely, without desert.

[@wsgthebg]

"Saruman believes that it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found. I have found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk, that keeps the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love."

[@42kennymc]

I actually thought that Gollum impersonation was pretty good.

[@rmsgrey]

One thing I always found interesting about the One Ring's destruction is how it doesn't come out of nowhere - back in the Two Towers, Smeagol swore by the Precious despite Frodo's warning that the Ring would hold him to that promise. Later, Frodo warned Gollum that he would never get the Precious - that, if it came to it, Frodo would use the Ring to command Gollum, and Gollum would have to obey, even if he was told to leap from a precipice or cast himself into the fire "and such would be my command". So, however unintentionally, Gollum follows Frodo's implied command and leaps from a precipice, casting himself into the fire...

[@Anton_Jermakoŭ]

"Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo?" Love this quote that has even more meaning when you consider the final act.

[@wholesome122]

His intention is to show that one cannot overcome sin themselves but require the grace of God to do so. Because Frodo and Sam did not give in to sin and overcame the hardest commandment to love their enemy by expressing mercy through not killing Gollum they were able to destroy the ring with Gollum as an agent of God’s Grace.

[@ericemanwu]

A better philosophy of Tolkien than wisecrack did!

[@DutchDread]

"I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you!"

[@95DarkFire]

5:34

[@Rekaert]

I'm all for erudite discussions of various story elements, but ...

[@skullservant8486]

"I can't recall the taste of food, nor the sound of water, nor the touch of grass. I'm naked in the dark. There's nothing--no veil between me and the wheel of fire. I can see him with my waking eyes."

[@jedroberts10]

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why we love Tolkien’s work so much

[@BladeValant546]

So I do not know if you will read this far back. But this video hit me where I needed to hear.

[@Ben10man2]

God dammit that Bilbo scare got me good, for the thousandth time

[@AlyssMa7rin]

For me, the story of Frodo's Journey was like an angel's journey through hell. Its view of the world is simple, good and bad, but as the angel continues its journey it is forced to compromise, it even loses control a few times. The closer it gets to the center of hell, the Devil's throne, the weight of its torn morality grows oppressive, the guilt of choices a continual punishment until self-doubt enters the equation. Along the way, demons chitter and whisper lies in the Angel's ears, 'just rest, you don't need to continue so soon, your burdens are so heavy'...etc. Until, finally, at the crack of doom, that weight overcomes the angel's fragile morality, it had never been truly tested after all, and he falls to corruption, and instead of killing the devil, he kneels.

[@ArwenOfRivendell]

This is wonderful, thank you so much!! I especially appreciated your delving deep into his philosophies and parallels, because those are things highly fundamental to his work that don’t often get discussed. Great job here!