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between_time_and_42Sooo I thought that I'd be able to finish blogging about The Return of the King before the book was due at the library... but I didn't manage it, and now I'm feeling very fortunate that the library from which I checked it out went fine-free several years ago. Because I am not ready to let go of this book yet. Not until I've thoroughly combed through it for passages to share and react to. And there was a LOT to share and react to in this part of the volume. So without any further ado, here are my not-actually-live reactions to the first part of The Lord of the Rings: Volume 3: Book Six, AKA "I was so worried about Pippin that I forgot to be excited that Frodo & Sam were coming back."
"Faint as was the hope that his guess had brought him, it was enough to rouse him. There might be just a chance. His love for Frodo rose above all other thoughts, and forgetting his peril he cried aloud: 'I'm coming Mr. Frodo!'"
THAT'S MY BOY, SAM!!! God, Sam's love for Frodo is just truly inspiring to me. I hope I can someday be as good and devoted a friend as Sam is (though not to sacrifice my own identity). Also, not gonna lie, Sam yelling "I'm coming, Mr. Frodo!" and running off to find him is just as funny to me as it is sweet. Like, my boy really just threw caution to the wind and said "fuck it."
It's INCREDIBLY eerie to me that the Ring was able to tempt Sam when Sam wasn't even wearing it and had only been carrying it for a short amount of time. Outside of Mordor, I'm sure it wouldn't have held that much power over him, and sure, even in Mordor, Sam was able to resist it, but who's to say he could have held out for much longer if he'd been the sole Ringbearer at this point? I love Sam, but honestly, I don't believe that he would have fared any better than Frodo when it came to throwing the Ring in the fire once and for all. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I just want to point out one more thing:
"In that hour of trial it was the love of his master that helped most to hold him firm; but also deep down in him lived still unconquered his plain hobbit-sense; he knew in the core of his heart that he was not large enough to bear such a burden, even if such visions were not a mere cheat to betray him. The one small garden of a free gardener was all his need and due, not a garden swollen to a realm; his own hands to use, not the hands of others to command."
There is SO MUCH for me to unpack here. First and foremost: the narration claims that Sam's sensibility that prevents him from buying into the vision the Ring is feeding him is inherent in all hobbits, but I strongly believe that it has more to do with Sam's place in hobbit society. That last line in particular stands out to me: "his own hands to use, not the hands of others to command." Now, I wouldn't say that Frodo has ever "commanded" Sam, but let's put it as plainly as it's put in The Fellowship of the Ring: Sam is Frodo's servant, plain and simple. The boundary of servant and master has been somewhat blurred on their adventure (though not as much as one would assume and maybe hope), but there's no getting over the fact that Sam, having followed in his "gaffer's" footsteps as Bag End's gardener, is used to providing service for Frodo, and their relationship is defined by that configuration. Therefore, while Sam is right in feeling that keeping a small garden of his own is more sensible and more practical than having others manage a great garden for him, it also speaks to how he views himself and his position in life. Commanding others isn't his job. That role belongs to someone like Frodo, a gentlehobbit of the Shire. Not lowly Sam Gamgee the gardener. Come to think of it, this isn't the stance that one would expect someone in Sam's position to take. After spending his entire life being subservient to others, wouldn't it be natural for Sam to desire more power for himself as soon as he gets a taste of it through the Ring? The only explanation for this is that Sam is happy with his current life, and he doesn't want anything more. Whether that's an admirable way to feel (because it shows Sam's humility), or a disappointing one (because, well, a lifetime of being subservient to others is, through my eyes, hardly a lifetime at all) depends on the opinions of those who read this scene. Secondly: Sam's love for Frodo is a grounding force, just like how Sam's presence was shown to be grounding for Frodo in the previous volume, and I am already tearing my hair out over them (once again). And finally: I'm pretty convinced that if Sam had gone forth still thinking that Frodo was dead, and the Ring had offered this vision to him... Something tells me that he might have put more stock into it than he does in this scene. I'm not going to get into my reasons for thinking this right this minute, but... yeah, I think the Ring could have worn down even Sam in the right circumstances.
I forgot to mention it in the previous volume because everything else surrounding it made me so distraught, but: I love that the orcs assumed that Sam was a badass elf warrior because they had only seen the aftermath of his feats. Badass, Sam Gamgee certainly is. Elf, no, and warrior... He's a fucking gardener. Who'd a thunk it?
It strikes me as a liiiiiittle bit convenient that all the orcs had broken out into fighting and had pretty much slaughtered each other by the time Sam arrived at their fortress, but at the same time, the orc conversation at the end of The Two Towers sort of suggested that that's how this situation was always set to end. Sam also seemed to think it was pretty convenient too, which made me crack up a little. How nice it must be to have your enemies take themselves out before you can do the job.
And now... I wouldn't normally type all this out, but I don't want to deal with taking a photo and inserting it into this post right now, and anyway, this moment is spread across two pages so it wouldn't even be one photo, and ANYWAY JUST READ THIS PART WITH ME:
"At last, weary and feeling finally defeated, [Sam] sat on a step below the level of the passage-floor and bowed his head into his hands. It was quiet, horribly quiet. The torch, that was already burning low when he arrived, sputtered and went out; and he felt the darkness cover him like a tide. And then softly, to his own surprise, there at the vain end of his long journey and his grief, moved by what thought in his heart he could not tell, Sam began to sing.
"His voice sounded thin and quavering in the cold dark tower: the voice of a forlorn and weary hobbit that no listening orc could possibly mistake for the clear song of an Elven-lord. He murmured old childish tunes out of the Shire, and snatches of Mr. Bilbo's rhymes that came into his mind like fleeting glimpses of the country of his home. And then suddenly new strength rose in him, and his rang out, while words of his own came unbidden to fit the simple tune."
AND WHAT WORDS THEY ARE. I'm not going to type out the entire poem, but I get the gist of it. Just like I get the gist of this scene. Sam has hit a wall. I won't say he's at his lowest point, because his lowest point was in The Two Towers when he thought that Frodo was dead, but he's pretty damn close to it. Over the course of this chapter (and the preceding ones in The Two Towers), he has gone far beyond what anyone would expect from a hobbit, to the point where the orcs believe that a mighty Elf warrior is after them. But now Sam is alone and has no idea what course of action he should take, and he's shown to be who and what he truly is- a hobbit a long ways from the Shire who is scared and upset and exhausted out of his MIND. He just wants to find the one he loves and has sworn to protect- the closest person to understanding him on this journey, just like how Merry & Pippin were closer to each other than anyone else because they understood each other as fellow hobbits and had a similar shared background. And with his guard down, having dropped all pretenses of being a warrior, Sam falls into a deeply hobbit-like behavior. He sings. The Fellowship of the Ring had SO MUCH SINGING in it, and enough of it came from the hobbits that it's clear that singing is an important thing in their culture. This is an act that Sam knows well and values, and here in his darkest hour, he has nothing else upon which to rely. Nothing... except for the memory of the Sun, which he puts into his song. And god... it's beautiful. Previously Sam considered himself only as an occasional writer of comic verse, without any true artistic inclinations... but these lovely words about how the darkest hour comes just before the dawn, and how even in the dark, the sun and the stars still exist, are pure poetry. That battle with Shelob in The Two Towers was a strong contender for the moment where Sam truly becomes a hero... but for me, that moment is THIS scene. Only by returning to his roots does Sam become the hero. But what makes him so heroic in this scene? Well...
"'Beyond all towers strong and high,' he began again, and then he stopped short. He thought that he had heard a faint voice answering him. But now he could hear nothing. Yes, he could hear something, but not a voice. Footsteps were approaching..."
Y'all. Frodo heard Sam singing down below him, and sang back. As soon as Sam stripped off the pretense that the orcs had of him being an Elf warrior sent to destroy them, and revealed himself as the humble hobbit he is, Frodo recognized him. I CAN'T. I can't, I can't, I can't. This is one of the most romantic things I've ever read (and I'm not even saying "romantic" in a hearts-and-flowers, "I ship them" kind of way). If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, but I'll say it again: THEY LOVE EACH OTHER. This is also giving me "Golden Hair" by Syd Barrett vibes (go listen to that song and hopefully you'll see what I mean).
And then it's reunion time:
"'Frodo! Mr. Frodo, my dear!" cried Sam, tears almost blinding him. 'It's Sam, I've come!' He half lifted his master and hugged him to his breast. Frodo opened his eyes.
"'Am I still dreaming?' he muttered. 'But the other dreams were horrible.'
"'You're not dreaming at all, Master,' said Sam. 'It's real. It's me. I've come.'
"'I can hardly believe it,' said Frodo, clutching him. 'There was an orc with a whip, and then it turns into Sam! Then I wasn't dreaming after all when I heard that singing down below, and I tried to answer? Was it you?'
"'It was indeed, Mr. Frodo. I'd given up hope, almost. I couldn't find you.'
"'Well, you have now, Sam, dear Sam,' said Frodo, and he lay back in Sam's gentle arms, closing his eyes, like a child at rest when night-fears are driven away by some loved voice or hand.'"
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
"Sam felt that he could sit like that in endless happiness, but it was not allowed."
What the fuck, I've used lines like that when writing FANFICTION for crying out loud.
"He kissed Frodo's forehead. 'Come! Wake up, Mr. Frodo!' he said, trying to found as cheerful as he had when he drew back the curtains at Bag End on a summer's morning."
AHHHHHHHHHH--- *gunshot sound*
"'You've got it?' gasped Frodo. 'You've got it here? Sam, you're a marvel!' Then quickly and strangely his voice changed. 'Give it me at once! You can't have it!'"
Oh, NO. Just like I was saying some time ago about how Frodo having been entrusted the task of destroying the Ring means that he has a strong will to hold onto it himself and not let anyone else have it... Now this shows that the Ring is twisting that desire into making him become reliant on it.
"'But you're in the land of Mordor now, sir; and when you get out, you'll see the Fiery Mountains and all. You'll find the Ring very dangerous now, and very hard to bear. If it's too hard a job, I could share it with you, maybe?'
"'No, no!' cried Frodo, snatching the Ring and chain from Sam's hands. 'No you won't, you thief!'"
Now, one could assume just from this line that this is another display of the Ring's influence over Frodo, or perhaps it's Frodo desperately trying to keep Sam from taking the Ring because he knows the toll it's taking on him and he wants to spare Sam that as much as possible. But the rest of this paragraph reveals something deeper that may have been unintended:
"A mist seemed to clear from [Frodo's] eyes, and he passed a hand over his aching brow. The hideous vision had seemed so real to him, half bemused as he was still with wound and fear. Sam had changed before his very eyes into an orc again, leering and pawing at his treasure, a foul little creature with greedy eyes and slobbering mouth. But now the vision had passed..."
...I think Frodo is experiencing some PTSD here, don't you think? Those orcs who stripped Frodo and stole from him and interrogated him and whipped him have CLEARLY done a number on him. It breaks my heart to see him in such mental anguish, and to see his remorse once he realizes he just yelled at Sam. (And this is just another moment that proves that the movie version of the events in Shelob's lair- where Frodo sends Sam away and goes in alone- would have NEVER worked in the books.)
"'I can't go all the way at a run, Sam,' said Frodo with a wry smile. 'I hope you've made inquiries about inns along the road? Or have you forgotten about food and drink?'"
Oh my GOD, Frodo is doing the exact same thing that Merry did to Pippin- the exact same jesting behavior that Merry said was typical of hobbits, who always "say less than they mean" when the going gets tough. I love this SO much.
"'But come, Mr. Frodo! Off we go, or a whole lake of it won't do us any good!'
"'Not till you've had a mouthful, Sam,' said Frodo. 'I won't budge. Here, take this elven-cake, and drink that last drop in your bottle! The whole thing is quite hopeless, so there's no good worrying about tomorrow. It probably won't come.'"
The way this paragraph made me go "Awww" at first, with Frodo caring for Sam, and then "oh shit" when Frodo revealed his hopelessness... but he did so in such a nonchalant way, and the whiplash was so strong, that I couldn't help but crack up at this moment, too.
"'Look here, Sam dear lad,' said Frodo: 'I am tired, weary, I haven't a hope left. But I have got to go on trying to get to the Mountain, as long as I can move. The Ring is enough. This extra weight is killing me [...]'"
"'Don't talk about it, Mr. Frodo. Bless you! I'd carry you on my back, if I could. Let it go then!'"
Oh Sam, you say now that you'd carry Frodo on your back... You have no idea that it'll actually come to that soon enough.
"'Things are looking up, Mr. Frodo. Haven't you got some hope now?'
"'Well no, not much, Sam,' Frodo sighed. 'That's away beyond the mountains. We're going east not west. And I'm so tired. And the Ring is so heavy, Sam. And I begin to see it in my mind all the time, like a great wheel of fire.'"
Given what Merry just revealed about hobbits in Book 5 when he explained why hobbits tend to stay lighthearted in serious situations, I feel like it says a lot that Frodo is openly voicing his complaints the way he is. The Ring has worn him down so much that he can't put on this facade of ease that is customary to his people. I just want to give him and Sam a big ol' hug. They never asked for any of this, but they know what has to be done and they're determined to see it through, in the face of all odds stacked against them. I admire them so much for that. I also admire Sam for doing all that he can to keep Frodo's spirits up and to find every possible silver lining, even though he's probably feeling just as exhausted and depressed as Frodo is.
"'Let me drink first, Mr. Frodo.'
"'All right, but there's room enough for two.'
"'I didn't mean that,' said Sam. 'I mean: if it's poisonous, or something that will show its badness quick, well, better me than you, master, if you understand me.'
"'I do. But I think we'll trust our luck together, Sam; or our blessing.'"
God... Frodo isn't one of my favorite characters from this book, but I just LOVE how despite his status and social standing, he's so quick to reject any notion on Sam's part that Sam's life is worth less than his own. I LOVE THESE TWO SO MUCH.
"There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to hi. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty forever beyond its reach. His song in the Tower had been defiance rather than hope; for then he was thinking of himself. Now, for a moment, his own fate, and even his master's, ceased to trouble him. He crawled back into the brambles and laid himself by Frodo's side, and putting away all fear he cast himself into a deep untroubled sleep."
Even typing that out has made me tear up a little. Oh, SAM. This reminds me a lot of the line from Les Miserables: "Even the darkest night shall end and the sun will rise." If I hadn't known already how this story was going to end, I'd have said that this is the first obvious tell that this story is going to have a happy ending. (Well... That Sauron will be defeated, at least. We'll get into that ending in another post.)
God, the entire rest of this chapter is just... I know I just mentioned that line above being a sign that Frodo's task would be complete and Sauron would be defeated, but the rest of the chapter is just so painfully desperate and hopeless. It makes me feel so sad. And throughout it all, Sam is going above and beyond to make sure Frodo is as comfortable as he can be. This burden is not his to carry, and he understands that, but he'll be DAMNED if he lets Frodo go through this alone. God, Frodo was absolutely right when he said "Frodo wouldn't have gotten very far without Sam." I am SO glad that the two of them are together, and that Frodo doesn't have to be facing this hell on his own.
"'So that was the job I felt I had to do when I started, thought Sam: "to help Mr. Frodo to the last step and then die with him? Well, if that is the job then I must do it. But I would dearly like to see Bywater again, and Rosie Cotton and her brothers, and the Gaffer and Marigold and all..."
Wait, wait, wait, wait. Sam has a personal life?! We've known about the Gaffer all this time, but... Who's Rosie Cotton? And her brothers? Who is Marigold? This is the first time that Sam has given any indication that he has a life outside of his service to Frodo, and it's sobering, to say the least. It really hammers home how much of a sacrifice Sam made when he decided to accompany Frodo on his journey. This fine young hobbit who has friends and family and an entire LIFE back home in Hobbiton has forsaken all of that to potentially die alone in this horrible unknown land, and given the way the hobbits assumed Bilbo had died after he had been away for so long, it's doubtful that anyone back at home would ever know what happened to Sam were he to die alongside Frodo. And yet, somehow... all of this must be worth it. Because it's for the greater good? Or because Sam is just THAT devoted to Frodo that he sees dying alongside him in Mordor to be a worthy thing?
"'I can't manage it, Sam,' [Frodo] said. 'It is such a weight to carry, such a weight.'
"Sam knew before he spoke, that it was vain, and that such words might do more harm than good, but in his pity he could not keep silent. 'Then let me carry it a bit for you, Master,' he said. 'You know I would, and gladly, as long as I have any strength.'
"A wild light came into Frodo's eyes. 'Stand away! Don't touch me!' he cried. 'It is mine, I say. Be off!' His hand strayed to his sword-hilt. But then quickly his voice changed. 'No, no, Sam,' he said sadly. 'But you must understand. It is my burden, and no one else can bear it. It is too late now, Sam dear. You can't help me in that way again. I am almost in its power now. I could not give it up, and if you tried to take it I should go mad.'"
UGH, this HURTS. Frodo isn't just afraid that the Ring will corrupt Sam, and he isn't just resolutely sticking to the burden that was imposed upon him out of a sense of duty, and he isn't just having flashbacks of the orcs searching him and lashing out because of that. No, he is JUST BARELY clinging to the last remaining shreds of his willpower that's keeping him from totally giving in to the Ring's influence, and he knows that if Sam takes the Ring, he won't be able to hold out against it anymore. He is fighting with ALL HIS MIGHT to maintain his sanity and sense of self, and that fight is almost killing him. And then there's:
"'[...]I know that such things happened, but I cannot see them. No taste of food, no feel of water, no sound of wind, no memory of tree or grass or flower, no image of moon or star are left to me. I am naked in the dark, Sam, and there is no veil between me and the wheel of fire. I begin to see it even with my waking eyes, and all else fades."
Ohhhh, this is absolutely chilling. I can't even BEGIN to imagine what Frodo must be feeling here- if he's feeling anything at all.
"Hardest of all it was to part with [Sam's] cooking-gear. Tears welled in his eyes at the thought of casting it away."
Me too, Sam. Me too. I mean, I'd be devastated if I had to give away all the cooking gear that I've accumulated over my lifetime. But also... it does feel genuinely upsetting to see Sam give away all the stuff he's been lugging around since he and Frodo set off on their journey. They've come so far with it... and now, where they're going, they're not going to need it anymore.
The whole debate that Sam has with himself hits too close to home for me. I often talk down to myself and talk back to myself and seeing Sam do these things in his despondent state makes me empathize with him so much.
"At last [Sam] groped for Frodo's hand. It was cold and trembling. His master was shivering.
"'I didn't ought to have left my blanket behind,' muttered Sam; and lying down he tried to comfort Frodo with his arms and body."
This might sound weird, but... I feel like I've been waiting the whole book for this to happen. Again, not for any shippy reasons or anything like that. It's just... There's something about cuddling someone in their sleep, about putting one's body over the other to keep them safe and warm, that is just so intimate and defines closeness to me- closeness, and protectiveness, and care. This is one of the strongest statements that could be made about Frodo & Sam's relationship. When Frodo is cold and there's no blanket, Sam holds him in his sleep to keep him warm. I really can't describe why this strikes me so much, it's just... I don't know. I don't know what else to say.
This next part I have to break down sentence-by-sentence:
"[Frodo] raised his eyes with difficulty to the dark slopes of Mount Doom towering above him, and then pitifully he began to crawl forward on his hands."
The fact that Frodo doesn't even say a word by this point, because it's too much effort to speak... The fact that he's reduced to crawling like an animal... or like GOLLUM...
"Sam looked at him and wept in his heart, but no tears came to his dry and stinging eyes."
The fact that Sam is so dehydrated that he can't even weep for Frodo!!
"'I said I'd carry him, if it broke my back,' he muttered, 'and I will!'"
YES... YESSS...
"'Come, Mr. Frodo!' [Sam] cried. 'I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you and it as well. So up you get! Come on, Mr. Frodo dear! Sam will give you a ride. Just tell him where to go, and he'll go!"
YESSSSSSS!!!!! TRUE FUCKING FRIENDSHIP RIGHT THERE, Y'ALL!!!! And yet, at the same time... as beautiful and sweet at this moment is, there's something so poignant about Sam physically putting himself under Frodo, like a manifestation of how he views their relationship dynamic.
"Sam knelt by [Frodo]. Faint, almost inaudibly, he heard Frodo whispering: 'Help me, Sam! Help me, Sam! Hold my hand! I can't stop it.' Sam took his master's hands and laid them together, palm to palm, and kissed them; and then he held them gently between his own."
Okay... Why wasn't this in the movie?!?! Sam having to hold Frodo's hands to keep him from putting on the Ring would have been an INCREDIBLY powerful moment to see in a visual medium. I also failed to point this out before, but: I love how Sam's interactions with Frodo at this point are like a parent taking care of a child. When Sam kisses Frodo's hands, it almost feels like how a parent will kiss a child's "boo-boos" to make them feel better.
"A sudden weight smote [Sam] and he crashed forward, tearing the backs of his hands that still clasped his master's. Then he knew what had happened, for above him as he lay he heard a hated voice.
"'Wicked masster!' it hissed. 'Wicked masster cheats us; cheats Smeagol, gollum. He musstn't go that way. He mussn't hurt Preciouss. Give it to Smeagol, yess, give it to us! Give it to uss!'"
OH SHIT!!! Gollum is BACK and ready to FIGHT!! And although he's still calling himself Smeagol, it's clear from the prominent hissing in his speech that "Stinker' has fully given way to "Slinker."
"Sam's hand wavered. His mind was hot with wrath and the memory of evil. It would be just to slay this treacherous, murderous creature, just and many times deserved; and also it seemed the only safe thing to do. But deep in his heart there was something that restrained him: he could not strike this thing lying in the dust, forlorn, ruinous, utterly wretched. He himself, though only for a little while, had borne the Ring, and now dimly he guessed the agony of Gollum's shriveled mind and body, enslaved tothat Ring, unable to find peace or relief ever in life again. But Sam had no words to express what he felt."
So my first thought at this moment was "What the fuck??" Obviously I knew that Gollum survives up to his final scene at the Cracks of Doom, but I thought that surely he overpowers Sam and gets away, because there's no way Sam would ever let him live after everything he did to Frodo. But now... Now I see, and now Sam sees, that it is not up to him to decide whether someone deserves to live or die. And now Sam finally finds empathy for Gollum, the same empathy that Frodo felt which allowed him to spare Gollum's life in The Two Towers. Up to this point, Sam has been completely blinded by his loyalty to Frodo and has been unable to put himself in Gollum's position. Granted, Gollum is still a deplorable creature. But now Sam realizes what he's dealing with, and perhaps begrudgingly, he realizes that he CAN'T kill Gollum for falling under the influence of the Ring- because it's not his fault. (Even though, in my eyes, it totally is... well, it wasn't his fault for being so drawn to the Ring, but he does deserve to take responsibility for his actions throughout this book.)
"Then Frodo stirred and spoke with a clear voice, indeed with a voice clearer and more powerful than Sam had ever heard him use, and it rose above the throb and turmoil of Mount Doom, ringing in the roof and walls.
"'I have come,' he said. 'But I do not choose now to do what I came to do. I will not do this deed. The Ring is mine!' And suddenly, as he set it on his finger, he vanished from Sam's sight.'"
OHHHH FUCK!!!! Honestly, I can't believe it took Frodo THAT long to give in to the Ring. It took Smeagol like, what, ten seconds? And that was without all the mental torment along the way. I bet Bilbo wouldn't have held out as long as Frodo did if he'd remained the Ringebearer. And I truly don't believe that Sam could have done the deed himself, either. Really, Frodo should be lauded and applauded for even getting this far. But with that said... I LOVE the mental image of Frodo immediately vanishing from sight after he claims the Ring. It's like the Ring has taken him over so completely that he isn't himself anymore, and he doesn't belong to this world, so he disappears into another one. I have no idea if I'm describing that very well, lol.
"Suddenly Sam saw Gollum's long hands draw upwards to his mouth; his white fangs gleamed, and then snapped as they bit. Frodo gave a cry, and there he was, fallen upon his knees at the chasm's edge. But Gollum, dancing like a mad thing, held aloft the ring, a finger still thrust within its circle. It shone now as if verily it was wrought of living fire."
"A finger still thrust within its circle..." Jesus fucking Christ!!!
"'Precious, precious, precious!' Gollum cried. 'My Precious! O my Precious!' And with that, even as his eyes were lifted up to gloat on his prize, he stepped too far, toppled, wavered for a moment on the brink, and then with a shriek he fell. Out of the depths came his last wail Precious, and he was gone."
Oh my god. I can HEAR this part in my head so well- Gollum babbling and shrieking "PRECIOUS!!" over and over, and then his voice disappearing as he falls... Ugh. What powerful writing. I have SO MANY FEELINGS about Gollum's death- namely, why am I so upset about it?
"'Well, this is the end, Sam Gamgee,' said a voice by [Sam's] side. And there was Frodo, pale and worn, and yet himself again; and in his eyes there was peace now, neither strain of will, not madness, nor any fear. His burden was taken away. There was the dear master of the sweet days in the Shire.
"'Master!' cried Sam, and fell upon his knees. In all that ruin of the world for the moment he felt only joy, great joy. The burden was gone. His master had been saved; he was himself again, he was free. And then Sam caught sight of the maimed and bleeding hand.
"'Your poor hand!' he said. 'And I have nothing to bind it with, or comfort it. I would have spared him a whole hand of mine rather. But he's gone now beyond recall, gone forever.'
"'Yes,' said Frodo. But do you remember Gandalf's words: Even Gollum may have something yet to do? But for him, Sam, I could not have destroyed the Ring. The Quest would have been in vain, even at the bitter end. So let us forgive him! For the Quest is achieved, and now all is over. I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam.'"
One more time:
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
And with that... let's start another post to put this thing to bed once and for all.
THAT'S MY BOY, SAM!!! God, Sam's love for Frodo is just truly inspiring to me. I hope I can someday be as good and devoted a friend as Sam is (though not to sacrifice my own identity). Also, not gonna lie, Sam yelling "I'm coming, Mr. Frodo!" and running off to find him is just as funny to me as it is sweet. Like, my boy really just threw caution to the wind and said "fuck it."
It's INCREDIBLY eerie to me that the Ring was able to tempt Sam when Sam wasn't even wearing it and had only been carrying it for a short amount of time. Outside of Mordor, I'm sure it wouldn't have held that much power over him, and sure, even in Mordor, Sam was able to resist it, but who's to say he could have held out for much longer if he'd been the sole Ringbearer at this point? I love Sam, but honestly, I don't believe that he would have fared any better than Frodo when it came to throwing the Ring in the fire once and for all. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I just want to point out one more thing:
"In that hour of trial it was the love of his master that helped most to hold him firm; but also deep down in him lived still unconquered his plain hobbit-sense; he knew in the core of his heart that he was not large enough to bear such a burden, even if such visions were not a mere cheat to betray him. The one small garden of a free gardener was all his need and due, not a garden swollen to a realm; his own hands to use, not the hands of others to command."
There is SO MUCH for me to unpack here. First and foremost: the narration claims that Sam's sensibility that prevents him from buying into the vision the Ring is feeding him is inherent in all hobbits, but I strongly believe that it has more to do with Sam's place in hobbit society. That last line in particular stands out to me: "his own hands to use, not the hands of others to command." Now, I wouldn't say that Frodo has ever "commanded" Sam, but let's put it as plainly as it's put in The Fellowship of the Ring: Sam is Frodo's servant, plain and simple. The boundary of servant and master has been somewhat blurred on their adventure (though not as much as one would assume and maybe hope), but there's no getting over the fact that Sam, having followed in his "gaffer's" footsteps as Bag End's gardener, is used to providing service for Frodo, and their relationship is defined by that configuration. Therefore, while Sam is right in feeling that keeping a small garden of his own is more sensible and more practical than having others manage a great garden for him, it also speaks to how he views himself and his position in life. Commanding others isn't his job. That role belongs to someone like Frodo, a gentlehobbit of the Shire. Not lowly Sam Gamgee the gardener. Come to think of it, this isn't the stance that one would expect someone in Sam's position to take. After spending his entire life being subservient to others, wouldn't it be natural for Sam to desire more power for himself as soon as he gets a taste of it through the Ring? The only explanation for this is that Sam is happy with his current life, and he doesn't want anything more. Whether that's an admirable way to feel (because it shows Sam's humility), or a disappointing one (because, well, a lifetime of being subservient to others is, through my eyes, hardly a lifetime at all) depends on the opinions of those who read this scene. Secondly: Sam's love for Frodo is a grounding force, just like how Sam's presence was shown to be grounding for Frodo in the previous volume, and I am already tearing my hair out over them (once again). And finally: I'm pretty convinced that if Sam had gone forth still thinking that Frodo was dead, and the Ring had offered this vision to him... Something tells me that he might have put more stock into it than he does in this scene. I'm not going to get into my reasons for thinking this right this minute, but... yeah, I think the Ring could have worn down even Sam in the right circumstances.
I forgot to mention it in the previous volume because everything else surrounding it made me so distraught, but: I love that the orcs assumed that Sam was a badass elf warrior because they had only seen the aftermath of his feats. Badass, Sam Gamgee certainly is. Elf, no, and warrior... He's a fucking gardener. Who'd a thunk it?
It strikes me as a liiiiiittle bit convenient that all the orcs had broken out into fighting and had pretty much slaughtered each other by the time Sam arrived at their fortress, but at the same time, the orc conversation at the end of The Two Towers sort of suggested that that's how this situation was always set to end. Sam also seemed to think it was pretty convenient too, which made me crack up a little. How nice it must be to have your enemies take themselves out before you can do the job.
And now... I wouldn't normally type all this out, but I don't want to deal with taking a photo and inserting it into this post right now, and anyway, this moment is spread across two pages so it wouldn't even be one photo, and ANYWAY JUST READ THIS PART WITH ME:
"At last, weary and feeling finally defeated, [Sam] sat on a step below the level of the passage-floor and bowed his head into his hands. It was quiet, horribly quiet. The torch, that was already burning low when he arrived, sputtered and went out; and he felt the darkness cover him like a tide. And then softly, to his own surprise, there at the vain end of his long journey and his grief, moved by what thought in his heart he could not tell, Sam began to sing.
"His voice sounded thin and quavering in the cold dark tower: the voice of a forlorn and weary hobbit that no listening orc could possibly mistake for the clear song of an Elven-lord. He murmured old childish tunes out of the Shire, and snatches of Mr. Bilbo's rhymes that came into his mind like fleeting glimpses of the country of his home. And then suddenly new strength rose in him, and his rang out, while words of his own came unbidden to fit the simple tune."
AND WHAT WORDS THEY ARE. I'm not going to type out the entire poem, but I get the gist of it. Just like I get the gist of this scene. Sam has hit a wall. I won't say he's at his lowest point, because his lowest point was in The Two Towers when he thought that Frodo was dead, but he's pretty damn close to it. Over the course of this chapter (and the preceding ones in The Two Towers), he has gone far beyond what anyone would expect from a hobbit, to the point where the orcs believe that a mighty Elf warrior is after them. But now Sam is alone and has no idea what course of action he should take, and he's shown to be who and what he truly is- a hobbit a long ways from the Shire who is scared and upset and exhausted out of his MIND. He just wants to find the one he loves and has sworn to protect- the closest person to understanding him on this journey, just like how Merry & Pippin were closer to each other than anyone else because they understood each other as fellow hobbits and had a similar shared background. And with his guard down, having dropped all pretenses of being a warrior, Sam falls into a deeply hobbit-like behavior. He sings. The Fellowship of the Ring had SO MUCH SINGING in it, and enough of it came from the hobbits that it's clear that singing is an important thing in their culture. This is an act that Sam knows well and values, and here in his darkest hour, he has nothing else upon which to rely. Nothing... except for the memory of the Sun, which he puts into his song. And god... it's beautiful. Previously Sam considered himself only as an occasional writer of comic verse, without any true artistic inclinations... but these lovely words about how the darkest hour comes just before the dawn, and how even in the dark, the sun and the stars still exist, are pure poetry. That battle with Shelob in The Two Towers was a strong contender for the moment where Sam truly becomes a hero... but for me, that moment is THIS scene. Only by returning to his roots does Sam become the hero. But what makes him so heroic in this scene? Well...
"'Beyond all towers strong and high,' he began again, and then he stopped short. He thought that he had heard a faint voice answering him. But now he could hear nothing. Yes, he could hear something, but not a voice. Footsteps were approaching..."
Y'all. Frodo heard Sam singing down below him, and sang back. As soon as Sam stripped off the pretense that the orcs had of him being an Elf warrior sent to destroy them, and revealed himself as the humble hobbit he is, Frodo recognized him. I CAN'T. I can't, I can't, I can't. This is one of the most romantic things I've ever read (and I'm not even saying "romantic" in a hearts-and-flowers, "I ship them" kind of way). If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, but I'll say it again: THEY LOVE EACH OTHER. This is also giving me "Golden Hair" by Syd Barrett vibes (go listen to that song and hopefully you'll see what I mean).
And then it's reunion time:
"'Frodo! Mr. Frodo, my dear!" cried Sam, tears almost blinding him. 'It's Sam, I've come!' He half lifted his master and hugged him to his breast. Frodo opened his eyes.
"'Am I still dreaming?' he muttered. 'But the other dreams were horrible.'
"'You're not dreaming at all, Master,' said Sam. 'It's real. It's me. I've come.'
"'I can hardly believe it,' said Frodo, clutching him. 'There was an orc with a whip, and then it turns into Sam! Then I wasn't dreaming after all when I heard that singing down below, and I tried to answer? Was it you?'
"'It was indeed, Mr. Frodo. I'd given up hope, almost. I couldn't find you.'
"'Well, you have now, Sam, dear Sam,' said Frodo, and he lay back in Sam's gentle arms, closing his eyes, like a child at rest when night-fears are driven away by some loved voice or hand.'"
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
"Sam felt that he could sit like that in endless happiness, but it was not allowed."
What the fuck, I've used lines like that when writing FANFICTION for crying out loud.
"He kissed Frodo's forehead. 'Come! Wake up, Mr. Frodo!' he said, trying to found as cheerful as he had when he drew back the curtains at Bag End on a summer's morning."
AHHHHHHHHHH--- *gunshot sound*
"'You've got it?' gasped Frodo. 'You've got it here? Sam, you're a marvel!' Then quickly and strangely his voice changed. 'Give it me at once! You can't have it!'"
Oh, NO. Just like I was saying some time ago about how Frodo having been entrusted the task of destroying the Ring means that he has a strong will to hold onto it himself and not let anyone else have it... Now this shows that the Ring is twisting that desire into making him become reliant on it.
"'But you're in the land of Mordor now, sir; and when you get out, you'll see the Fiery Mountains and all. You'll find the Ring very dangerous now, and very hard to bear. If it's too hard a job, I could share it with you, maybe?'
"'No, no!' cried Frodo, snatching the Ring and chain from Sam's hands. 'No you won't, you thief!'"
Now, one could assume just from this line that this is another display of the Ring's influence over Frodo, or perhaps it's Frodo desperately trying to keep Sam from taking the Ring because he knows the toll it's taking on him and he wants to spare Sam that as much as possible. But the rest of this paragraph reveals something deeper that may have been unintended:
"A mist seemed to clear from [Frodo's] eyes, and he passed a hand over his aching brow. The hideous vision had seemed so real to him, half bemused as he was still with wound and fear. Sam had changed before his very eyes into an orc again, leering and pawing at his treasure, a foul little creature with greedy eyes and slobbering mouth. But now the vision had passed..."
...I think Frodo is experiencing some PTSD here, don't you think? Those orcs who stripped Frodo and stole from him and interrogated him and whipped him have CLEARLY done a number on him. It breaks my heart to see him in such mental anguish, and to see his remorse once he realizes he just yelled at Sam. (And this is just another moment that proves that the movie version of the events in Shelob's lair- where Frodo sends Sam away and goes in alone- would have NEVER worked in the books.)
"'I can't go all the way at a run, Sam,' said Frodo with a wry smile. 'I hope you've made inquiries about inns along the road? Or have you forgotten about food and drink?'"
Oh my GOD, Frodo is doing the exact same thing that Merry did to Pippin- the exact same jesting behavior that Merry said was typical of hobbits, who always "say less than they mean" when the going gets tough. I love this SO much.
"'But come, Mr. Frodo! Off we go, or a whole lake of it won't do us any good!'
"'Not till you've had a mouthful, Sam,' said Frodo. 'I won't budge. Here, take this elven-cake, and drink that last drop in your bottle! The whole thing is quite hopeless, so there's no good worrying about tomorrow. It probably won't come.'"
The way this paragraph made me go "Awww" at first, with Frodo caring for Sam, and then "oh shit" when Frodo revealed his hopelessness... but he did so in such a nonchalant way, and the whiplash was so strong, that I couldn't help but crack up at this moment, too.
"'Look here, Sam dear lad,' said Frodo: 'I am tired, weary, I haven't a hope left. But I have got to go on trying to get to the Mountain, as long as I can move. The Ring is enough. This extra weight is killing me [...]'"
"'Don't talk about it, Mr. Frodo. Bless you! I'd carry you on my back, if I could. Let it go then!'"
Oh Sam, you say now that you'd carry Frodo on your back... You have no idea that it'll actually come to that soon enough.
"'Things are looking up, Mr. Frodo. Haven't you got some hope now?'
"'Well no, not much, Sam,' Frodo sighed. 'That's away beyond the mountains. We're going east not west. And I'm so tired. And the Ring is so heavy, Sam. And I begin to see it in my mind all the time, like a great wheel of fire.'"
Given what Merry just revealed about hobbits in Book 5 when he explained why hobbits tend to stay lighthearted in serious situations, I feel like it says a lot that Frodo is openly voicing his complaints the way he is. The Ring has worn him down so much that he can't put on this facade of ease that is customary to his people. I just want to give him and Sam a big ol' hug. They never asked for any of this, but they know what has to be done and they're determined to see it through, in the face of all odds stacked against them. I admire them so much for that. I also admire Sam for doing all that he can to keep Frodo's spirits up and to find every possible silver lining, even though he's probably feeling just as exhausted and depressed as Frodo is.
"'Let me drink first, Mr. Frodo.'
"'All right, but there's room enough for two.'
"'I didn't mean that,' said Sam. 'I mean: if it's poisonous, or something that will show its badness quick, well, better me than you, master, if you understand me.'
"'I do. But I think we'll trust our luck together, Sam; or our blessing.'"
God... Frodo isn't one of my favorite characters from this book, but I just LOVE how despite his status and social standing, he's so quick to reject any notion on Sam's part that Sam's life is worth less than his own. I LOVE THESE TWO SO MUCH.
"There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to hi. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty forever beyond its reach. His song in the Tower had been defiance rather than hope; for then he was thinking of himself. Now, for a moment, his own fate, and even his master's, ceased to trouble him. He crawled back into the brambles and laid himself by Frodo's side, and putting away all fear he cast himself into a deep untroubled sleep."
Even typing that out has made me tear up a little. Oh, SAM. This reminds me a lot of the line from Les Miserables: "Even the darkest night shall end and the sun will rise." If I hadn't known already how this story was going to end, I'd have said that this is the first obvious tell that this story is going to have a happy ending. (Well... That Sauron will be defeated, at least. We'll get into that ending in another post.)
God, the entire rest of this chapter is just... I know I just mentioned that line above being a sign that Frodo's task would be complete and Sauron would be defeated, but the rest of the chapter is just so painfully desperate and hopeless. It makes me feel so sad. And throughout it all, Sam is going above and beyond to make sure Frodo is as comfortable as he can be. This burden is not his to carry, and he understands that, but he'll be DAMNED if he lets Frodo go through this alone. God, Frodo was absolutely right when he said "Frodo wouldn't have gotten very far without Sam." I am SO glad that the two of them are together, and that Frodo doesn't have to be facing this hell on his own.
"'So that was the job I felt I had to do when I started, thought Sam: "to help Mr. Frodo to the last step and then die with him? Well, if that is the job then I must do it. But I would dearly like to see Bywater again, and Rosie Cotton and her brothers, and the Gaffer and Marigold and all..."
Wait, wait, wait, wait. Sam has a personal life?! We've known about the Gaffer all this time, but... Who's Rosie Cotton? And her brothers? Who is Marigold? This is the first time that Sam has given any indication that he has a life outside of his service to Frodo, and it's sobering, to say the least. It really hammers home how much of a sacrifice Sam made when he decided to accompany Frodo on his journey. This fine young hobbit who has friends and family and an entire LIFE back home in Hobbiton has forsaken all of that to potentially die alone in this horrible unknown land, and given the way the hobbits assumed Bilbo had died after he had been away for so long, it's doubtful that anyone back at home would ever know what happened to Sam were he to die alongside Frodo. And yet, somehow... all of this must be worth it. Because it's for the greater good? Or because Sam is just THAT devoted to Frodo that he sees dying alongside him in Mordor to be a worthy thing?
"'I can't manage it, Sam,' [Frodo] said. 'It is such a weight to carry, such a weight.'
"Sam knew before he spoke, that it was vain, and that such words might do more harm than good, but in his pity he could not keep silent. 'Then let me carry it a bit for you, Master,' he said. 'You know I would, and gladly, as long as I have any strength.'
"A wild light came into Frodo's eyes. 'Stand away! Don't touch me!' he cried. 'It is mine, I say. Be off!' His hand strayed to his sword-hilt. But then quickly his voice changed. 'No, no, Sam,' he said sadly. 'But you must understand. It is my burden, and no one else can bear it. It is too late now, Sam dear. You can't help me in that way again. I am almost in its power now. I could not give it up, and if you tried to take it I should go mad.'"
UGH, this HURTS. Frodo isn't just afraid that the Ring will corrupt Sam, and he isn't just resolutely sticking to the burden that was imposed upon him out of a sense of duty, and he isn't just having flashbacks of the orcs searching him and lashing out because of that. No, he is JUST BARELY clinging to the last remaining shreds of his willpower that's keeping him from totally giving in to the Ring's influence, and he knows that if Sam takes the Ring, he won't be able to hold out against it anymore. He is fighting with ALL HIS MIGHT to maintain his sanity and sense of self, and that fight is almost killing him. And then there's:
"'[...]I know that such things happened, but I cannot see them. No taste of food, no feel of water, no sound of wind, no memory of tree or grass or flower, no image of moon or star are left to me. I am naked in the dark, Sam, and there is no veil between me and the wheel of fire. I begin to see it even with my waking eyes, and all else fades."
Ohhhh, this is absolutely chilling. I can't even BEGIN to imagine what Frodo must be feeling here- if he's feeling anything at all.
"Hardest of all it was to part with [Sam's] cooking-gear. Tears welled in his eyes at the thought of casting it away."
Me too, Sam. Me too. I mean, I'd be devastated if I had to give away all the cooking gear that I've accumulated over my lifetime. But also... it does feel genuinely upsetting to see Sam give away all the stuff he's been lugging around since he and Frodo set off on their journey. They've come so far with it... and now, where they're going, they're not going to need it anymore.
The whole debate that Sam has with himself hits too close to home for me. I often talk down to myself and talk back to myself and seeing Sam do these things in his despondent state makes me empathize with him so much.
"At last [Sam] groped for Frodo's hand. It was cold and trembling. His master was shivering.
"'I didn't ought to have left my blanket behind,' muttered Sam; and lying down he tried to comfort Frodo with his arms and body."
This might sound weird, but... I feel like I've been waiting the whole book for this to happen. Again, not for any shippy reasons or anything like that. It's just... There's something about cuddling someone in their sleep, about putting one's body over the other to keep them safe and warm, that is just so intimate and defines closeness to me- closeness, and protectiveness, and care. This is one of the strongest statements that could be made about Frodo & Sam's relationship. When Frodo is cold and there's no blanket, Sam holds him in his sleep to keep him warm. I really can't describe why this strikes me so much, it's just... I don't know. I don't know what else to say.
This next part I have to break down sentence-by-sentence:
"[Frodo] raised his eyes with difficulty to the dark slopes of Mount Doom towering above him, and then pitifully he began to crawl forward on his hands."
The fact that Frodo doesn't even say a word by this point, because it's too much effort to speak... The fact that he's reduced to crawling like an animal... or like GOLLUM...
"Sam looked at him and wept in his heart, but no tears came to his dry and stinging eyes."
The fact that Sam is so dehydrated that he can't even weep for Frodo!!
"'I said I'd carry him, if it broke my back,' he muttered, 'and I will!'"
YES... YESSS...
"'Come, Mr. Frodo!' [Sam] cried. 'I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you and it as well. So up you get! Come on, Mr. Frodo dear! Sam will give you a ride. Just tell him where to go, and he'll go!"
YESSSSSSS!!!!! TRUE FUCKING FRIENDSHIP RIGHT THERE, Y'ALL!!!! And yet, at the same time... as beautiful and sweet at this moment is, there's something so poignant about Sam physically putting himself under Frodo, like a manifestation of how he views their relationship dynamic.
"Sam knelt by [Frodo]. Faint, almost inaudibly, he heard Frodo whispering: 'Help me, Sam! Help me, Sam! Hold my hand! I can't stop it.' Sam took his master's hands and laid them together, palm to palm, and kissed them; and then he held them gently between his own."
Okay... Why wasn't this in the movie?!?! Sam having to hold Frodo's hands to keep him from putting on the Ring would have been an INCREDIBLY powerful moment to see in a visual medium. I also failed to point this out before, but: I love how Sam's interactions with Frodo at this point are like a parent taking care of a child. When Sam kisses Frodo's hands, it almost feels like how a parent will kiss a child's "boo-boos" to make them feel better.
"A sudden weight smote [Sam] and he crashed forward, tearing the backs of his hands that still clasped his master's. Then he knew what had happened, for above him as he lay he heard a hated voice.
"'Wicked masster!' it hissed. 'Wicked masster cheats us; cheats Smeagol, gollum. He musstn't go that way. He mussn't hurt Preciouss. Give it to Smeagol, yess, give it to us! Give it to uss!'"
OH SHIT!!! Gollum is BACK and ready to FIGHT!! And although he's still calling himself Smeagol, it's clear from the prominent hissing in his speech that "Stinker' has fully given way to "Slinker."
"Sam's hand wavered. His mind was hot with wrath and the memory of evil. It would be just to slay this treacherous, murderous creature, just and many times deserved; and also it seemed the only safe thing to do. But deep in his heart there was something that restrained him: he could not strike this thing lying in the dust, forlorn, ruinous, utterly wretched. He himself, though only for a little while, had borne the Ring, and now dimly he guessed the agony of Gollum's shriveled mind and body, enslaved tothat Ring, unable to find peace or relief ever in life again. But Sam had no words to express what he felt."
So my first thought at this moment was "What the fuck??" Obviously I knew that Gollum survives up to his final scene at the Cracks of Doom, but I thought that surely he overpowers Sam and gets away, because there's no way Sam would ever let him live after everything he did to Frodo. But now... Now I see, and now Sam sees, that it is not up to him to decide whether someone deserves to live or die. And now Sam finally finds empathy for Gollum, the same empathy that Frodo felt which allowed him to spare Gollum's life in The Two Towers. Up to this point, Sam has been completely blinded by his loyalty to Frodo and has been unable to put himself in Gollum's position. Granted, Gollum is still a deplorable creature. But now Sam realizes what he's dealing with, and perhaps begrudgingly, he realizes that he CAN'T kill Gollum for falling under the influence of the Ring- because it's not his fault. (Even though, in my eyes, it totally is... well, it wasn't his fault for being so drawn to the Ring, but he does deserve to take responsibility for his actions throughout this book.)
"Then Frodo stirred and spoke with a clear voice, indeed with a voice clearer and more powerful than Sam had ever heard him use, and it rose above the throb and turmoil of Mount Doom, ringing in the roof and walls.
"'I have come,' he said. 'But I do not choose now to do what I came to do. I will not do this deed. The Ring is mine!' And suddenly, as he set it on his finger, he vanished from Sam's sight.'"
OHHHH FUCK!!!! Honestly, I can't believe it took Frodo THAT long to give in to the Ring. It took Smeagol like, what, ten seconds? And that was without all the mental torment along the way. I bet Bilbo wouldn't have held out as long as Frodo did if he'd remained the Ringebearer. And I truly don't believe that Sam could have done the deed himself, either. Really, Frodo should be lauded and applauded for even getting this far. But with that said... I LOVE the mental image of Frodo immediately vanishing from sight after he claims the Ring. It's like the Ring has taken him over so completely that he isn't himself anymore, and he doesn't belong to this world, so he disappears into another one. I have no idea if I'm describing that very well, lol.
"Suddenly Sam saw Gollum's long hands draw upwards to his mouth; his white fangs gleamed, and then snapped as they bit. Frodo gave a cry, and there he was, fallen upon his knees at the chasm's edge. But Gollum, dancing like a mad thing, held aloft the ring, a finger still thrust within its circle. It shone now as if verily it was wrought of living fire."
"A finger still thrust within its circle..." Jesus fucking Christ!!!
"'Precious, precious, precious!' Gollum cried. 'My Precious! O my Precious!' And with that, even as his eyes were lifted up to gloat on his prize, he stepped too far, toppled, wavered for a moment on the brink, and then with a shriek he fell. Out of the depths came his last wail Precious, and he was gone."
Oh my god. I can HEAR this part in my head so well- Gollum babbling and shrieking "PRECIOUS!!" over and over, and then his voice disappearing as he falls... Ugh. What powerful writing. I have SO MANY FEELINGS about Gollum's death- namely, why am I so upset about it?
"'Well, this is the end, Sam Gamgee,' said a voice by [Sam's] side. And there was Frodo, pale and worn, and yet himself again; and in his eyes there was peace now, neither strain of will, not madness, nor any fear. His burden was taken away. There was the dear master of the sweet days in the Shire.
"'Master!' cried Sam, and fell upon his knees. In all that ruin of the world for the moment he felt only joy, great joy. The burden was gone. His master had been saved; he was himself again, he was free. And then Sam caught sight of the maimed and bleeding hand.
"'Your poor hand!' he said. 'And I have nothing to bind it with, or comfort it. I would have spared him a whole hand of mine rather. But he's gone now beyond recall, gone forever.'
"'Yes,' said Frodo. But do you remember Gandalf's words: Even Gollum may have something yet to do? But for him, Sam, I could not have destroyed the Ring. The Quest would have been in vain, even at the bitter end. So let us forgive him! For the Quest is achieved, and now all is over. I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam.'"
One more time:
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
And with that... let's start another post to put this thing to bed once and for all.
