Frodo Baggins: The Modern Hero We Need, but Don’t Deserve | Hobbit Day 2022 

For me, Frodo's unparalleled strength is in his humility _and suffering._ I have never seen a character _so_ small and meek suffer _so_ much but just _endures_ it, even to his _ruin_ and/or _death._

Frodo is a celebration of humility. The Ring only has power by corrupting your ego. Frodo’s simple decency and responsibility, becomes heroic. Frodo’s heroism isn’t spectacular, it’s relatable. It’s just doing the right thing, and that’s why it’s sadly overlooked.

For me, Frodo's most heroic decision was to go alone to Mordor. He was a frightened little hobbit but he wanted to keep his friends from danger especially after seeing what the desire for the ring did to Boromir. He didn't know how to get into Mordor but he wasn't going to put his friends at further risk. He even sneaked off so they couldn't dissuade him. I'm glad Sam found him!

My take on Aragorn's character was that he was so confident in himself and who he was that he didn't feel a need to be a braggard. And so he acted humble in a manner. Nearly always courteous. The few rare moments in the book, where he momentarily revealed his majesty or suddenly acted stern and proud had more to do the the respect he held for the title that he held rather than an arrogance born out of a regard for himself as a person. Maybe I'm mistaken but that was my take.

Happy Hobbit Day, my friend! Always fun to join in these collabs with you!

Happy Hobbit Day Joshua! I really appreciate this topic. Frodo is certainly a different sort of protagonist from most archetypes, yet his kindness and wisdom is absolutely vital in such a compelling characterization. Cheers buddy!

I have to say when i first started watching your videos I was bored - because I was so used to the usual image heavy explanatory lore videos. But, yours were different - I gradually began to like your free form unscripted way of dealing with the subject.... and as time went by, I realized i that I needed to settle down and listen to you and what you have to say. It's just you and your thoughts - You delve deep and I think you are the best analyst out there.

I think the problem with Frodo in the movies is that it's hard to express what he's really doing and feeling in a movie since it's first and foremost a visually driven representation, it's almost impossible to capture his struggle, suffering, fight with the temptation and the power of the ring. People watch Samwise doing its thing and they think it's the only hero between the two because what he does it's really phisical and apparent, Frodo on the other hand sacrifices everything to get the quest done, the ring basically shreds his soul into confetti and he has no chance to live a normal life ever again, so much so he has to leave for Valinor, and it's a very slow process , it takes him more than a year to get to mount Doom, so day after day and night after night he can't ever let go and gives it all; I like Sam as much as the next Tolkien fan, I really do, but when people say that Frodo isn't a real hero or that he did nothing to destroy the ring it really makes me understand that they didn't get the story and what Frodo is really doing.

Everybody complains about movie Faramir, for me the worst change was Frodo. I absolutely loved Frodo. There is a scene I particularly love, Sam is hearing Gollum plotting against them, when he thinks they're sleep. He thinks Frodo is just naive to trust him. The next day, when Frodo makes Gollum swear to the ring he says I know all you want is the ring and it's corrupted you and what not, Sam realizes that Frodo is not stupid, he knew who Gollum is, he's just a very kind person who treats Gollum properly in spite of it. Even Gollum hesitates to do something against him because how kind he is to him.

To me Frodo is heroic because he is willing to do the hard thing that no one wants to do. His ability to show compassion and restraint is his strength.He was not a warrior or fighter. He is the unlikely hero. I also think Sam is a hero. He stood by Frodo. At one point he held the ring for Frodo without getting corrupted.

A superbly done analysis of Frodo's heroism! As Ringbearer, Frodo made many important decisions about how to proceed and he did them all with the One Ring trying to corrupt him. You could see how his decision making later on was informed by what he learned from Gandalf early on. In the scouring of the Shire, while it was Merry, Pippin, and Sam who were out front doing things, I've always felt like Frodo was really the one in command.

Frodo is my favorite literary character of all times.

Happy Hobbit Day!

Great video and great analysis of Frodo's heroism. I never thought of the type of hero Henry Fonda was and to see the similarities was eye opening. Happy Hobbit Day!

Fantastic video. The fact that the actions of characters in the LOTR can be so nuanced to withstand this depth of literary analysis shows yet again why the book and other writings of JRR Tolkien pertaining to Middle Earth are so powerful and deep.

Fantastic analysis my friend. Happy hobbit day 🎉

It makes sense that most heroes today are "unrestrained" and are about getting things done quickly. With all the problems we have in the world, I think people want the fantasy of fixing things in the most timely way possible, with no "nonsense". Not saying I agree with it, but it makes sense.

I think a lot of this is applicable to Faramir as well. It's a really interesting Tolkienesque take on heroism

Frodo Hero! Mainly perseverance and kindness and wisdom But don’t forget that he saved his three friends from the Barrow Wight

Frodo suffers which is a very Catholic thing and very admirable.

Wow! An entire video inspired by my question. Thank you so much!

Frodo is mini-Gandalf, Sam is mini-Aragorn

I love this Break down Tolkien Lore! Great Video my Friend! Happy Hobbit Day!

I'm very glad that you included that point about not just extremism in general, but extremist mindsets pushing everything into the black-and-white spaces. It's difficult to get past some of our differences when the most potent of them include how some of our fellow people are or are not protected or provided for, and I think that it's there that the enmity thrives and manages to remain even when some temporary progress toward understanding is made. Of course, the flames are typically fanned by people with a vested interest in propagating the chaos, and that's why messages like the one you gave, an entreaty instead of an admonishment, are particularly important, because we need to call each other to come back together instead of yelling while standing apart.

At 5:00 - does Samwise actually kill Shelob? Thought whether Shelob died or not is something we are not told (unless it is in a secondary Tolkien source).

Mae Govannen! 👋 Cheers on the Hobbit Day A.D. 2022! 🍯🍻

Loved this. Many thanks. I suppose Frodo is a spiritual hero... Tolkien even subverts the usual quest narrative- Frodo goes to throw something away not find or retrieve something and that something is, well whatever we feel the ring represents, lust for power and domination perhaps. Even though he actually fails in the end, as Tolkien says, it is not a moral failure..his earlier decision to show mercy to Gollum is what ensures the task is completed in the end. I also very much appreciated your plea for more Frodos amongst us and more nuance and wisdom amid the madness of polarity we currently live in.

Yes, we can all be like Frodo - flawed heroes. Another great analysis which I really enjoyed - well done. The power of evil ("sin" to me as a Christian believer) within and without ourselves is very strong - it's power, in the form of selfishness, stopped Frodo throwing the ring into Mount Doom and evil's power, in the form of selfishness, anger, resentment, addiction, caused Gollum to bite off Frodo's finger and take the ring. I guess they both succumbed to evil. They are still both loved and lovable as flawed beings. Fortunately, in his maniacal, addictive glee, Gollum fell to his death and the ring went with him and was destroyed. That round of evil was ended and would no doubt manifest itself again. What a magnificent mind Tolkien had. That's my opinion. Just starting to read LoTR again.

I’d never thought I’d hear someone making comparisons between LOTR and 12 Angry Men lol. But that’s why this is such a great channel. Happy Hobbit day.

In my humble opinion, Bilbo is the best character in all the lore, but Frodo is not far behind him.

Sam is the true hero of lotr

Hey Joshua, I just found your channel and have been binging all your videos their by far the best for Tolkien lore and analysis. One thing that I have been wondering is where did you get the swords and displays behind you? Thanks for all the content!

Cressida Cowell was really good about this with Hiccup and Fishlegs in the original version given in the How to Train Your Dragon books. It's like what Hiccups grandfather said "The Hooligan Tribe needs a Hero that's more than the atypical brawn and muscle" and oh' boy did Hiccup 'and Fishlegs too' live up to that in the end! It was clear that she had a deep respect for Tolkien and Lord of the Rings in her writing of those 12 books and I hate how Hollywood failed to show any of it.

To me I look at Samwise McGee as a hero in his own right. Frodo couldn’t survive without Sam. I don’t see Aragon as Beowulf hero. I see him more as the traditional hero.

I've never thought of Frodo that way, I always saw him more as an example of sheer willpower to finish the mission. But I think that the way you see it is way more valuable for our current society. Thanks for the good reflections on Tolkien's work.

hearing you describe Frodo reminded me of Faramir, too; not a nobody, but not an archetype, either

Timely topic, good sir! And Happy Hobbit Day to thee!

Very thoughtful work. I never really thought about Frodo as a hero though definitely see and enjoy his progression arc from cheerful hobbit to a wise being. As Saruman noted he had grown a great deal. My own take is perhaps Frodo’s low key thoughtful heroism was emulating the Rangers who labored long to keep the Shire and Bree folk simple and free from care with no tangible reward. Happy Hobbit Day to you and yours!

That's a good point. Additionally. Frodo's age was also changed, so that also stripped of some of that wise persona, however. When he's outside the gates of Moria, I think it was Gandalf who found a way to open the gate - Not Frodo. This was reversed in the movie "what's the elven word for friend?". I don't understand why Jackson did that. 7:40 I know you know, but I'd like to emphasis this for others who don't. Book Aragorn, when inquired by Eomer, who is he to travel in Rohan, Aragorns grows in stature as he tells who he is. In my impression, a very different form of Aragorn is in the movie adaptation. In the movies, he's quite insecure. A bit of that modern hero in the movie. I can understand why Jackson did that change, but also wish they didn't.

Happy Hobbit day! Thank you so much for a wonderful video on such a wonderful channel 💜

I will sum this video up: Tolkien is too smart for Jackson. Seriously though I appreciate this video I have been thinking a lot of what I guess could be called Frodo's 'spiritual growth.' I always liked the scene at the base of Cirith Ungol where Frodo was not strong enough to take on the witch king with the ring...yet.

Happy Hobbit Day! I found your channel because of the playlist for Hobbit Day and I'm so glad I did. I really enjoyed your topic and your perspective on Frodo as a very unique hero. I've seen the movie 12 Angry Men and it is excellent, I too would highly recommend it. You are correct about the lack of restraint and the inability to see another's point of view and to respect a person's right to their own opinion even if you do not agree with it. Thanks so much for your contribution to Hobbit Day, and I will definitely be checking out more videos on your channel.

Frodo is my fave

Some time during the last two thousand years, the meaning of the word ”hero” changed. In classical mythology it just means ”person with superpowers”. The children of Ares are psychotic serial killers, everybody hates them and they generally take the story role of antagonists, but they are still ”heroic” in the greek sense. Nowadays we think that a ”hero” is by definition on the right side and morally outstanding. When the main person in the story ain’t all that, we have to call them ”anti-hero” or ”villain protagonist” or something. Personally, I often enjoy stories with shades of grey where the protagonists aren’t necessarily on the right side. I like Hannibal and Ripley and my favorite fantasy is Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. But I’m not exclusive, I like a good modern heroic protagonist too. I have little crushes on both Paksenarrion and Pike Trickfoot. And I agree that for an aspirational hero, in the modern sense of the word, you can do a lot worse than Frodo. Because doing the right thing is hard. Not just because you have to fight all your lower instincts and put the greater good over your personal immediate gratification, but also because it’s often hard to know what the right thing even is. Frodo is good at it because he reads books and thinks deeply about things, he’s a writer, a historian and dabbles in poetry. In roleplaying mechanics his class is ”man of learning” or ”academic”. (Doesn’t exist in DnD because that game is focused on combat, but a lot of other ttrpgs have it.) Funny thing, one of the most beloved characters in game of thrones is a bookreading short person whos own job description is ”I drink and I know things”. RR Martin is a fellow Tolkien fan, so I’m sure that’s not a coincidence. Anyhow, thanks for another cool update. And I promise, I am going to watch Twelve Angry Men real soon!

Happy Hobbit Day TolkienLore, always a pleasure to see one of your videos, really glad you leapt to the defence of Frodo here!

Happy Hobbit Day! I think aside from his decision making, Frodo's role was to be a ringbearer. It's definitely a huge deal. All consuming. So obviously to me it would make sense if there's little room for anything else.

Aragorn is not humble ? I would have to disagree.

Happy Hobbit Day!

I'm maybe the only one who liked movie Frodo better than he was portrayed in the book. He showed the true innocence of a Hobbit and resilience, and without making him overstreanght superhero. First, no way that one small Hobbit can ride a big horse for 6 days nonstop by himself if he never rode it before. Add to it that he was fatally wounded, he really needed a help to survive. Second, and that's for all those who are saying that he is just a whining baby and annoying, he was the only one who got stabbed, first by cave troll.. yes he had a mitril shirt but it doesn't mean it still didn't hurt as hell , then being stabbed with morgul blade and if not been for Elrond and an elf magic, he would die, then he was stabbed by Shelob, and being literary paralyzed for at least a day.. and besides all of that, try carrying just a 50 kg stone around your neck for a whole year and it gets heavier with every step you make.. and doing so without any sleep or food for days and weeks.I bet that all of us would be that "whining baby".Person who is weak, both physically and mentally can't fight.. he can only endure and move on.. and Frodo did that.. In whole his "whining" he never once said that he wants to stop or come back. Frodo in the movie was perfect. But that's just my thought.

Absolutely inspiring! 👏

I would love to see a collaboration video with Heart of a Halfling. Small channel but she really knows her stuff and has a ton of passion for the source material.

12 Angry Men is a great movie. Highly recommend.

Frodo did make Gollum swear an oath to the Ring that he would not take the Precious and would obey him and be their guide. That wasn't heroic but it resulted in Gollum's tripping and falling into the fire of Orodruin. Fate is in the side of the Heroic.

To understand Frodo, you have to understand the philosophy of Tolkien. This is a great video on this. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TeF6lomaU3I.html

Sam is the true hero of TLOTR and it's why he has the last word. The triumph of the everyman.

More rings of power please. And its getting you more views

Great analysis. You might also want to consider that Tolkein was a WWI officer and that is the role that Frodo has amongst the other hobbits. A British officer is not expected to be a brilliant tactician, or even a brave warrior; he was expected to do his duty, make the hard decisions, and trust in his sergeants to carry those decisions out.

The Hero we should become in our own lives.

My favorite Hobbit has always been Merry; but with every re-read over the years I find new aspects to love from the other hobbits. Nice video! Happy Hobbit Day!

What do you make of Frodo ultimately failing his main purpose? "The Ring is mine!" do we need a little bit of divine intervention, chaos, chance, fate, or all of the above when faced with our greatest challenges?

Happy Hobbit Day Eve, everybody!

Thank you for this

Happy Hobbit Day to you!

Frodo's passion for the Shire was just as strong Sam's for his Master, Hercules' for atonement, Anakin's for his son Luke, Achilles' for honor, Odysseus' for Ithaca, Beowulf's for loyalty, etc. All main characters in an epic story or mythology have at the core selfish motivations that play certain roles for the "Will of the Gods". Unfortunately, today's contemporary literature and movies either don't know this or unwilling to put these moral lessons in their stories to push political allegories and woke nonsense.

Very good video

Parsimony

Frodo wanted his roll under played if Sam Mary and Pippin didn't write anything Frodo would have written him self out completely once it the story got to The outskirts of Mordor right?

Happy Hobbit Day! Glad to see some Frodo appreciation on his very own day!

Mae govannen! Did you take the video on episode 5 down, or did youtube do so?

Happy hobbit day Tolkien lore you are my favorite Tolkien RU-vidr and Tolkien geek in general lol

I watched 12 angry men in history class way back in 2007 it was a great movie

Mae govannen mellon nin!

This was very good stuff. Indeed, who and what a hero is was a lifelong theme for Tolkien. In his professional and private life. This makes his heroes nuanced and different. Sam is the ultimate hero of the tale, but Frodo shows that heroism is found in many places and forms. I feel like Aragorn in his speech to Eowyn on duty does a good job of explicitly discussing this, the whole book does a wonderful job of intrinsically discussing the nature of the hero. Thanks and keep up the good work.

Very, very interesting. 👍

'Error has no rights'

Happy Hobbit Day

Are you really a hero if you fail at the very thing you set out to do?

The Hobbits were how Tolkien imagined the perfect (uncorrupted) Christians to be and he imbued then with all the values that Christianity extols. Though he wasn't as direct as CS Lewis you can see that they are pacifists but fight in just wars , are friendly, giving etc etc. Well all aside from that whatever she was aunt that wanted to get Bilbos house haha. Anyway God Bless you are so knowledgable of LOTR lore!

Happy Hobbit Day! 😁