It is suggested in many places in LOTR that the courage of the hobbits, that lies dormant deep down inside them, is waiting for a desperate situation to emerge. An example is the barrow-downs scene: Frodo has the feeling that he had come to the end of his adventure, and he 'stiffens himself for a final spring'. It seems to me that the very loss of hope and the certainty of a bitter end gives him the final jolt.
The almost exactly same thing happens in the 'Mt Doom' chapter, only with Sam:
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But even as hope died in Sam, or seemed to die, it was turned to a new strength. Sam's plain hobbit face grew stern (..)as if he was turning into a creature of stone and steel that neither despair nor weariness nor endless barren miles could subdue.
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Pippin before the Black Gate has his own share of despair and loss of hope, knowing with certainty the end is near and bracing himself to make good use of his Westernesse blade before he died. And of course let's not forget Merry's brave act of stabbing the Witch-King: flashing before his eyes is Dernhelm's face, the face of one in whom all hope has faded. "and suddenly the slow-kindled courage of his race awoke. he clenched his hand. She should not die, so fair, so desperate.
At least she should not die alone, unaided.." Even Merry has no hope for himself or Eowyn, he fights the enemy.
I think that this is what made the hobbits so special and the ideal creatures to be entrusted with such a desperate task. The ability to go on when all hope has failed - such an ability no wiser creature, neither men nor elves possessed. I wonder what made them keep going: duty? - the belief that it is their fate to do so?
Guinevere - can you explain your thoughts on what you said about Sam being 'cheerful' and at the same time 'without hope'. How does 'the theory of courage' fit into this? Sadly, I don't own Shippey's book so I'm in the dark on this one.
[ September 11, 2003: Message edited by: Evisse the Blue ]