Yes, Arwen Imladris, Frodo's transparency was a result of him being stabbed with a Morgul-Knife upon Weathertop.
As for the result of that being a transparency and not light, you may not fully understand that transparency has everything to do with light.
In order for something to be transparent, light needs to be transmitted so that forms and/or objects on the other side may be visible. Glass is a perfect example of this. Light passes through it, and you can see objects clearly through the glass.
What I was trying to get at with that reference of Frodo, was that Frodo's light had everything to do with Frodo, and had nothing at all to do with the Elves.
Child of the 7th Age quoted a part of "The Two Towers," where Frodo, Sam, and Gollum were in Ithilien. Gollum goes off, presumably to hunt for something to eat, and Frodo goes to sleep while Sam keeps watch. She quoted, in relevant part:
He was reminded suddenly of Frodo as he had lain, asleep in the house of Elrond, after his deadly wound. Then as he had kept watch Sam had noticed that at times a light seemed to be shining faintly within; but now the light was even clearer and stronger..."He's like that, and sometimes it shine through, somehow."
This was something that Gandalf had marked as well, for he also equates Frodo with a quality of light while he is recuperating from his grievous wound in Rivendell. Quoted, in relevant part:
"He may become like a glass filled with a clear light for those to see that can."
Now, the nature of this light is an inner quality that Frodo possesses. It shines through him. It could be described as his inner beauty or spirit.
The one thing that makes Frodo the great and tragic hero that he becomes is his tremendous love -- for his people, his friends, his world, everything that matters to him. It is something that comes across as being very honest and very tangible.
Frodo realized from the beginning that all of the Ring business was something far bigger than himself. However, he was willing to sacrifice his creature comforts, and suffer terrible hardships in the hope of ridding the world of the Ruling Ring's accursed influence forever, so that all he loved could be preserved.
And so, it is the full knowledge of that love which makes Frodo's denial at the end of his quest so wrenching -- because you know that is not "Frodo" doing the talking, but, rather, the evil influence of the Ring speaking through him.
Frodo becomes hopelessly wounded by his whole experience -- the Morgul-Knife wound that never fully healed, the unspeakable torment of bearing the Ring, and his own ultimate failure to overcome the Ring's crushing influence.
Frodo's own "light" is not enough to sustain him or even powerful enough to fight off his frightful visions, and so he goes over the sea into the Utmost West, for solace, healing, and ultimately, peace of mind.
|