These are some wonderful replies! I don't think my post is worthy to be among these, but I'll add it nonetheless. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]
I do completely agree that there is no ONE hero in LotR (which is what makes the story so magnificant!), but I do have my opinion on a 'central character'.
In most respects, I think the books were loosely centered around Sam. Now, hear me out before you start disagreeing with me. Sam was the one character that I believe most of us can relate to. If I may quote lindil's inspirational post:
Quote:
|
Sam is perhaps the most important hero for us, as his sacrifice is much closer to what many of us will be called tomake in our real lives. Putting family/duty before personal consideration. Trusting in our teachers/elders ( if we are fortunate enough to have real ones) to make the big choices and plot the big picture for us, and then seeing the tasks through to the end, even when our authority figures drop away, fail momentarily [or otherwise] due to weakness or circumstance. He is the humble bumpkin and while we may not have his earthy psychological type, we will all need his steadfastness and practicality.
|
Sam is simple. Sam doesn't suffer from the obscure temptations of the Ring that Frodo feels; when Sam is hurt or sad we know why because his character's emotions reflect some we've felt ourselves. We can't imagine what it would feel like to be a Ringbearer. We can't imagine what it would feel like to reclaim kingship over your country. We can't imagine what it would feel like to defeat an anceint foe and be reborn with new power and strength. We
can, however, imagine what dark thoughts must have run through Sam's head when he saw his 'dead' master on the floor of Shelob's lair. We
can imagine Sam's love and devotion to his master. We
can understand Sam, because what his character experiences can reach within us and pull at past experiences and emotions we've had.
As far as literature goes, Sam was one of the first characters you met in the book. In fact, you met Sam before you became aquainted with Frodo or Bilbo. Sam's the last character you read about in the book (excluding the Appendices), and the book ends at the beginning of Sam's new life, not at the end of Frodo's past one. It seemed to me that the story followed Sam throughout the journey, from start to finish, and emphasized his reactions to the happenings around him. In the chapters of TTT and RotK that deal with Frodo and Sam, it's always Sam's point of view thats displayed in the book. Not Frodo's, not Gollum's, but Sam's. Even in parts of the Fellowship you saw Frodo through Sam's eyes.
Sam gave Frodo the strength he needed to continue, both before and after the Quest was completed. You may not agree with me when I say that he's the focal character, but at least agree that he was indeed a hero.
I sure hope at least *some* of that made *some* sense, and thank you for your time.