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***Mister Underhill*** · 10-24-2005, 07:53 PM

I think it also makes sense because the movie is so driven by the Ring. Basically what happens is that the prologue raises the question, "Will Sauron be able to get his Ring back?" The films become the story of the Ring, and so they logically must soon end when the Ring is destroyed and the question is answered. Jackson doesn't have the time -- or perhaps the temperament -- to deploy subtle themes about evil and the nature of evil and war and the effects of war. When the Ring starts to work, your eyes roll back in your head and you're basically out of it, end of story.

I'm sorta going off the top of my head here, but that logically leads me to the conclusion that the books are about more than the story of the Ring. Sure, the Ring is the maguffin that drives the plot, but the story is, in a more primary way, Frodo's story. And it's a story about impossible, lose-lose situations. To do good you must give in to evil. To save the world, you must lose your soul. To save your home, you must abandon its defense.

I'm sorta shooting around in the dark here, but I think the thing that makes the Scouring important in the book is that it foreshadows, or mirrors, Frodo's own healing. The Shire started out pure, but after the War is ended, it is the one remaining place that is stained, just as Frodo starts out pure, but in the end perceives himself as a failure. I think the Scouring, that last, "internal" cleaning up, is symbolic of what Frodo must undergo. He sails West to put his own house in order, so to speak.

EDIT: Cross-posted with Lego, who makes some great points, and with Fordim, who, as always, speaks true on these matters.

EDIT 2: Oh, also something about they ran out of money and Elijah was already committed to Sin City... you know, Hollywood stuff.

10-24-2005, 07:53 PM	#5
*Mister Underhill* Dread Horseman Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Behind you! Posts: 2,744	I think it also makes sense because the movie is so driven by the Ring. Basically what happens is that the prologue raises the question, "Will Sauron be able to get his Ring back?" The films become the story of the Ring, and so they logically must soon end when the Ring is destroyed and the question is answered. Jackson doesn't have the time -- or perhaps the temperament -- to deploy subtle themes about evil and the nature of evil and war and the effects of war. When the Ring starts to work, your eyes roll back in your head and you're basically out of it, end of story. I'm sorta going off the top of my head here, but that logically leads me to the conclusion that the books are about more than the story of the Ring. Sure, the Ring is the maguffin that drives the plot, but the story is, in a more primary way, Frodo's story. And it's a story about impossible, lose-lose situations. To do good you must give in to evil. To save the world, you must lose your soul. To save your home, you must abandon its defense. I'm sorta shooting around in the dark here, but I think the thing that makes the Scouring important in the book is that it foreshadows, or mirrors, Frodo's own healing. The Shire started out pure, but after the War is ended, it is the one remaining place that is stained, just as Frodo starts out pure, but in the end perceives himself as a failure. I think the Scouring, that last, "internal" cleaning up, is symbolic of what Frodo must undergo. He sails West to put his own house in order, so to speak. EDIT: Cross-posted with Lego, who makes some great points, and with Fordim, who, as always, speaks true on these matters. EDIT 2: Oh, also something about they ran out of money and Elijah was already committed to Sin City... you know, Hollywood stuff.