While thinking about it... I think that the most altering event for all of the hobbits involved separation, because it meant that the worlds they were used to were turned upside down.
When they were still together with the ring things were bad, but their world was not that changed yet.
I think that the world really changed for Frodo when he made the decision to leave the Fellowship.
I think that it was for Sam when he felt alone for the first time. When he had Frodo he still had a place, but his actions didn't really change until he realized that it may be up to him to deliver the ring to Mt. Doom.
And I think that it was for Merry and Pippin when they were separated. That is when they changed and matured because they were forced to do things "alone" in their separate places... and that caused their valor to really show.
[ April 27, 2003: Message edited by: Tigerlily Gamgee ]
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