The Light in Frodo's Face

[Child of the 7th Age]

This came up on another thread, and I wanted to post it separately to try and understand what is going on. Several passages refer to a light which radiates from Frodo's eyes or face, or alternately to a light in other's faces which Frodo is able to see.

The first time, I believe, was in Tom Bombadil's house. Here, Frodo, on seeing Goldberry, feels "his heart moved with a joy that he did not understand". (She must have been some beautiful woman!) She replies to him: "... But I see you are an Elf-friend; the light in your eyes and the ring in your voice tells it."

In Lorien, Frodo found Aragorn "standing still and silent as a tree; but in his hand as a small golden bloom of elanor, and a light was in his eye. He was wrapped in some fair memory: and as Frodo looked at him he knew that he beheld things as they once had been in this same place."

Later, in the depth of Mordor, Sam commented on the face of the sleeping Frodo:

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 sronger. Frodo's face was peaceful, the marks of fear and care had left it; but it looked old, old and beautiful, as if the chiselling of the shaping years was now revealed in many fine lines which had been hidden, though the identity of the face had not changed. He shook his head, as if finding words useless, and murmured: I love him. He's like that, and sometimes it shines through, somehow. But I love him, whether or no." (II, 260)

It is quite amazing that Frodo's face should look "old and beautiful", since we know the Ring preserves its bearer in a stretched, taut state of youth that will not diminish till the Ring itself is put down. But here, it is as if the light in Frodo's face has the power to protect him, at least temporarily, from this artificial state of youth.

There may be other examples of this light, but before I go hunting for them, could someone help me with this: What exactly does this light represent, both that which is in Frodo's face, and that which he has the ability to see in the faces of at least some others? Is it merely a reflection of the moral power of goodness or the greater "spiritual" awareness and growth of the character? Is it tied into the fact that Frodo (and for that matter Aragorn) is an Elf-friend? Don't Elves also have a light shining from their faces, especially those who've been to Amon? (Think I saw that on another thread.) If so, how does Frodo's light relate to that of the Elves?

Any help or insight would be appreciated. sharon, the 7th age hobbit

[ May 01, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]