Shell-shocked Frodo .... or .... PTSD in LOTR

[Lalwendë]

This is one I've had at before. At the bottom I've copied over some stuff that's interesting.

But yes, Frodo may indeed suffer from PTSD, I recognise all the symptoms in myself as I have it. Of course, Tolkien will not have known it as such, but he will have been aware of shell-shock and the effects of WWI on himself were quite profound as seen in his writing, both creative and in personal writing about the loss of his dear friends.

If you're wondering why Sam did not suffer, well, not everyone reacts in the same way to a stressful event. There's no way of predicting who will act in which way, but clearly Sam is one of those who does not react in an extreme way (which incidentally, you cannot help or prevent from happening - there's none of that unhelpful "pulling yourself together"!). But there are some significant differences between Frodo and Sam - note that Frodo had been repeatedly attacked and in near-death situations. I often wonder at just how cruel it was to allow the injured Frodo to set out out from Rivendell after what he'd faced on Weathertop...

I think though, that PTSD cannot be the whole story. It certainly rings a bell for me, but I know full well just how other people simply do not understand the first thing about the condition, so Frodo's suffering must also work on other levels.

Old thread with good stuff (I think)

And on that, an interesting essay: here.

Oh and a quote from me. This is where I first started thinking about the link.

Davem - this is something I really agree with. After I was diagnosed with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) myself I viewed Frodo's sufferings in a whole new light. One of the aspects most clearly demonstrated is his pain on the anniversary of the attack, an anguish which cannot be cured, and which Frodo is unable to cope with. There is also Frodo's inability to accept the truth of what happened, that he was attacked and was not responsible; there was nothing he could do about an unexpected stabbing. He also acts out of character at stressful times - the best example being his refusal to give up the ring at Mount Doom.

Frodo's first reaction, that he may be maimed for life, rings a bell with me - it is the immediate sense of fear and regret. He then has nightmares, and imagines that Aragorn is one of the ringwaraiths; he is seeing the potential for trauma in other, harmless things. After his physical recovery, the trauma still remains to be brought to the surface under stressful circumstances, in situations which remind him of the attack, and on anniversaries.

As davem says, hobbits are not a warlike people and would never expect to be injured by a sword in an unprovoked attack, so this life event naturally takes a devastating toll on Frodo. Although I don't think PTSD was recognised until relatively recently (correct me if I am wrong), it is said that the widespread shell-shock of WWI was basically PTSD, and I don't doubt that seeing the effect that this had was translated into Tolkien's own writing when he wished to decribe the effects of the attack on Frodo.