Is there a connection between frodo and sauron? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

ainur · 12-03-2003, 01:59 PM

Lord Elrond: Sam also gave it up willingly.

Mythology is full of parallels like this. A kind of implied symbolism. "Implied" because it can mean whatever you want it to. It's really there to make you think of the possible connections between the two characters. Frodo loses his finger to remind you that Sauron did as well. Whatever you draw from that relationship is up to you.

Consider Maedhros and Beren. Each one lost a hand, but in very different ways and for different immediate reasons, but the ultimate source in both cases was the quest for the Silmarils. By drawing this one parallel, Tolkien points up the difference in their characters and motives.

It's the same with Sauron and Frodo. Each loses a finger, a part of himself in the loss of the Ring. It's the difference in their characters that makes this loss so poignant.

OR: One could draw a parallel in their character. Sauron is what Frodo might have become. "There but for the grace of Eru . . ." Sauron is diminished beyond recovery. Frodo is wounded beyond recovery. The only difference here is Frodo's ultimate redemption by sailing west.

OR: One could assume the most dramatic way to seperate a ring from its wearer is to take the finger with it. Disfigurement has long been a source of high drama. Like how do you kill a Balrog? Tolkien's preference seems to have been to drop them off mountaintops.

The point is that by drawing the parallel and then leaving it, all of the above are correct, and many more associations besides.

12-03-2003, 01:59 PM	#8
ainur Haunting Spirit Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Minneapolis MN Posts: 72	Lord Elrond: Sam also gave it up willingly. Mythology is full of parallels like this. A kind of implied symbolism. "Implied" because it can mean whatever you want it to. It's really there to make you think of the possible connections between the two characters. Frodo loses his finger to remind you that Sauron did as well. Whatever you draw from that relationship is up to you. Consider Maedhros and Beren. Each one lost a hand, but in very different ways and for different immediate reasons, but the ultimate source in both cases was the quest for the Silmarils. By drawing this one parallel, Tolkien points up the difference in their characters and motives. It's the same with Sauron and Frodo. Each loses a finger, a part of himself in the loss of the Ring. It's the difference in their characters that makes this loss so poignant. OR: One could draw a parallel in their character. Sauron is what Frodo might have become. "There but for the grace of Eru . . ." Sauron is diminished beyond recovery. Frodo is wounded beyond recovery. The only difference here is Frodo's ultimate redemption by sailing west. OR: One could assume the most dramatic way to seperate a ring from its wearer is to take the finger with it. Disfigurement has long been a source of high drama. Like how do you kill a Balrog? Tolkien's preference seems to have been to drop them off mountaintops. The point is that by drawing the parallel and then leaving it, all of the above are correct, and many more associations besides. __________________ Yet all the while I sit and think of times there were before, I listen for returning feet and voices at the door.