The Light in Frodo's Face

[Birdland]

I do agree. This is an Age where the figures of the Valar and Eru often seem far away.

I often have felt the lack of that in the books, Child. (And please, I'm really not trying to start another T. and the B. thread!) Except for the Elves and their memories, there seems to be no spiritual aspect to any of the cultures of Middle-earth, which semed pretty far-fetched to me. Every culture has their belief systems. Science now even suggests that it is hard-wired into our brains.

Not only are there no spiritual revelations, but no outward trapping of religious ceremony either. No one prays, or seeks guidance from a higher power. Heck, no one even swears! (Ever hear a character say "By the One!" or "By Eru!"?)

The Fallohides may have been aware of the spiritual mythos of Middle-earth, since it seems that they had a closer relationship with Elves, and some of these tales survived into the Third Age. I remember Sam making a reference to knowing the story of Beren One-Hand. But by then, they had degenerated to to the point of being only "fairy tales" told to children, and the Fallohides as a race seemed to have disappeared, blending into and being absorbed by the far more practical "mannish" Harfoots.

Perhaps this explains Frodo's restlessness. He must have wondered "Is this all there is?" And the inner light that is perceived by some is his growing awareness of Eru's Song.