Gandalf's comment about Frodo

[Lotrelf]

Makes perfect sense, Inziladun. Perfect.
You said "Sam observes" Frodo's transparency; in the book, when Sam sees the LIGHT in Frodo, he says that Frodo's face looked "old and beautiful." beautiful: Understood. What did he mean by 'Old' ? I thought at this point perhaps the Ring wasn't working i.e. Not Affecting him that much, or the LIGHT was protecting him. But, couldn't this be something about his growing wisdom? After all, Gandalf, Elrond etc. look old. What do you think?

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Lotrelf

You said "Sam observes" Frodo's transparency; in the book, when Sam sees the LIGHT in Frodo, he says that Frodo's face looked "old and beautiful." beautiful: Understood. What did he mean by 'Old' ? I thought at this point perhaps the Ring wasn't working i.e. Not Affecting him that much, or the LIGHT was protecting him. But, couldn't this be something about his growing wisdom? After all, Gandalf, Elrond etc. look old. What do you think?

I'm sure the mental strain of constantly resisting the Ring contributed to Frodo's appearance. He had probably been gradually aging in that way since setting out on the Quest, as the Ring's power grew along with Sauron's (and it's growing proximity to Mordor as Frodo and Sam traveled). As in real life, gradual changes often go unnoticed until one has an "aha" moment where life allows a momentary stillness, and time for one to really see something.

[Lotrelf]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I'm sure the mental strain of constantly resisting the Ring contributed to Frodo's appearance. He had probably been gradually aging in that way since setting out on the Quest, as the Ring's power grew along with Sauron's (and it's growing proximity to Mordor as Frodo and Sam traveled). As in real life, gradual changes often go unnoticed until one has an "aha" moment where life allows a momentary stillness, and time for one to really see something.

How? After getting the Ring, Bilbo stopped aging; Gollum lived for more than 500 years. This means: They stopped aging. Why would Frodo look old, then.? He had stopped aging as well, as we are told in FOTR. Or we are saying the same thing, his "growing wisdom", but differently?

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Lotrelf

How? After getting the Ring, Bilbo stopped aging; Gollum lived for more than 500 years. This means: They stopped aging. Why would Frodo look old, then.? He had stopped aging as well, as we are told in FOTR. Or we are saying the same thing, his "growing wisdom", but differently?

Bilbo and Gollum were not actively resisting the Ring's pull on a constant basis. And Gollum had had his years lengthened by his possession of the Ring, but he hardly looked fresh as a daisy by the time Bilbo met him.

[Lotrelf]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Bilbo and Gollum were not actively resisting the Ring's pull on a constant basis. And Gollum had had his years lengthened by his possession of the Ring, but he hardly looked fresh as a daisy by the time Bilbo met him.

You're right, there! Gollum's case is different. He had surpassed the normal age of his life. But Bilbo would look younger than he actually was. He couldn't appear older than his actual appearance. How come Frodo looked older? The Ring played a part is true.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Lotrelf

You're right, there! Gollum's case is different. He had surpassed the normal age of his life. But Bilbo would look younger than he actually was. He couldn't appear older than his actual appearance. How come Frodo looked older? The Ring played a part is true.

Frodo also looked quite young for his age when he left the Shire, but his internal active battle with the Ring wore him down during the course of the few following months probably more than even the physical trials of the journey. I think that is what Zil was referring to.

[Pervinca Took]

It says that Sam sees Frodo (just before he makes the rabbit stew) "as if the chiselling of the shaping years was now revealed in many fine lines that had before been hidden," as if Sam is observing Frodo's 50 years of life as they would really have looked without the Ring, but when he looks again, he says "Too thin and drawn he is. Not right for a hobbit," which seems to indicate that he is looking older because of his ordeal. Also in Mordor Sam observes that his face is "lined and thin." Perhaps in both cases it is due to the strain of the Ring, as it does say "as if" all the years of his life were now revealed in his face, not that they actually were.