Why did Frodo feel he had to leave Middle Earth at the of ROTK?

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Pervinca Took

Thanks for the clarification. Does it actually say that mortals could visit Valinor, and stay there for a short time? I have a gut feeling that a sojourn in Valinor itself, however brief that might be, would be necessary for full healing. Perhaps the Ringbearers might choose to go there when ready to die. (All conjecture, of course).

Since Gandalf was a Maia of Irmo, my guess would be that they might go to Lorien for a little while which was probably the place to deal with bad dreams and memories, but that Eressea might be the most congenial location for most of their soujourn where there would be mainly folk who knew Middle Earth and was perhaps not as high falutin' as Valinor.

I don't think the effects of Frodo's injuries can be underestimated. Sometimes it is having to keep on going that keeps you going. My mother faced her terminal cancer with great courage and the only time she broke down was when she was briefly in remission and not having treatment. She coped so well with facing death it waa awful to see her struggling with life almost, yet when her symptoms returned she coped with surgeries, more chemo, infections stoically. To return to Middle Earth, the only example I can think of of a similar wound (other than Aredhel's fatal one) is Celebrían. Even she, with her great ancestry and knowing that leaving might well mean, definitively parting from her children, can not bear to remain.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

I don't think the effects of Frodo's injuries can be underestimated. Sometimes it is having to keep on going that keeps you going. My mother faced her terminal cancer with great courage and the only time she broke down was when she was briefly in remission and not having treatment. She coped so well with facing death it waa awful to see her struggling with life almost, yet when her symptoms returned she coped with surgeries, more chemo, infections stoically. To return to Middle Earth, the only example I can think of of a similar wound (other than Aredhel's fatal one) is Celebrían. Even she, with her great ancestry and knowing that leaving might well mean, definitively parting from her children, can not bear to remain.

Very insightful, Mith. Of course Melian, too, after the death of Thingol, had had enough of Middle-earth and somehow made her way back to Aman, specifically to Lórien. She also left her kin and people behind.

I find it interesting to look at Frodo and Gandalf as opposites in the effect that the trials and wounds, physical and spiritual, of both, ran different courses after the destruction of the Ring and the fall of Sauron.

Gandalf had been bearing a great burden ever since his arrival in Middle-earth: how to bring about Sauron's permanent defeat. The chapter on the Istari in Unfinished Tales describes his ordeal by saying Gandalf "suffered greatly, and was slain". When the War of the Ring was over, Frodo made the remark:

'Pippin, didn't you say that Gandalf was less close than of old? He was weary of his labours then, I think. Now he is recovering.'

ROTK

Frodo is also relieved of his crushing weight when the Ring is gone; yet his spiritual and physical discomfort grows until he feels he must leave Middle-earth to escape it. I think a lot of that really is due to his sense of ultimate failure regarding the Ring: that he had not himself thrown it into the Fire, and still in some level of his mind, wanted it back. In many cases, health follows will: a good outlook and positive emotions can hold physical pain at bay, or at least lessen it. Frodo did not have the benefit of that himself.

[Pervinca Took]

In many cases, health follows will: a good outlook and positive emotions can hold physical pain at bay, or at least lessen it. Frodo did not have the benefit of that himself.

Perhaps he had it, at least to some degree, once he had actually made the decision to sail. That was a positive decision to do something about his suffering, to take the best path open to him. Tolkien said that it was after his last grievous illness - in March, I think? - that his mind was made up. Also, he left before the October illness could recur. That is even spoken in an earlier draft: "I'm going now, before the wound returns."

Tolkien does speak of some positivity - "if Sam thought he was lucky, Frodo knew that he was more lucky himself ... he took to a quiet life, writing a good [or was it great?] deal, and going through his notes." I think he used the near-completion of the Red Book as a focus. Sam did remark "Well, you've kept at it, I must say."

There was also, reputedly, much coming and going between Crickhollow and Bag End. I always took that to mean that Frodo visited Crickhollow as well as Merry and Pippin coming to Bag End, but I might be wrong.

[Lotrelf]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

The darkness wasn't permanent, though. It left no lasting damage in the Blessed Realm.

One final question- What about the Trees, did they ever recover? If not, how can the effects of Morgoth's darkness be said temporary?

Another question just popped in: In The Silmarillion, at one point, Professor says that whenever Elves were to give any message or something by Valar they were given dreams or visions. In LotR, Frodo often sees visions or dreams. His Elvish nature is also the reason he leaves for the Undying Lands. Is there any connection?

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by Lotrelf

One final question- What about the Trees, did they ever recover? If not, how can the effects of Morgoth's darkness be said temporary?

The Trees never recovered. After Yavanna retrieved the fruit and flower which would become the Sun and Moon, "then the Trees died, and their lifeless stems stand yet in Valinor, a memorial of vanished joy."

The reason we don't consider Aman to be Marred like the rest of Arda is because unlike the rest of Arda the matter of Aman is not combined with Morgoth's spirit, something he did in Middle-earth. So the Trees were destroyed, but they and the land at large were not actually corrupted.

[Lotrelf]

Originally Posted by Zig�0‹4r

The reason we don't consider Aman to be Marred like the rest of Arda is because unlike the rest of Arda the matter of Aman is not combined with Morgoth's spirit, something he did in Middle-earth.

Would you please elaborate explaining this?

So the Trees were destroyed, but they and the land at large were not actually corrupted.

Is it also because the Fruits of the Trees covered the entire Arda with their light- night and day, and even Morgoth feared them.?