‘The Lord of the Rings’ | Why Frodo Baggins is My Favourite Character:
Frodo often gets a bad rep for being a boring character, and although I can sympathise with the fact that he’s not the biggest bag of laughs that ever walked the face of Middle-Earth, one thing has to be taken into account before anything else. He carries the fate of the entire world upon his shoulders (or around his neck) - literally. Although, that is not the only reason as to why is love the character of Frodo Baggins so much.
- "I think, in his heart, Frodo's still in love with the Shire: the woods, the fields… little rivers."
— Bilbo Baggins, The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
My admiration for Frodo rather stems from the fact that I find him to be among the most genuine characters in the Lord of the Rings films. Frodo does not necessarily fit into a category in the same way that other protagonists do. Neither does he have a tragic backstory or is he particularly ambitious - or other cliches which are so often assigned to many of our heroes. Whether he’s reading under a tree or having a drink at the local inn, enjoying quality time with his friends, Frodo simply loves the Shire, and it his down-to-earth nature and calm approach to life that make him such an appealing character to me. He is someone I hope we can all relate to on some level.
- "I know what I must do. It's just… I'm afraid to do it."
— Frodo Baggins, The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Similarly, Frodo’s reaction to the things which are happening around him is praiseworthy. When, later on, Frodo is faced with his task (that he must carry the One Ring to Mount Doom to bring about its destruction), there is still fear and doubt in his heart, something which is demonstrated on numerous other occasions throughout the story. (For example, after looking into the Mirror of Galadriel, or at the Breaking of the Fellowship, when he makes the decision to continue the quest on his own.) It is important to note that in the films, Frodo’s eyes are key when it comes to understanding his character, something which the filmmakers never miss an opportunity to show. Frodo is not a warrior in search of fame or glory, nor is he aiming to prove himself to others through his task. Frodo’s driving force, and the source of his determination, is the willingness to save the Shire that he loves so much and wanting to keep those he loves out of harms way. Nothing more. Concerning his task, Frodo has no strategy. He reacts out of pure instinct, where love always overcomes fear.
- "How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart, you begin to understand, there is no going back?"
— Frodo Baggins, The Return of the King (2003)
Frodo experiences significant character development over the course of the story, but the full extent of it isn’t shown until his return to the Shire after successfully completing his task, however, not without sacrifices. Upon his return, Frodo almost becomes isolated (in a similar way that Bilbo did after returning from his adventure). The inhabitants of the Shire are unaware of the sacrifices he has made for their safety. I think it reinforces the idea that sadly often those who do great things do not always get the credit they deserve until after they are gone, if ever, for that matter. Frodo’s speech (see above), where he reflects back on what has happened to him, almost sounds as if it’s coming from a retired soldier, explaining how deeply he’s been wounded by the horrors of war. But what I cannot help but notice and love about Frodo at the end of the story is that all of that doubt and fear that used to trouble him so has disappeared. He has reached a stage of acceptance, even willing to accept that he may never be credited for the world-saving lengths he has gone, and not only does that make Frodo Baggins a very selfless character, but a very special character indeed.
