This semester is about to be the highlight of my McConnell Scholar career. Over winter break, I had the opportunity to read all three books in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series. In the next few months, I will have the opportunity to participate in many seminars and lectures regarding my readings. If you asked me before winter break what I thought of the books, I would have told you that I was not too thrilled to read them. Luckily though, after actually reading the books, my opinion has changed.
Tolkien writes in a way that is unlike any other author. Not only does he create an entirely different world from our own and explain it in detail, he also keeps readers interested. I advise you to set aside a large portion of your time before beginning his books. If you are anything like me, you will not want to look up from reading.
In this blog post in particular, I want to focus on the meaning of friendship in the first book, The Fellowship of the Ring. I believe the idea and strength of friendship is one of the underlying topics throughout the first novel, that continues well into the others. It is also interesting to see how the ring affects strong friendships.
The first friendship we read about is that of Bilbo and Gandalf. We learn that the two have been friends for a long time and have not had any serious disputes. This changes when the ring becomes involved. Bilbo knows he must leave the ring, but has trouble doing so. When Gandalf pushes the matter, Bilbo turns against his friend causing Gandalf to become threatening. Here, the ring is already beginning to do evil work.
The next friendship I want to focus on is that of Sam and Frodo. After Gandalf assigns Sam to accompany Frodo on his journey, Sam never imagines leaving him and stays faithful until the end, with one somewhat exception. (In a later book, Frodo is hurt and paralyzed along the journey, but Sam thinks he is dead. Believing that he must carry on the quest, he removes the ring from Frodo and leaves him. Frodo is then taken by the Orcs and when Sam realizes Frodo is alive, he returns to save him. Here too, even the loyal Sam was almost led astray by the ring.) One of the most memorable parts of the first book that shows the strength of their friendship is toward the end in Chapter 10. When Frodo chooses to travel alone on the rest of his journey, Sam immediately follows him and jumps in the water after Frodo. It is so important to Sam to be loyal to Frodo that he risks his chance of drowning to be with him.
One of my favorite friendships in the book is Strider’s friendship to the hobbits. At first, the hobbits do not trust him, but after finding out who he is, they soon change their opinions. Throughout the book, Strider keeps close watch over the hobbits and shows great concern for their safety. When I first started reading about Strider, I was a little hesitant to accept him as a good character. Part of me believed that he may have wanted the ring for himself, but as I continued reading, I saw that I was wrong. I think this friendship between him and the hobbits grows and is at its greatest point at the end of the last book.
Another friendship that finds harm because of the ring is that of Frodo and Boromir. My initial thought of Boromir was that he would be loyal to Frodo and do anything to help. I was surprised when he turned against him in the Forest and tried to take the ring from Frodo. This is one friendship that was completely destroyed because of the ring.
Overall, the first book was a great read. I enjoyed it and I look forward to discussing it in the future seminars at the McConnell Center. Keep in mind that friendship is only one topic among many in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings books. I encourage you to read them on your own and see what you find.