Re: The "Main Character" Author: Steuard Jensen Email: sjensen -aaatt- hmc -daht- edu Date: 1997/12/07 Forums: alt.fan.tolkien, rec.arts.books.tolkien ------------------------------------------------------------------------ cfitzgerald -aaatt- sprintmail -daht- com (Charles F. Fitzgerald) wrote: > In article , > jhware -aaatt- mail.med -daht- upenn.edu (Jeff Ware) wrote: > > > ... It seems that JRRT does not > > give us Frodo's viewpoint once he formally and knowingly accepts the > > burden of the ring. Was this the real switching point (?if one exists?) > > or did it happen earlier, say at Weathertop? It seems clear that it > > couldn't all be Frodo's POV because he wasn't always coherant. Again, if (My news server has yet to receive the previous post, so I will respond to it a little bit here.) And yet, we get a great deal of commentary on Frodo's condition during the entire journey, including his own impressions of his condition: "Frodo was restless. The cold and wet had made his wounds more painful than ever..." "Frodo felt his spirits reviving: the reminder of Bilbo's first successful adventure was heartening." We find no comprable internal thoughts and impressions for any other characters. This continues at least through the Council of Elrond (when, as you say, Frodo formally accepts the ring's burden). > I forewent arguing this point in my previous post, but I will address > it now. The point of view stays with Frodo to the parting of the > Fellowship at the Falls of Rauros. This is clear from the narrative. I would hardly say clear... but I am forced to admit that you are right. In my earlier post, I labeled Sam as the focus of the story from the Council of Elrond on, and hence I started replying to this article from a contrary perspective. However, as I searched for evidence to support that position, I found that Frodo does seem to be the main focus of the narritive until Rauros, if not the only one. I can explain my earlier position by stating that from what I just read, Sam _is_ the primary focus _other_ than Frodo in Book II by a fairly wide margin; perhaps I was just remembering that new strong focus and not paying attention to the fact that Frodo remained primary. I _would_ point out that some of your arguments for Frodo are incorrect or incomplete nonetheless; they understate Sam's degree of centrality. That still doesn't change the overall conclusion, however. Thanks for the correction! > rather than with Frodo, Aragorn, and Samwise. We would find some > mention of how Merry and Sam spent their time in Lorien. And, finally, Do you mean Merry and Pippin? We know as much about what Sam did as we know about Frodo (considering the fact that they are always together). (Of course, the scenes _are_ from Frodo's perspective). > we would not have a scene with Boromir on the slopes of Amon Hen or > what transpired on the Seat of Seeing as we do. True, but we also see Sam's perspective when he runs to look for Frodo, and for that matter, Aragorn's when he reaches Amon Hen and answers Boromir's call. Neither point, however, contradicts the fact that _overall_, Frodo is central far more consistently than is Sam. I stand corrected. Steuard Jensen