Since it was first published, J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Return of the King’ has become one of the most influential books in history. Its themes discuss many deep concepts like redemption, hope, despair, and the lingering effects of war. One of its last lessons was on the importance of forgiveness, which provides chances for redemption.
Pain and Loss in ‘The Return of the King’
Are you in pain, Frodo?’ said Gandalf quietly as he rode by Frodo’s side.
‘Well, yes I am,’ said Frodo. ‘It is my shoulder. The wound aches, and the memory of darkness is heavy on me. It was a year ago today.’
‘Alas! there are some wounds that cannot be wholly cured,’ said Gandalf.
‘I fear it may be so with mine,’ said Frodo. ‘There is no real going back. Though I may come to the Shire, it will not seem the same; for I shall not be the same. I am wounded with knife, sting, and tooth, and a long burden. Where shall I find rest?’
As the Hobbits finally headed home to the Shire in the company of Gandalf the White after the War of the Ring in ‘The Return of the King,’ the group came to the Ford of Bruinen where a year before, the Nine Ringwraiths had chased Frodo after he was stabbed by the Witch King of Angmar with a Morgul Blade, and the Elf-lord Glorfindel had called up the power of the Bruinen to protect him.
Frodo acknowledges the pain he was feeling and how it casts a darkness over him. His illness also goes beyond the pain from the healed blade wound. It includes the tortures he experienced during his time as the Ringbearer. These wounds have stolen his joy and happiness, and he knew that going home to the Shire will not heal him, and that it would not feel like home for him anymore.
Frodo gave a cry, and there was, fallen upon his knees at the chasm’s edge. But Gollum, dancing like a mad thing, held aloft the ring, a finger still thrust within its circle.
As Frodo entered Sammath Naur in the story of ‘The Return of the King’ and stood at the Crack of Doom, the power of the One Ring overwhelmed him as it was trying to save itself from destruction, and he claimed the Ring for his own. As Frodo put on the Ring and disappeared, he was suddenly attacked by Gollum, who had been nearby. As they struggled at the edge of the ledge, Gollum got hold of Frodo’s ring finger and bit it off, taking the Ring with it.
But I have been too deeply hurt, Sam. I tried to save the Shire, and it has been saved, but not for me. It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: some one has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them. But you are my heir: all that I have and might have had I leave to you.
As Frodo journeyed on the Shire roads with his beloved servant Samwise in ‘The Return of the King,’ they ran into a company of Elves including Gildor, Galadriel, and Lord Elrond, who brought the old Hobbit Bilbo with him. The company was heading to the Grey Havens, the home of the Elven shipwright Cirdan, to board ships that will take them home to the Undying Lands in Valinor. When Frodo indicated that he too will be leaving Middle-earth with the Elves, Samwise was greatly distressed and dismayed.
Frodo comforted him that perhaps a day will come when it will be time for him to come to Valinor too, but the time was yet to come. He reminded Samwise that there was still much for him to live for, and he has a long life ahead of him in the Shire.
Mercy and Compassion in ‘The Return of the King’
Do not believe him! He has lost all his power, save his voice that can still daunt and deceive you, if you let it. But I will not have him slain. It is useless to meet revenge with revenge; it will heal nothing. go, Saruman, by the speediest way!
After Saruman was defeated and ousted from the Council of Wizards and the White Council, he slipped past his Ent guards and left Isengard. He ended up in the Shire where he did grievous damage in revenge against the Hobbits Meriadoc and Peregrin, who aided in bringing about his defeat and downfall. As the four Hobbits of the Fellowship returned home in ‘The Return of the King’ to witness the evil visited on their beloved home by Saruman, they were grieved by all that had been lost and destroyed.
Being much changed by their experiences and the wars, they quickly organized a revolt against Saruman and his men, and they achieved victory. When the Hobbits wanted to kill him for his crimes against them and because he had terrorized them and destroyed their village, he tried to cover them with his lies, but Frodo was quick to counter him.
Do not kill him even now. For he has not hurt me. And in any case I do not wish him to be slain in this evil mood. He was great once, of a noble kind that we should not dare to raise our hands against. He is fallen, and his cure is beyond us; but I would still spare him, in the hope that he may find it.
After his exchange with Frodo in ‘The Return of the King,’ Saruman was filled with hate toward the Hobbit and tried to kill him as he passed, but Frodo was saved by his shirt of mithril, which was given to him by his uncle Bilbo. Saruman was quickly set upon by Sam and other Hobbits, who subdued him and nearly killed him, but Frodo intervened on his behalf and saved him.
Friendship in ‘The Return of the King’
‘At last all such things must end,’ he said, ‘but I would have you wait a little while longer: for the end of the deeds that you have shared in has not yet come. A day draws near that I have looked for in all the years of my manhood, and when it comes I would have my friends beside me.’
After the defeat of Sauron in ‘The Return of the King’ and the end of the War of the Ring, the remaining Companions of the Ring, including Gandalf, returned to Minas Tirith where they lived for a while because the new King, Aragorn, did not want them to leave yet and wanted them close by him. But Frodo, especially amongst the Companions, was impatient and had wanted to leave because he missed the Shire and he knew that his beloved old uncle, Bilbo, did not have much time left to live.
Yes, for it will be better to ride back three together than one alone. Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.
This was said by Gandalf in ‘The Return of the King’ on the shores of the Sea at the Grey Havens as he was preparing to leave Middle-earth and go back to Valinor. He had let slip to Meriadoc and Peregrin that Frodo was leaving Middle-earth on the ship with him and the Elves, and they had come to the Havens in great haste to say farewell to their friend.
I am glad that you are here with me,’ said Frodo. ‘Here at the end of all things, Sam.’
‘Yes, I am with you, Master,’ said Sam ‘And you’re with me. And the journey’s finished. But after coming all that way I don’t want to give up yet. It’s not like me, somehow, if you understand.’
‘Maybe not, Sam,’ said Frodo; ‘but it’s like things are in the world. Hopes fail. An end comes. We have only a little time to wait now. We are lost in ruin and downfall, and there is no escape.’
‘Well, Master, we could at least go further from this dangerous place here, from this Crack of Doom, if that’s its name. Now couldn’t we? Come, Mr. Frodo, let’s go down the path at any rate!’
‘Very well, Sam. If you wish to go, I’ll come,’ said Frodo
This was an exchange between Samwise and Frodo in ‘The Return of the King’ after they had destroyed the One Ring and wearily sat at the opening of Sammath Naur. Soon, the mountain Orodruin began to quake and spew ash and molten magma, so they had to climb a low hill at the foot of the mountain for refuge. They had lost hope that there would be any rescue party coming for them and accepted their fate. they were comforted that they had completed their mission successfully and that though they might not survive to see the Shire again, they had left the world a much better place, free from the evil and domination of Sauron.
Bravery in ‘The Return of the King’
But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Éowyn I am, Éomund’s daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.
This was said by the Lady Eowyn of Rohan in ‘The Return of the King’ as she stood between the Witch King of Angmar and her fallen uncle, King Theoden of Rohan, who had been felled when the Witch King and his fell beast attacked the lines of the horsemen of Rohan. She had much courage and bravely stood before the Black Captain of Mordor, and as he attacked her, Meriadoc crept behind him and stabbed him with his Elven blade. This unraveled the dark magic that animated him, allowing Eowyn to stab him in the face as he fell.
FAQs
Why did Saruman prevent the White Council from attacking Dol Guldor?
In the early days of Sauron’s return to power, after he was defeated by Elendil and the loss of his Ring, he returned to his secret fortress of Dol Guldor in the southern tip of the great Mirkwood forest. When Gandalf investigated the fortress to learn its secrets, he discovered that it was the lair of their enemy, Sauron. He took this information to the White council and urged they attack Sauron while he was still weak, but Saruman argued against it because he was secretly studying Sauron’s ring arts and was trying to discover how he made the Rings of Power and the location of the One Ring.
Why didn’t Arwen leave Middle-earth with the other Elves
After Arwen met Aragorn in the gardens of Elrond in Imladris shortly after her return from her grandmother Galadriel’s realm, they slowly fell in love over the years. Their love were so strong that, like their ancestress Luthien, who fell in love with mortal Beren, she chose to give up her immortality and stay back in Middle-earth and marry Aragorn instead of sailing over the Sea to Valinor.
Was Arwen’s and Aragon’s child half-Elven?
No, their child was not half-Elven. Arwen was the daughter of Elrond, who was the son of a man named Earendil and the Elf Elwing. After the War of Wrath, Elrond and his brother Elros were given a choice by the Valar to either be counted among the Elves or be counted among Men, and Elrond chose the Elves. When Arwen chose to forgo the Gift she got through her father, she became like the Women of Numenor at the height of their power. Mortal, but long-lived. Her son was mortal as well.
Who is the Prince of Dol Amroth?
Imrahir, the Prince of Dol Amroth during the War of the Ring, was a Man of Gondor who descended from Numenorians faithful to the Valar. He is descended from Elendil and is distantly related to Elrond and the Kings of Gondor.
