Cibilka
· 9 January 2022
· Chapter 9: Anniversaries
It's me again! I hope you aren't getting tired of my reviews yet, haha. I'd hate to sound ignorant here, which I inevitably would anyway by asking this question. When Prof. Tolkien said that Frodo felt "tempted to regret Its destruction" what did he exactly mean? Could you perhaps elaborate more on it. I understand that a great part of his suffering comes from his lust-hate relationship of the Ring, but I guess it seems I still don't fully understand the extent of Its evil or how is enslaves and corrupt Its bearer.
I understand that the Ring promises you lofty ideals which are very difficult to resist, and it also has tremendous evil force and power to bend anyone's will to it. It took full advantage of Frodo's weakened situation and he didn't stand any chance of resisting it as his state in the end, I understand that much, but as for desiring the Ring- I guess what I want to know is if he truly desired it. I'm of the impression that his thinking he desired it was part of the Ring's lasting influences, like it's tricking him into believing that, instead of what he thinks. How I see it is like being r*pe spiritually. He was forced against his will to take it due to his condition of mind and body at the time, and we know in actual cases where r*pe is involved, the suspect drills it into the mind of their victim that it's their fault.
What do you think? Did Frodo willfully claim the Ring for himself? And are his feelings of guilt based on the fact that he was just falsely led to believe he desired it or that there was/is indeed some part of him that wanted it? I'd really appreciate any response on this! And apologies if I worded some thoughts weirdly. English is not my native language, which is also why I tend to overlook subtle details in the story sometimes.
Author's reply
Hi, not at all tired of your reviews! But I was too tired to respond promptly as I was hit by the flurona but I did attempt to send you some references at the time of other works of mine that may have answered your questions. Apologies that this email got buried with many others as I was recovering and also working on finishing a fantasy that I was working on that is out at last. I think you understand perfectly what hell the Ring put Frodo and all its bearers through but especially Frodo and are exactly right this was r*pe, brutally and repeatedly, forcing him into a situation that in the end was beyond his will to control. He blames himself but he is not to blame, not at all. He resists with all he had with him, with all the grace that was infused into him to resist, and in the end, he was overcome and the Ring swallowed him whole. He did not will this to happen, but he could no longer resist - and by the time he reached the Sammath Naur, he no longer had to - he had done what he needed to do, he had fulfilled his vocation to be Ring-bearer. Everyone thought Ring-bearer and Ring-destroyer were to be the same person but God always knew it would be too much for Frodo in the end. It was never his destiny to be Ring-destroyer, but Ring-bearer, and he fulfilled that role perfectly with every ounce of his strength and will. Tolkien does note in one of his letters Frodo did regret the passing of the Ring - it is gone and now all is dark and empty - but I think that was due to the black mark the Ring left on the souls of Bilbo and Smeagol also, to have them ever lust after it, much like an addict longs for the drug that is destroying them, as Tom Shippey and others have observed. If you haven't read The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, they are fascinating and offer many insights into the sub-creation, including these very points of whether Frodo failed or not (look in the index or my other works that mention them). Thanks so much for the reviews!
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
H.G.
· 8 December 2015
· Chapter 18: Separated but Not Apart
Yay, happiness to cheer me up from the real life angst I drown in. Thanks for this! Soo good! Loved that story.
Author's reply
Le hannon, SIAHL, glad you enjoyed, and thanks terribly for all your reviews, even if I didn't respond to all of them. You cracked me up and I even read some to my sister. Glad you cut Frodo some slack after yelling at him in that other chapter. He was in such pain.
Namarie, God bless, hugs and love, Antane :)
Author Reply: Le hannon, SIAHL, glad you enjoyed, and thanks terribly for all your reviews, even if I didn't respond to all of them. You cracked me up and I even read some to my sister. Glad you cut Frodo some slack after yelling at him in that other chapter. He was in such pain.
Namarie, God bless, hugs and love, Antane :)
H.G.
· 7 December 2015
· Chapter 14: The Decision is Made
Alright, Frodo. I get that you love Sam and he loves you and you would do anything for each other, but this is ridiculous. If you love him, how could you POSSIBLY even think of making him go with you? What about Rosie?!?! What about Elanor?!?! He would do it of course, but once in a while don't you think *maybe* you should try to save him from his own unwiseness? Let him stay. He'll always be with you anyway, you selfish hobbit. I was worried you wouldn't get over it, but you did, so major props to you. You had me worried... *phew!*
H.G.
· 6 December 2015
· Chapter 13: The Thirteenth
Wow, that was a great chapter. I need to get in touch with the Queen, inspiration for my songs is dying.
H.G.
· 6 December 2015
· Chapter 12: A Terrible Secret
"If you are going to believe what people say, then believe this. I love you, Frodo."
Oh... *sob*. Okay. The end. I'm gone. I'm too sad to cry. There goes my heart.
Aside from being the saddest thing I ever read, this is the most beautiful. This is the best fanfiction of yours. No, this is the best fanfiction of anyone's. You are second only to The Professor himself. I hereby give back the crown of angst, even though it did look nice on my head.
Author's reply
Nay, SIAHL, you can keep the crown, after all I wrote this 10 years ago and you are the current Queen of Angst. *recrowns you* I am honored by your words and your reviews for this and OHPA. Glad you liked the ending of that. And that I evoked in you pity even for Gollum... *bows*
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
H.G.
· 6 December 2015
· Chapter 11: Baptism
I love baby Elanor!
H.G.
· 6 December 2015
· Chapter 10: Possible Dreams
I like this, comparing Frodo to the white tree.
H.G.
· 4 December 2015
· Chapter 8: Cracked but Hope for Mending
A year ago, if someone had told me, "you are going to get an editor in Chicago, who will then proceed to break your heart because of a mug," I would have ran in the opposite direction and shipped that person to the nearest insane support group. Yet here I am, with a broken heart because of a mug and all the things it represents.
Author's reply
I am honored to move you so much, SIAHL. And le hannon for your other reviews too. *bows in gratitude*
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
H.G.
· 4 December 2015
· Chapter 7: The Sixth
That's right, I forgot that Frodo turned into a child on the sixth in your fics. Poor rejected Merry. It's not his fault. It's yours for being cruel to them!!!!! *reaches for tissue*
H.G. aka Balderda the Dragon
· 4 December 2015
· Chapter 6: A Time for Joy
I love this chapter, but how can it be the sixth already?!?!
H.G.
· 3 December 2015
· Chapter 5: Birthday Gifts
Pippin, couldn't you have saved the last piece of cake for me? :-( Just kidding.
H.G.
· 2 December 2015
· Chapter 3: Rare Souls
I. Ship. Sam. And. Rosie. So hard!!!!
H.G.
· 2 December 2015
· Chapter 1: Family
YES SAM AND ROSIE ROMAAAAAANNCCCEEEE!!!
Wow, though, you're letting them have way more fun than I will when they get back to the Shire.
Author's reply
Just the calm before the storm, SIAHL :)
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Elkeshai
· 17 July 2007
· Chapter 18: Separated but Not Apart
I finely finished all these chapters. (I'm a bit of a slow reader:) )
They were great! So descriptive! Sad ending(sniff, sniff)
All of your stories I've read so far, I think they are fantastic! I love the way you write:)
APPLAUSE !!!
~*~Dee~*~
Author's reply
Thankee! I am so glad you are enjoying! Hope you enjoy Love Letters and Going Home also. If you like Love Letters, I would guess you would like the in-progress Via Dolorosa though it's a lot angstier. Okay to be a slow reader - the better to savor things. :) *big hobbity hug*
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Frodo Baggins
· 13 February 2006
· Chapter 15: Meant to Be
Oh Antane, this was wonderful, as usual! I am so glad that Frodo got a chance to comfort Sam as well. Namarie, mell min! God bless, Frodo Baggins
Frodo Baggins
· 7 February 2006
· Chapter 11: Baptism
Oh, I am so happy that Frodo could tell someone about his pain. But those stubborn Bagginses....sometimes it's good, and sometimes it's not. That wonderful Sam is always there to help. I know you, Antane, and after the rain comes a horrendous thunderstorm. But then comes a rainbow, a promise of hope. I do hope that this saga ends on a good note....hint, hint! Namarie, mell nin! Elen sila lumen omen tielvo! God Bless, Frodo Baggins
Frodo Baggins
· 31 January 2006
· Chapter 10: Possible Dreams
Oh Antane this is so lovely! Poor Frodo. That's really sad taht he has to leave Sam...and I'm sure that's a hint to the angst coming up. I'm sorry it's taking so long to read this, I want to, truely, it's just...I've been rather busy. Hannon le, for a beautiful, encouraging story! God Bless, Frodo Baggins
Author's reply
Hannon le, my dear! So glad you are enjoying!
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Larner
· 29 January 2006
· Chapter 18: Separated but Not Apart
Love is the greatest gift of all.
Elanor Silmariën
· 29 January 2006
· Chapter 18: Separated but Not Apart
I'm glad Frodo came and visited them at the end, and I loved the pillow fight in the previous chapter. I can't wait until you start the next one! Namarie, Elanor
Author's reply
Hannon le, Elanor! Glad you enjoyed!
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Queen Galadriel
· 28 January 2006
· Chapter 18: Separated but Not Apart
*smiles widely through tears* Oh, Antane, I'm overwhelmed! Just...overwhelmed! What a beautiful, beautiful, perfect, bittersweet ending for this part! This whole chapter was beautiful, and I especially love the way you write Bilbo here, just like him. So, who in the end, in your opinion, is the lucky one? I think they both are, but you know I think Sam moreso than Frodo; for he had the joy of knowing, loving, caring for someone so very, very special and beautiful and...indescribable. I can't wait for the next part!! I just know that it's going to be even more wonderful than this; for that's the way this saga works, I find. This was even better than OHPA, despite the fact that I didn't think it could be, and I'll bet money that the next part is going to be even better than this as we watch our two favourites heal.
Namarie, mellon nin, and congratulations!
God bless,
Galadriel
harrowcat
· 28 January 2006
· Chapter 18: Separated but Not Apart
Aw this is a lovely end to this part and I can't wait for the next. I have a little gift-wrapped box that comes out to sit on the mantle-piece each Christmas. It was given to me by a very dear friend. It is physically empty but full of her love and each time I see it I remember her and smile!
harrowcat
· 26 January 2006
· Chapter 17: Namarie
Oh Antane - I was doing all right until the goodbyes started just feeling overwhelming sadness. I was even laughing at the pillow fight etc then I lost it and out came the tissues - stock piled on your advice! Great writing.
Author's reply
Hannon le, harrowcat!
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Larner
· 26 January 2006
· Chapter 17: Namarie
You got me crying, Antane. And I know he will be well where he goes, and with those who travel with him.
Author's reply
Oh, Larner, I am so honored by your tears!
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Queen Galadriel
· 26 January 2006
· Chapter 17: Namarie
I have no words, except that I didn't know it could be more moving than the ending of the books. And I thought the last chapter was sad. This was beautiful, Antane, beautiful. Especially the farewell between Frodo and Sam. I love the bit about this being only a very long walk home-it's so heartbreaking, but so...so true. I feel so sorry for them all, I wish I could just hug them all and cry with them.
Oh no, is Frodo going to be ill? I hope not for his sake. The sixth is worse than the thirteenth, and to be without his Sam! As always I look forward to more of this.
Namarie, God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
Hannon le, dearest! The bit about being a long walk home is actually from a friend, can't take credit for that, but when I read it from a totally different story she wrote, I couldn't help but think of our dear one.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)