The Fellowship of the Ring, Middle Earth and Character Development
As Frodo and his friends make their way through Middle Earth, you learn about hobbit characteristics and behavior that add to knowledge gained from The Hobbit and watching the movies. Gandalf has power he has never used before, and Frodo’s toughness exceeds expectations. You benefit from seeing characters in the Company challenged in different ways that reveal their flaws, too. You can also get a better sense of where the towns and villages are in Middle Earth, and the boundaries in between them.
Middle Earth has similarities to our modern world’s history. Back between 1750-1850, towns and villages were sparsely populated and they were separated by at least a day or two of walking or riding. Both places also have the same buildings, such as inns and houses. Everything would seem like colonial America if we were in Middle Earth, but what would make it different are the creatures that are in it. There are hobbits, goblins, orcs, and wizards: these are nothing more than Halloween costumes in our world. This period in the history of Middle Earth is undergoing a time of great conflict. Before the rings were made, there was no one ruling ring and there was no Sauron to command it. At that time period, though, there still was conflict. Mithril, a metal far more valuable than silver, was still in the Moria mines and creatures fought over that. But “the Elder Days are gone. The Middle Days are passing. The Younger Days are beginning” (pg 259) as Sauruman the White says, so war is beginning, just like war happens in our world. The Middle Earth is different and similar to our world like a tomato is similar to a vegetable, because a tomato is a fruit, but is viewed as a vegetable.
One of the most important characters is Gandalf. He possesses some of the wisest and greatest powers, physically and mentally. He is extremely helpful during the mountain pass attempt, giving them the miruvor of Rivendell, a strengthening drink used to wake up and energize the body, and during the travel through the Mines of Moria, giving light from his staff, guidance, and defense against the orcs. He is also selfless: when Pippin gets first watch in a stop they take, Gandalf tells him to “have a sleep” (pg 314), even after becoming quite angry at the hobbit for throwing a rock into a pit, a rock that then announces their presence to orcs. One of his few weaknesses is that even though he is powerful, he can only use maximum power in short bursts; this occurs when he is trying to hold back the orcs. Then he meets his match, saying that he “has never felt so spent” (pg 327), and he also has to lean heavily on his staff as he prepares to fight the Balrog. Gandalf is an amazing wizard, and maybe if he had more energy in the end, he could stay with the Company on their journey.
Frodo is also another important character, not because of magical power but because he is the Ring Bearer. He is the reason that the company is on this mission in the first place. He is a very tough hobbit and Gandalf thinks that he “takes after Bilbo” (pg 328). He does not complain often, and he is very determined to destroy the ring. Though he is tough, he is not that big, and during the attempt to go through the mountain, he and his fellow hobbits suffer greatly from the cold. Frodo is the needed one on this adventure and is a very willing and strong hobbit.
Strider, now known as Aragorn, has not yet shown his true colors. We do not know how powerful he can get, but he seems to be well respected by Gandalf and his other peers. He is a very experienced man and has lived for a very long time. He assists Gandalf in choosing which route to take in the mines and is in general, a helpful person when he speaks. The down side is that he doesn’t speak very often. Aragorn is a mysterious character, who seems have lots of experience in Middle Earth.
The Middle Earth is an intriguing place that seems like colonial America in some aspects and has new creatures of many types. The main characters in the story are important in different ways and are flawed like normal people. As the story continues, the relationship between the characters deepens, and they work together in a more efficient manner. Each character is special, and they seem to all fit together like puzzle pieces to aid Frodo in his quest.