concerning-hobbits:

I hate to admit it, but when LoTR was newer to me, I sometimes made negative comments about Frodo (though I didn’t hate him) as I was watching the movies, especially RoTK- when he wasn’t the nicest to Sam, when he claimed the Ring, you know. Here’s the deal: if you hate Frodo, think he’s whiny, weak, or useless- you are just looking at him on a very surface level and you also don’t understand the Ring- how powerful it is and what it really did to Frodo. It got so very heavy physically and mentally for him to carry, digging into his neck and mind.

Honestly, I don’t understand how some people can’t see that Frodo was so obviously fighting a very, very difficult internal battle that only got harder as time went on and as he got closer to Mordor. He wasn’t weak, because if he was, he would have given up. Also, whatever complaining he did- who could blame him, and it’s not whining if you are legitimately suffering horribly! And yes, it’s quite something how Sam was able to so easily give it back, but he couldn’t have been the Ringbearer. You know why? Because he absolutely didn’t want to be. He just wanted to help Frodo. When he offered to carry it for a while, it was solely to give Frodo a break. When he thought Frodo was dead, he was prepared to go on alone, but that was because there was literally no one else around to take it on. In the book, Sam said “I wish I wasn’t the last,” and felt like he would “be sure to go wrong.”

Frodo volunteered himself. He is a hero because he voluntarily sacrificed his physical and mental well-being (and hobbits are very big on comfort, may I remind you) doing the best he could to complete his task. He carried the Ring for 13 months, never gave up, even willing to crawl on his hands and knees up Mt. Doom when he no longer had the strength to stand. Yes, he claimed the Ring which nearly doomed everyone, but if you think about it, It really claimed him. The Ring was at its most powerful at the Crack of Doom, and Frodo was exhausted in every sense of the word. And it was made very clear that the Ring made people want it, even if you really didn’t because it made your life suck. Also, Tolkien wrote in one of his letters that NO ONE could have willingly destroyed It. Guys, it was a hopeless task. I don’t think anyone at the Council of Elrond would have blamed Frodo if he had turned around and went home. He could have thought, “it’s hopeless anyway, why bother” but he volunteered regardless and never turned back.

“I am tired, weary, I haven’t a hope left. But I have to go on trying to get to the Mountain, as long as I can move.” -Frodo Baggins