It was the board discussions, and fanfiction, which started me thinking deeply about the sad strain in Frodo's early life. Tolkien doesn't touch on it. But such an interpretation makes sense of Frodo's character or at least fits with his canon character. It also makes him more interesting, IMO. Tolkien almost treats Frodo like a blank slate before the fateful destiny of the Ring falls on him. In the early part of FotR, Frodo almost comes across like another Bilbo: a comfortable English bachelor. It takes the reader a little time to realise that actually he is very different from Bilbo: more introverted, more thoughtful and contemplative.
I like the angstier interpretations of Frodo, as long as the angst isn't overdone. (I am not a big fan of too much Frodo- angst, since I get ridiculously upset about a character I love suffering more than he does in the book!)
For me, Frodo and Harry are similar sorts of heroes. I don't mean they are at all similar in personality: Frodo thinks deeply and is a very mature person, Harry tends to Open Mouth Before Engaging Brain. :p I mean similar in the kind of hero they are: the ordinary guy who does something truly extraordinary. They also demonstrate Love rather than raw Power. Harry gets dissed by some of the fandom for being a shallow hero. I don't agree. The kid is not as screwed up as he would be in RL, because of his abusive upbringing by the Dursleys, but he has a dark, morbid sense of humour and is somewhat emotionally stunted. Which makes him far more interesting in my eyes than if he were emotionally well-adjusted. ;)
I can cope with a bit of Harry-angst too. Actually, I can cope with quite a LOT of Harry-angst. ;)
On quite another note, the splendidly angsty heroes of The Silmarillion are fascinating too.
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Date: 2008-12-02 03:13 pm (UTC)I like the angstier interpretations of Frodo, as long as the angst isn't overdone. (I am not a big fan of too much Frodo- angst, since I get ridiculously upset about a character I love suffering more than he does in the book!)
For me, Frodo and Harry are similar sorts of heroes. I don't mean they are at all similar in personality: Frodo thinks deeply and is a very mature person, Harry tends to Open Mouth Before Engaging Brain. :p I mean similar in the kind of hero they are: the ordinary guy who does something truly extraordinary. They also demonstrate Love rather than raw Power. Harry gets dissed by some of the fandom for being a shallow hero. I don't agree. The kid is not as screwed up as he would be in RL, because of his abusive upbringing by the Dursleys, but he has a dark, morbid sense of humour and is somewhat emotionally stunted. Which makes him far more interesting in my eyes than if he were emotionally well-adjusted. ;)
I can cope with a bit of Harry-angst too. Actually, I can cope with quite a LOT of Harry-angst. ;)
On quite another note, the splendidly angsty heroes of The Silmarillion are fascinating too.