Critical Analytical Response #2

Critical-Analytical Response to Text

By: Laramie

            In the film The Return of the King the text creator, Peter Jackson selects a very unassuming character in order to display how an individual must take responsibility for themselves and others. When we are first introduced to Frodo Baggins, we know him as a simple Hobbit who is going about his life comfortably. That is until he meets Gandalf “the white wizard” and he is given a task that will prove to change his life forever. In order to complete the dangerous quest Frodo is forced to accept the responsibility he is given and destroy the ring, even if this means making immense sacrifice.  

            On his journey Frodo is accompanied by his fellow Hobbit, Sam Wisegamge as well as another creature, Gollum. When the Hobbits first meet Gollum he informs the pair that he knows of a secret passage into Mordor, and that he will be able to escort the group to this location, in order to allow Frodo to destroy the ring. What the viewers then learn is that Gollum has an underlying motive; he desires the ring for himself. Peter Jackson chooses to show us the struggle between Gollum and the Hobbits in order to represent Frodo’s commitment to the journey and the ultimate destruction of the ring. The majority of the tension is between Sam and Gollum, Gollum knows that Sam will always have the best interests of Frodo at heart and thus he sees the hobbit as a threat to his reunification with the ring. Sam realizes that Gollum’s one true desire is to have the ring for himself and therefore he is always cautious of Gollum, trying to anticipate his next move.

            The struggle between these two characters begins taking a great toll on Frodo and his state of mind. There comes a point late in the journey that Frodo is faced with a choice: he can either stay true to his own kind and continue the expedition with Sam, faced with the challenge of navigation, or he can proceed on to Mordor with the guidance of Gollum. This instance becomes a turning point in the film, when Frodo chooses to continue on with Gollum and releases Sam form the journey, many viewers are left with a sour taste, however it is expected that Peter Jackson chose to display this scene in order to represent the devotion that Frodo had to his duty. He knew that Gollum was the only way he could make it to Mordor and at this point he was ultimately left without any other option other than the taking the risk to trust Gollum.

            When Frodo chooses to continue the journey with Gollum, and rely on the creatures knowledge in order to reach Mordor, the apparent danger is not the only risk that he takes with this decision. In making this difficult selection it is possible that Frodo has lost Sam forever, but he knows this sacrifice was necessary in order to give himself a chance to reach Mordor and complete the task that Gandalf had left him with. In this particular instance in the film Peter Jackson is demonstrating to viewers that sometimes in life we are faced with a choice; most times it won’t be easy and someone is likely to be hurt in the process, but if you really want to achieve that which you desire most, it is imperative that one takes responsibility for themselves and others in order to make the necessary sacrifice.