The End

[HobbitFriend]

What was your opinion on the ending of The Lord of the Rings?

I thought it was pretty sad :( Frodo always seemed sad, lonely, and depressed ever since the burden of the Ring. Then when he finally gets back home to the Shire and sets it back in order, no one pays him the respect he derserves... he saved all of Middle-earth! (even if it was with "help" from Gollum)

I think Frodo should have stayed in the Shire with Sam and been more happy (hey, i don't like sad endings!) mecry and have Sam or even Frodo telling Sam's children about Sam and Frodo and the Ring and ended the story and the book with "And they lived happily ever afterwards to the end of their days." - you know, Bilbo's ending to his book. I think that would have wrapped up everything nicely.

So... what are your opinions?

[Catz]

sorry HF, but i liked the ending as is.....the whole theme of the book is change, and how nothing stays the same.....even if he had stayed Frodo would not have been happy......too much in him had changed, not to mention the world around him....hed grown too big to be contained in the shire i think, and his hurts had grown too....besides, without that bittersweet ending, LOTR would just be another book.....
:catz:

[Nessa the Dancer]

I think the ending was good (if very sad). Frodo was still troubled by his wound and he was ill twice before he left the Shire.
Sure the 'perfect ending would have been that Frodo lived hapily ever after in the Shire, but I don't think that I would have liked that, it would have been too....what's the word?.... neat.
I basically agree with catz that Frodo had changed to much and been hurt to deeply to be happy in the Shire.

[Nessa]

I agree with you on the sadness, but the ending had to be that way. Frodo was wounded too deeply to ever find peace in the Shire. Thats the sacrifice he made by taking the ring, to give up his home, his friends, and ever having what was considered a normal hobbit life. Although Aman is like heaven, I disagree (respectfully) with a lot of people who say he would have rather been there than the Shire. The only reason he went to Aman is because of the pain, I'm sure it was hard to leave the Shire.

About wrapping everything up nicely, hey who wouldn't like to see that? But that ending would have been unrealisticly sweet, like Catz says, people change too much to go back the way they were before.

[Aragorn Isildur]

It is a sad ending but its nice that most of the Fellowship end up together in Aman. If my memory serves me correctly, Sam, Legolas and Gimli all travel over the sea. Merry and Pippin go to Minas Tirith to pass away with Aragorn so they all end up pretty much together at the end.

[Nessa]

Yeah, they all end up together, if you don't focus strictly on Frodo's fate (I tend to), the endings really not that sad. But then there's the whole Arwen thing....

[A! Elbereth]

The Arwen thing doesnt make me sad at all. I wasnt very fond of either of them in the book. They give a few hints at their love in FOTR, and then the ending took me by surprise with their instant 'togetherness', if I may call it that. Frodo's fate is what got me the most. And I would have liked to see him in the shire, as would all of us, but it was a good thing that he left for Aman. I just wished that all the 4 Hobbits could be together forever.... mecry mecry makes me well up a little everytime I think about it. mecry mecry

[Aragorn Isildur]

Yes, although it would be better if the entire Fellowship had been together instead of just the hobbits.

[HobbitFriend]

Originally posted by Nessa
I agree with you on the sadness, but the ending had to be that way. Frodo was wounded too deeply to ever find peace in the Shire. Thats the sacrifice he made by taking the ring, to give up his home, his friends, and ever having what was considered a normal hobbit life. Although Aman is like heaven, I disagree (respectfully) with a lot of people who say he would have rather been there than the Shire. The only reason he went to Aman is because of the pain, I'm sure it was hard to leave the Shire.

About wrapping everything up nicely, hey who wouldn't like to see that? But that ending would have been unrealisticly sweet, like Catz says, people change too much to go back the way they were before.
You have very good points

[Algamesh]

The End?

Did you know the Professor was planning to author a work concerning the 4th Age?

The adventures in Middle-earth never end! We are still living it!

But ... to remain in the theme of this topic, I must agree that Nessa pretty much summed it up. I also believe that Frodo's hurts were totally healed in Aman and that any saddness that he had in leaving the Shire was certainly compensated by his continued existence in bliss.

I would like to think that Frodo found his way to Lorien and that he lies there, by the calm pools dreaming of happier times in the Shire.

[Nessa]

Algamesh! Thats so lovely.....

Anyway, I find that there is some disagreement on wether Frodo died in Aman or became immortal.

What do you all think? (Its on topic, really, its about the ending.)

[A! Elbereth]

I really could not guess! And I wouldnt be able to choose one I would rather either! Its hard to think about both! I want Frodo to live on forever, but it wouldnt work for a hobbit. I imagine Frodo wouldnt want to remember all that he had done and seen for all eternity. But thinking of him dying is sad, even though he would have died peaceful, but I think it would be best if Frodo did not live on forever, but the lands of Aman would let Frodo live longer than most hobbits, and make him feel young and healthy. So that his wonderful smile will never fade.

Besides when if he did, he'll live in the hearts of millions, Including mine.... I wish we had a heart smiley or summut

[Nessa]

I got the idea somewhere(not sure where) that he could die when he chose to....that sounds lovely to me. I think death can beautiful and peaceful...I don't neccesarily see it as a bad thing at all.

[A! Elbereth]

(<-------Never said it was bad)

Its not Bad its SAD! Death can be troubling. For people who knew Frodo, they will be mortally sad, but happy that he found his peace. I dont care if he's fictional, but its sad to me lol and good! Argh I'm twisting my words! lol

[Nessa]

I completely understand, I didn't think you meant it was bad, I absolutely agree with you about immortality not working for hobbits.

[Pil]

It doesn't have the same sort of natural feel as with elves...elves are constantly thrilled and in love with everything around them...trees, rivers, leaves, the sun, the stars...i don't think hobbits go as far as that to keep themselves occupied for eternity! :huh: :elfqueen:

[Black Rider]

i was indeed very sad. i think that i was also sad because the book was done but...
i was reading the History of the Lord of the Rings by Christopher Tolkien when i was done, and the last book in the 4 book collection has these, i dont know waht to call them, alternate endings i guess. they were what Tolkien had originally planned to write, but cut out. or for whatever reason they were not put into the books. they were very interesting, i liked them, but i suppose they were better off out of the book. i liked the ending he chose, very appropriate.

[Narloth]

I think that the ending was sad, but more realistic than if Frodo could just settle in the Shire as though nothing had happened. He couldn't cope with the world around him. Come to think of it, it's a bit like Tolkien's life (if you've read his biography). Tolkien couldn't have stayed his whole life in small-town Sarehole. I mean, the people there were very nice, but Tolkien didn't feel as though he fit in. Never mind.

[Catz]

and thats the point i think......not so much that the place had changed, but that the individual, be it Frodo Baggins, or Jrr had changed......and even if the place was restored, the person is still different....you can never go home.....:cool:
:catz: