In Defense of Frodo

Lord of the Rings is filled with many great characters. From epic heroes to elves as old as time to hobbits that most people dismiss. We're going to be talking about one of those hobbits today.

Frodo and Sam have one of the hardest parts of the book. It's their job to find a way into Mordor, the stronghold of the biggest baddie of Middle Earth (at the time, but we won't go into all that history stuff now), and somehow destroy the Ring of Power. The fact that they did it is amazing, much less how they lived to tell the tale.

The thing is, I've noticed something about them. People love to praise Sam while almost ignoring Frodo. And I want to speak up to defend Frodo today.

Sam did a lot on their journey. He was there to support and help Frodo every step of the way. Frodo himself admits that he wouldn't have gone far without Sam's help. That's where the issue starts.

People take that moment and go "Yes, Sam!" He's the best. He did so much. He's the real hero here.

I love Sam. I am not degrading him in any way. He is a pivotal character in the story. But I think with all the attention and praise he gets, Frodo gets thrown under the bus.

Sam may have been the one to support Frodo, but Frodo was the one who had to carry the great weight of the Ring. He carried the whole fate of Middle Earth around his neck. He had to bear that burden day in and day out.

Frodo had to make the hard choices along the way. He had to decide to leave the Fellowship, to trust Gollum, to pick which path they would take. All without the guidance of anyone wiser or more knowledgeable.

In a more metaphorical way, I relate to him more than Sam. In this life, some of us are given harder burdens to bear than others. We may never be free of a certain sin or hardship or disability. But that doesn't mean we can't keep pushing on. When it seems like a rock tied around our necks, we can still look up and see light at the end of the tunnel.

Sam and Frodo are a pair. Sam would never have made the choice to leave the Shire, or take the Ring to Mordor. Frodo wouldn't have been able to finish the journey by himself. They need each other for different reasons.

So don't diss Frodo just because you think Sam is cooler, or vice versa. They each had their own hardships and troubles, just like real people. But please stop hating on Frodo.

Darkness may try to drown us. The enemy tries to stifle our light. But Frodo shows us that we can make it through that, and while we may not be the same, we can still find peace and joy.

Who is your favorite, Same or Frodo? Is there a character you think needs more appreciation for what they go through? Tell me in the comments.

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