week two

 I watched the first half of the extended edition fellowship of the ring last night. I can’t tell you the absolute SEROTONIN that rushes into me whenever I hear the opening chorus of the soundtrack, or when Bilbo starts explaining hobbits, I really can’t express how much I adore the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Oh, it’s so flawed. However, it’s flawed in such a darling way.

It tells the story of Frodo Baggins, an unassuming hobbit (tiny person with big feet, super adorable) that sets out to deliver the Ring of power to Mt Doom. Basically, he needs to destroy it. It’s so interesting to watch this movie again, and I feel like every time I re-watch it, I realize different aspects that I hadn’t noticed before. 

I also love the soundtrack the movie uses. Whenever there is a moment where Frodo is feeling homesick, or he’s trying to sacrifice something, or he’s having a moment with Sam, the same song always comes on. It’s actually included in a larger song, called the Breaking of the Fellowship, which is primarily instrumental. However, at the end of the song, a voice starts to sing these words: 

When the cold of winter comes 

Starless night will cover day 

In the veiling of the sun 

We will walk in bitter rain

This part of the song shows the pain that Frodo is going through. When you think about it, although the whole fellowship underwent incredible hardship over their long journey, Frodo is the one that has the most trauma. He carries an incredibly evil artefact for a full year, and he only fully falls under its influence at the very end. It shows how strong this tiny hobbit is, and how much he had to endure. The first verse shows the initial hopelessness that Frodo’s quest brought him. In the Fellowship of the Ring, there is example after example of Frodo trying to come to terms with leaving the fellowship and traveling to Mordor by himself. He truly believes that he needs to complete this alone, which is killing him inside. You can see it. 

But in dreams 

I can hear your name 

And in dreams 

We will meet again

I see this part of the song as Frodo thinking that he will never see the Shire (his homeland) ever again, except for in dreams. His family, his life, his friends have all become a part of his abstract wanderings as he leaves the fellowship at the end of the movie. 

When the seas and mountains fall 

And we come, to end of days 

In the dark I hear a call 

Calling me there, 

I will go there 

And back again

As you probably know, however, Sam forces Frodo to allow him to follow Frodo to Mordor. I think this part of the song shows how Frodo may be worried about the world and its trouble, but now he knows that he will not be alone at the end of all things. He has someone by his side to go there and back again. He realizes that he does have hope that he will see the Shire again, and that his effort to destroy the Ring will allow so many people to live their lives in happiness. At the end of the song, he wants to come back again.

I love the message of Frodo and the Ring, how hope and love and friendship can help you through your darkest times, and help you see the light that will come.