Myths are traditionally based on the stories about heroes and their activities which attract the audience because of the protagonists’ strength and wisdom and because of presenting the good powers winning over the evil. In spite of the fact the hero’s story traditionally ends with the character’s victory, the hero experiences the whole cycle of challenges and tests which are described by Joseph Campbell in the form of three main stages of the monomyth and then presented by Christopher Vogler in twelve steps of the hero’s journey (Campbell 34; Vogler 56).
Thus, the stories about heroes can be examined according to the definite pattern because the themes and motifs provided in them are often common as they reflect the certain archetypes which are perceived by people unconsciously (Pearson). In the trilogy The Lord of the Rings, Frodo Baggins is the main hero who experiences a lot of challenges during his journey in order to save the Middle Earth from the threat of Sauron’s authority and strengthening his powers with the Ring which is necessary to be destroyed by Frodo.
The personality of Frodo Baggins is presented rather typically for the depiction of heroes, their realizing of the mission, and their further personal development. Frodo is the hobbit who lives in the Shire, and it is typically for hobbits to follow their measured lifestyle and be interested in gardening than to fight for saving the world.
However, while inheriting the Ring from Bilbo Baggins, Frodo faces a specific responsibility to destroy the Ring and save the lands from Sauron’s authority. The hero who did not realize his powers and did not experience any challenges some days ago must take responsibility for the destiny of the other hobbits and human beings now.
The inner conflict often prevents heroes from admitting the call to adventure. However, the archetypes of heralds and mentors traditionally play a significant role in the hero’s changing the decision (Pearson). Frodo’s mentor is Gandalf who tells the hero all the secrets about the Ring and its powers. The life of Frodo is changed when he leaves the Shire and steps into the other supernatural and unfamiliar world full of enemies. It is possible to speak about different stages when Frodo crosses the threshold while coming into the Wood or Mordor.
Frodo’s mission is to destroy the Ring and avoid Sauron and his Ringwraiths because Sauron is the Lord of the Rings, and his power can become enormous when he possesses the last Ring. Thus, Sauron represents the archetype of the Shadow (O’Neill). All the tests and challenges experienced by Frodo on his way to Mount Doom where it is necessary to destroy the Ring are shared with Frodo’s companions who form the Fellowship of the Ring. The hero’s allies can also be discussed as the important archetype reflecting the concept of assistance.
Fighting with Orcs in Moria and with the other Ringwraiths on his way to Mordor, Frodo realizes the significance of his mission and these thoughts and the assistance of the allies help him overcome the obstacles successfully (Ryan). Nevertheless, there are a lot of moments when Frodo feels helpless and hesitates about his decisions.
Moreover, Frodo should resist the power of the Ring not to become its servant. All these hero’s emotions and connection failures are associated with the stage which is known as the approach to the inmost cave (Vogler). This is the moment when heroes almost cannot resist the desire to give up their mission. Frodo experienced such moments several times while being in the Shelob’s Lair and learning about Gandalf’s disappearance in Moria.
However, the climax of the hero’s journey is often more dangerous for him than all the previous difficulties and challenges. It is a real ordeal after overcoming which the hero can receive the reward. Frodo’s ordeal is to destroy the Ring in the lava of Mount Doom successfully, resisting the temptation to keep the Ring because of his powers and fighting over Gollum who represents the archetype of the Trickster in the monomyth (“The Lord of the Rings”).
That is why it is possible to speak about the inner and outer conflicts experienced by Frodo at the stage of his ordeal. Nevertheless, the hero’s mission traditionally ends with his victory gained through resurrection. Frodo’s resurrection is possible because of the role of his mentor Gandalf who helps Frodo in the most dangerous situations. Destroying the Ring and escaping from the dangers of Mordor, Frodo returns with the new knowledge and experience which is necessary for improving life in the Shire. Frodo is not a naïve helpless hobbit anymore. The fact of saving the world and receiving new knowledge is the hero’s elixir in this story.
Frodo’s journey depicted in The Lord of the Rings is the example of the traditional hero’s journey during which the hero completes the mission and acts for the sake of all the people. Thus, the hero’s victory is significant for the world’s development, and the hero’s mission is realized according to several typical stages which reflect the people’s vision of the process represented in myths.
Works Cited
Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. USA: New World Library, 2008. Print.
O’Neill, Timothy. The Individuated Hobbit: Jung, Tolkien and the Archetypes of Middle-Earth. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1979. Print.
Pearson, Carol. Awakening the Heroes Within: Twelve Archetypes to Help Us Find Ourselves and Transform Our World. USA: Harper One, 1991. Print.
Ryan, John. Tolkien’s View: Windows into His World. Switzerland: Walking Tree Publishers, 2009. Print.
The Lord of the Rings. n.d. Web.
Vogler, Christopher. The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. USA: Michael Wiese Productions, 2007. Print.