Frodo the failure?

[namarie]

It hit me a while ago that oh wow, Frodo actually failed the quest. Even though he is praised by one and all after the ring was destroyed, he finally had given in to it's power at the last. At first this realization was troubling to me, but after thinking about it a while I realized that he only did his part in a movement that was way bigger than him, and he was clearly lead by something or someone that was directing the whole course of events, and Frodo was only one piece of that. Gandalf could have said to Frodo just as he said to Bilbo "you are only one small Hobbit, after all".

This tells me, and encourages me, that unlike most heroes that we invent and celebrate, the truth is that it takes many people doing what they know they should do, even if it is beyond their strength, and together they are lead toward the ultimate good. And that is even if they fail. Maybe their failure is even meant to cast the praise Elsewhere, where it belongs.

Having said all that, why do you suppose Tolkien downplayed, or even ignored the fact that Frodo failed? If I remember correctly, Frodo never seems bummed out or ashamed of his failure...he just seems to accept all the grace flying around. Anybody have any ideas?

[Eru]

I think Frodo's quite stunned. Then afterwards, he was never the same. Kind of always sad.

Just a few of my quick thoughts. If I get more time later I'll expand.

[paleocon]

Frodo, being mortal, could not overcome the Ring himself. He was saved by grace (Sola Gratia?).

[varda]

I think the Ring took something out of him. He seems "faded" and "distant" when he returns home.

[Goblinglow]

It wasn't only Frodo. Anyone would have failed, because there was no one who could resist the lure of the One Ring (except Tom Bombadil, did they say?) But yeah, I agree that Frodo was pretty much...in mild shock and couldn't get over everything that happened to him, and his friends.

I mean you go from living a peaceful life in the Shire, to witnessing war, death, and corruption in the outside lands (particularly Mordor.) That would stun me!
Actually, I think Frodo took it pretty darn well (I'm not saying you didn't think that ^.^; and probably, anyone else wouldn't have been talking by the end of that quest. U__U;