The Fellowship of the Ring

One does not simply review or rate The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Yet, it earns its 5 stars without as much as a second thought.Seriously, how does one tackle this monumental tour de force? I could enumerate all the goods things about it, but that would be pointless (because it's all good), so instead, I'm going to focus on the negative things that other reviewers have pointed out and try to convey why, in fact, these elements are necessary.1. The pacing (especially in the first 100 pages)Many reviewers have pointed out the incredibly slow start of the book, up until Frodo actually leaves the Shire and starts on his adventure. The general complaints I've seen are that it is 1)too long, 2)nothing happens, and 3)it's painful to get through. Unlike his uncle Bilbo, who is quick to run out of his front door and start on his adventure in [b:The Hobbit, or There and Back Again 5907 The Hobbit, or There and Back Again J.R.R. Tolkien https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546071216l/5907.SY75.jpg 1540236], it is true that Frodo is incredibly slow to leave his hobbit hole and has to think about leaving for a very long time before he actually moves (as in, it takes him years to leave). Honestly, who can blame him? If you were given two options, one of which would be to stay in your perfect little idyllic village, away from harm, or to throw yourself into the unknown and towards certain death, which would you pick?Jokes aside, the purpose of this slow intro is to drive home the fact that once Frodo leaves Bag End, he will never be able to return to it in the same capacity. War is very near at hand, and even the peaceful little village will be damaged by it sooner or later. What is more, Frodo himself will come back a changed man (or Hobbit), and his childhood home will no longer have the same significance to him as it does in the beginning of the story. Frodo's journey is so transformative, dangerous, and unpredictable, that the first slow, uneventful 100 pages reinforces the pain of losing one's country to an unstoppable war. For the rest of the novel, across all three parts, Frodo and his Hobbit friends will refer to Hobbiton as a place of return and as an anchor in dark times. Tolkien masterfully makes us as readers yearn for the Shire just as much as Frodo and his friends do because of those first pages. Even though it seems uneventful and boring, the time spent in the Shire is immensely important for the rest of the narrative as it allows for feelings of melancholy and hope to bloom in readers as they follow Frodo on his heart-wrenching journey. 2. FrodoMany have complained about Frodo as a character, calling him boring, flat, unremarkable, etc. For a hero, it is true that Frodo doesn't seem to have the appropriate qualities that would make him the focus of the story. However, it is because of his initial unexceptional character that he becomes an interesting choice for the mission. The choice to have Frodo as the ring-bearer comes in two folds: 1) because he is seemingly ordinary and mundane, the Enemy is less likely to notice him and come after him, and 2) the One Ring chose him as its partner. Everyone knows that the Ring has a will of its own and that, once it has decided to follow (or to abandon) someone, there is nothing that anyone can do about it.To counterbalance Frodo's ordinary quality, the Fellowship is sent to accompany him on his mission. Here, the clever composition of characters who make up Frodo's companions gives all the colour and excitement needed for a high fantasy story: Aragorn, the would-be-king, Boromir, the proud warrior, Legolas, the keen-sighted Elf prince, Gimli, the brave and fiercely loyal Dwarf, Merry and Pippin, the comedic best friends, and Sam, the unsung hero of this whole tale. Of course, one cannot forget Gandalf, the fatherly wizard who has known Frodo all his life and who is loved and respected by all. These friends support Frodo in all that he does and serve to help him grow into his own as the story progresses.Initially, Frodo relies heavily on his companions, especially Gandalf and Aragorn; however, as we near the end of The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo clearly takes charge of his mission on his own and decides for himself on his next course of action. Even though he is very much attached to Aragorn, and would follow him anywhere, he is able to put aside his (very much justified) fear of the unknown and to depart for Mordor all on his own. If it hadn't been for Sam's insistence, Frodo would have left alone to tackle Mount Doom (whether he would have survived or not is another question, but he would have bravely persevered until the last). To call Frodo useless, boring, or pathetic is an insult to one of the bravest people in Middle-earth. Frodo is the one who takes on the Ring, willingly, he is the one who volunteers to carry it into Mordor, he decides to leave on his own to protect his friends and keep them from certain doom, and he is, ultimately, the one who must carry the burden of the Ring and the weight of the fate of the world on his shoulders. When Frodo returns from his adventure, he is psychologically scarred for life (undoubtedly a reflection of what happened to the WWI soldiers of Tolkien's life) and yes, he is gloomy and melancholic, but his task is immeasurably difficult compared to what the other characters must do. As much as the Elves, Dwarves, and Men are brave and loyal to one another, none are as determined to see the Ring destroyed as Frodo is, and other, lesser determined characters would have sooner fallen to the Ring's influence than to destroy it (not looking at you Boromir (jk)). 3. AragornFor some reason, many reviewers think that Aragorn is arrogant, haughty, and self-centered. Perhaps this idea is because of his (infrequent) mentions of his lineage and his duty as future king, but in reality, Aragorn is anything but kind, supportive, and loyal to his friends, especially Frodo. Aragorn is a hero in every sense of the word: he fights bravely, stands by his friends when in need, and takes on any foe who dares come his way. When Gandalf wishes to lead the Company through Moria, Aragorn opposes it until it is the last option in fear of what it might do to his oldest friend. Right in his premonition, Aragorn suffers the loss of his friend, but has no time to mourn as he becomes the de facto leader of the Company and must lead Frodo and the others across dangerous lands. Whenever they stop to rest, Aragorn is always by Frodo's side, tending to his wounds or keeping an eye on him and protecting him. Aragorn has issues of his own to worry about, such as his kingship, but he selflessly puts the Company above himself and gives his utmost to the protection of the ring-bearer. Aragorn is known and loved by many across Middle-earth. His name hangs on the lips of those in the highest of seats, like Galadriel, Celeborn, and Elrond, and all who know him love and trust him. Aragorn is always true to his word, and once sworn, his oaths are unbreakable.Surely, Aragorn can be forgiven for his small moments of grandeur, such as beneath the Argonath and on the land of his forefathers. The Númenóreans are an almost extinct race, with Aragorn being one of the last few standing. Naturally, his anxiousness to regain his power is understandable, and yet, he devotes himself wholly to Frodo's cause and this, from the very beginning, long before the Fellowship is even formed. Readers will remember that it is Aragorn who saves Frodo and guides the Hobbits very early on, when they first meet at the Prancing Pony in Bree.Apart for Gandalf and Sam, Aragorn is Frodo's closest and most faithful ally in the fight against Sauron. Despite his own destiny, Aragorn willingly chooses to trek halfway across Middle-earth to help Frodo as much as he can. In this respect, Aragorn is far from being selfish or conceited; on the contrary, he is selfless and kingly in everything that he does. It is no wonder that Aragorn will go on to become a beloved, peaceful king who values his friendships above all else.I could ostensibly continue to write about The Fellowship of the Ring, but I believe that it is difficult to convey just how much this story is important both as a masterpiece of literature and as a piece of collective memory and consciousness. This review is to be continued in The Two Towers...