Frodo's Choice

on doing what's right even when we feel small and desperate

The second chapter of The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien is one of the richest and most fascinating parts of the entire story. 

Titled, ‘The Shadow of the Past’, this chapter primarily consists of a long conversation between Frodo and Gandalf about how the One Ring came to be in Hobbit’s possession. It also lays the groundwork for major themes woven throughout The Lord of the Rings. A whole series of posts could be mined from this chapter alone, but for today, I’d like to focus on a particular moment in the conversation that, from my observation, will always be relevant. 

In this chapter we see Frodo slowly begin to realize the staggering task set before him. He’s just listened to Gandalf give a grand, sweeping summary of the One Ring’s origins and role in Middle-earth’s history—from the Elves in long lost Eregion to the conniving and twisted creature Gollum’s wanderings—and now, here he sits, a quiet Hobbit from the Shire with that very Ring in his hand. 

‘The Shadow of the Past’ by Alan Lee

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I’m Breanne, a new-ish substacker, but a lifelong Tolkien fan. This space is one I’ve created to welcome others into these beautiful stories, sometimes on walks with my dog and sometimes in a quiet corner of your inbox.

For the past three Septembers, I’ve taken my subscribers through The Lord of the Rings and—for the first time ever—I’ll be taking them through The Silmarillion! (my read-throughs are paid subscribers only)

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Gandalf informs Frodo that he can no longer go unnoticed in the Shire. Frodo’s name and location have been betrayed by Gollum to the Dark Lord who, even now, is stretching out his hand to reclaim the One Ring. In this overwhelm of information he admits to Gandalf that he’s “not made for perilous quests” and asks Gandalf why he was chosen to do this. Gandalf responds:

'Such questions cannot be answered,' said Gandalf. 'You may be sure that it was not for any merit that others do not possess: not for power or wisdom, at any rate. But you have been chosen, and you must therefore use such strength and heart and wits as you have.' –The Fellowship of the Rings, Chapter: The Shadow of the Past, J.R.R. Tolkien

Gandalf tells his friend Frodo that he wasn’t chosen for this task because he was exceptionally powerful or wise, but because he was chosen, he must use what strengths he has to accomplish what is being asked of him. 

There’s a long silence between him and Gandalf as his friend, the wizard, allows him space to process and consider what step to take. Eventually, Gandalf asks him if he has decided what to do. Frodo’s answers that he must keep the Ring and guard it, whatever it may do to him and then says:  

'I should like to save the Shire, if I could—though there have been times when I thought the inhabitants too stupid and dull for words, and have felt that an earthquake or an invasion of dragons might be good for them. But I don't feel like that now. I feel that as long as the Shire lies behind, safe and comfortable, I shall find wandering more bearable: I shall know that somewhere there is a firm foothold, even if my feet cannot stand there again.’ 

He ends by confessing:

“But I feel very small, and very uprooted, and well—desperate. The Enemy is so strong and terrible.”  — Frodo, The Fellowship of the Rings, Chapter: The Shadow of the Past, J.R.R. Tolkien

Frodo, in spite of feeling “small and desperate” decides to do what is right. He accepts Gandalf’s honest assessment that he doesn’t have any special merit that others’ do not possess and uses what ‘strength and heart and wits’ that he has to rise to the occasion of what has been put before him. 

In the moment of deciding to take the Ring and flee his beloved Shire, Frodo doesn’t feel heroic, wise or powerful. He just feels like a normal person who—for whatever reason—has been appointed a task that will require great personal sacrifice. 

He doesn’t have a solid plan yet beyond realizing that, after he has learned everything Gandalf told him, he can no longer choose to ignore the gravity of the situation. He must decide to do the “next right thing”.¹ And though those familiar with the story know that he goes on from this point to do great things, I think it’s important to sit with the initial moment of Frodo wrestling with his own shortcomings and choosing to do what needs to be done anyway. 

Frodo acts with courage—even when the last thing he feels is brave. Sitting at the fireplace in Bag End, he knows his wisdom and power are far less than the heroes in the stories Bilbo raised him on. And yet, here in the quiet of his home, with no one to witness but Gandalf, he takes the first step to be counted among them. 

We see this sentiment echoed in Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Lord of the Rings when Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) tells Frodo, “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.” 

And again, in Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Hobbit when Gandalf (Ian Mckellan) tells Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), “Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.” 

This theme of ‘small hands moving the wheels of the world’² is one that Tolkien repeats throughout The Lord of the Rings and we find the seed of it in The Shadow of the Past. From Frodo to Sam to Beren and Bergil³ in the great city of Minas Tirith, we see many “small” people playing their part for the greater good.

Feeling small and desperate does not disqualify us from making choices that will have a positive impact on the world. As Gandalf would say, “And that may be an encouraging thought.”  

How can Frodo’s actions in this part of the story help us do “the next right thing?” On micro and macro scales, we can look at the point of history we’re living out and, despite our inner feelings of inadequacy, choose to rise to the occasion life circumstances have set before us.

1. From the research I did, the origins of the phrase, ‘the next right thing' can be traced to being popularized by a woman named, Minnie E Paull. She was an American writer, musician and minister’s wife. One of her poems which included the phrase was published in 1897 and claimed the origin to be Saxon. “Doe ye nexte thynge.”

2. Elrond uses this phrase at The Council of Elrond that echoes the theme we’ve discussed here when he says, "The road must be trod, but it will be very hard. And neither strength nor wisdom will carry us far upon it. This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong. Yet such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere."—Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter: The Council of Elrond, J.R.R. Tolkien

3. You can find a deep dive on these two characters here.