A journey in The Lord of the Rings

 The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien is a trilogy book series following the journey of Frodo Baggins and his fellowship as they try to save the world of Middle Earth from the power hungry wizard Sauron. The main two characters I want to explore are the hobbits Frodo and Samwise. Hobbits are a simple people who prioritize the simple pleasures in life, farming, food, drink and merriment. They are not ones to leave their home of the Shire, nor are they one to desire a journey of growth. They are content with what they have, so why want anything more? But because of this fact, because of how pure and unwanting of power and knowledge they are, it creates the unfortunate circumstances of them being the perfect hosts to take on the journey that will save the world from destruction.

    The ring of power is the last thing tying Sauron to Middle Earth, and the only way to destroy it is to burn it in the fires of Mount Doom, a volcanic forge in the heart of Mordor, the land of Sauron and his evil powers. Anyone who holds the ring becomes consumed with its evil powers, everyone except hobbits. The hobbits innate purity allows them to hold onto the rind for years before its evil power begins to consume their mind. Thus, in the journey that must be done to destroy Sauron once and for all, the journey of taking the ring of power to the heart of Mordor falls onto the shoulders of two unsuspecting hobbits. They must partake in this journey, one that will change them for life, lead them into perilous harm and potential death, or the world and everything they hold dear will be consumed by the flames of Sauron, the one who wishes to rule the world.  

    For these hobbits, the journey they must partake in is not one of excitement or joy, it is one that holds fear and uncertainty. Their journey is one of necessity. They have no desire for honor, glory, or heroism. They are simply doing what they must to survive. Frodo is especially burdened on this quest, as the carrier of the ring its protection and well being falls onto him. He must keep it safe while also fighting its influence on his mind, but because he has no desire for power, he is able to resist.

    All of this to say, I think the moral of this story is, often the ones who are most fit to carry the burden of power are the ones who do not want it. This is an unfortunate reality, but a true one. Anyone who wishes to go on a journey of power is most likely trying to get some semblance of power out of it. Those who have no desire for the power, simply are the most qualified to partake in the journey, are the most likely to succeed. They do no wish to steal the power for themselves nor revel in the glory that is to come, their intentions are purer. Often the most important journeys we can take in our lives are journeys that we do not wish to go on or journeys that we know will cause us to struggle, to buckle, to fight. It is important to keep this in mind, to know to stay humble with the power you are given, and to embrace the uncertainty of a difficult journey that may face you.

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