Why did Frodo have to leave Middle Earth? and other questions

Between the books and the movies... I took whatever I thought was funniest as canon.

[jacobgriffiths]

Basically he had ptsd and couldn't return to his normal life.

[parkerlovett]

The more I learn about Lord of the rings, the more I feel like I know nothing

[ToomanyFrancis]

My favorite thing about Tolkien's work is that he approached everything as if he were a Middle Earth historian. He was not the creator of Middle Earth, he just simply told us everything he knew about it.

[shamrock]

I always took The weird scene where everyone was laughing hysterical in that one room together is they all finally freaked out about how insane it was that they actually survived all the freakish things that took place.

[Largebutnotincharge]

Guys just These movies were made in a time where CGI and animations were still kind of making their way into the big And it still looks better than half the movies released the past few years with all the technology and everything. This trilogy will forever be great

[dennisvance]

Frodo left Middle Earth for tax reasons on advice from his Elvish accountant,

[TeriyakiTakeout]

“Did you know that in ancient Roman culture it was okay too...”

Alright, keep your secrets.

[classics]

I feel like Frodo chose to leave for two reasons.

1) It’s heavily implied that his wounds inflicted by the Witch-king and Shelob could never be healed in Middle-earth and he would soon die from them. The fact that he was severely ill on the anniversaries of both these incidents (in the book) indicates that this was a pattern that, if he stayed in the Shire, would only get worse and worse until it would finally kill him within a few short years. Tol Eressëa, an island off the coast of Valinor where a mortal could safely reside, was the only place where he could find a lifesaving cure and heal. He could’ve chosen to stay, but if he had, he would’ve died after a short period, and his loved ones would’ve had to bury him. An ordeal he didn’t want to put them through.

2) Also, as Frodo says, Sam would be “torn in two” between Frodo and his family for as long as Frodo stayed in his life. In the book, Sam himself says more than once that he feels this way. Frodo didn’t want Sam to keep on giving up his own life to nurse him and take care of him. He wanted Sam to be able to give himself fully to Rosie and their children, and take care of the Shire like he wanted (which he eventually did by being Mayor of the Shire and serving as one of Aragorn’s Counsellors, alongside Merry and Pippin, for many decades.)

[tyvischjager]

So glad to have existed the same time as LOTR.

[peterbear]

Short answer: he didn't 'have' to leave, he was given the very great gift of being allowed to leave. Elves, in Tolkien's canon, are immortal unless killed by violence. They don't die of old age. But they can choose to leave the mortal world and go to a sort of 'afterlife' without having to die first. For Frodo and Bilbo to be offered this gift is the greatest possible honor, and one they both chose to accept.

[shaq]

Better question : why is this in my Recommendation after 5 years?

[orchadetrm]

Fun fact: When Sam says "We shouldn't be here..." in the Twin Towers he's technically right because they never go to Osgiliath in the novel.

[driftwood]

Keep in mind that Frodo possessed the ring for 13 months, while Sauron was actively looking for it. It consumed alot of him

[Danster]

Frodo had to leave because he had leveled up and it would be uncomfortable to live around lower level players.

[Howlingburd]

You can tell just how much heart and effort was put into this trilogy. “We had no interest in putting our messages into this movie. But we thought we should honor Tolkien by putting his message into It”
-Peter Jackson, 2002

And this trilogy is still a masterpiece in 2024 :)

[SlippinPesty]

Personally, I like how when he wakes up they all just laugh, I think them all bursting into laughter together helps amplify the fact that a mere hobbit actually succeeded at saving the world, and against all odds the fellowship has been reunited. It felt like how real friends would treat the situation. And then you get the cherry on top with the whole “you bow to no one” line, it felt like a great ending

[Phyyte]

In regards to the "odd" scene when Frodo wakes up and sees Gandalf, he doesn't know Gandalf has returned. He thought he died in the mines of Moria!
It fits perfect:D

[dimonwhite]

He was moving because of Aragorn’s
tax policy

[Gaby]

I've always thought that Frodo chose to leave rather than having to. He was emotionally, mentally and physically wasted...the quest did cost his life, and he understood that after some time, so I think it was amazing that the elves recognized his sacrifice and took him with them to Valinor to be at peace.

[elduquecaradura]

Bilbo is surprisingly someome worthy of recognition, he had the ring during 60 years, and barely fallen under his control, Smeagol fell completely and got corrupted, but Bilbo was even capable of leaving it behind with the advice of Gandalf. Again, a misseen achievement.