1. 2010
Humanities30
Erin Peck
[CONFUSION, FRUSTRATION
AND DIFFERENCES]
[Type the abstract of the documenthere.The abstractistypicallyashort summaryof the contentsof
the document.Type the abstract of the documenthere.The abstract istypicallyashortsummaryof the
contentsof the document.]

2. Erin Peck Humanities 2010-03-24
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In PeterJackson’sfilm, TheLord of theRings: Return of the King,he usesmanydifferent
characters to create and demonstrate hisideasof how individualsstruggle torestore honour and
certainty.These charactersshowthe viewerthatindividualsstruggledue tooutside forces,butalso
withinthemselves,agoodexampleof thiscontrollingideaisBoromir,whoconstantlystrugglesto
restore hishonourwithinhimself,andfromhisfather.Jacksonalsodemonstrateshow individuals
struggle torestore theirhonourandcertaintyusingthe hobbits,SamandFrodo,who we findcontinuing
theirjourneytoMount Doom,withthe “help”of Sméagol,todestroythe Ring. These three characters
showus the struggle betweenanindividual againstoutsideforces,whichcause themtostruggle against
themselvesaswell,inthe factthattheybecomesconfused,frustratedaswell aswithdifference
amongstand individual andthose aroundthem.
PeterJacksonalsousesSam and Frodo as strongexamplestodevelophisideasaboutindividuals
strugglingtorestore honourandcertainty.Frodoisundoubtedlythe maincharacterof the plot,buthe
isnot leftwithouthisbestfriend, Sam,whostayswith himthe entire quest,evenafterhe realizesthat
theyare goingto meettheircertaindeath. Frodo’smainstruggle isagainstthe Ringandhow ittriesto
take overand control hismind. Sam strugglestohangon to hisinternal honourandstaywithFrodo,
protectinghishonourandcertaintyas well. Sam’sinternal honourwill be restoredbyhisabilitytosave
Frodofrom the powerof the Ring. Once Frodoand Sam reachMordor, there isno certaintyanylonger.
Theyhave no ideawhethertheywillmake ithome alive ornot,buttheystill are willingtorisktheirlives
to protecttheirhonourfromwhichtheyhave encompassedsince receivingthisquesttodestroythe
Ringand save Middle Earth. Withthe helpof Sam he is able tofinishthe questbutnotwithoutmany
obstaclestryingtogetin the way. As the pair overcome obstaclestogether,theybothstruggle
individuallywithconfusion,frustration,anddifferences.

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Most of the confusionandfrustrationtheyare facedwithcomesfromone source, Sméagol,
whoagreedto leadSamand Frodo through Mordor to Mount Doomand is notwhat he appearsto be.
We are ledto thinkthat Sméagol ishonestandtrustworthy,unlike the otherside of him, Golem,but
that isnot the case,many times Sméagol triestoleadthe twothroughdangerand evenplotsagainst
them. Sméagol cansee that withoutSam, Frodowouldnotbe able to carry the weightof the Ring,and
that itspowerswouldcause Frodoto fail. SambecomesfrustratedwithFrodobecause itseemsthathe
isbeginningtotrustSméagol more thanSam. Duringmany casesof thishappening Sméagol hasdone
somethingtoframe Sam, whichmakeshimlooklike atraitorto the trio. Sméagol alsomanagesto
convince Frodoto believe thatSamisplottingagainst himandFrododemandsthatSam leave.Sam
knowsthat Sméagol islying,butstill walksawayfromFrodoconfusedbywhatto do.Afterthishappens,
and Sam discoversthe truth, he returnstoFrodo andexplainswhatreallyhappened. Frodoiswillingto
bringSam back so easilybecause he knowsthe powerof the Ringandthat Sméagol isinhisown
struggle againstthe powerof the Ringas well,because the Ringusedtobe hisand hisisstill pulledtoit.
As theymove closertoMount Doomand the originof the Ringit becomesheavierandpullsmore on
those that are underits power,whichfor Sméagol meansthathe beginstowantit back evenmore,and
he can see howweakitismakingFrodo,and how hard he is havingtostruggle withit.
Differencescause the twotostruggle as well,becauseSamwantsmore thananythingto help
Frodo,and helpcarry the load,buthe cannot.The powerof the Ringis toostrong and Frodoknowsthat
he needsSamto be free fromit,inorderto finishthe quest.Atone pointFrododoesconsidergi vingthe
Ringto Sam evenfora short while,buthe pullsbackbecause he knowsexactlywhatwill happen.Both
wouldfall underthe powerof the Ringandthe needforbothof them, alongwiththe mischievous
effortsfromSmeagol,woulddrive themapartand theywouldfail the quest. Frodohastocarry the load
inorder to hangonto the threadsof certaintyhe has inhis bestfriend.He needsSamtostayfree

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because he knowsthatSam will needtobe there inthe endto save himfrometernal darknessand
despair. Itishard for Sam to acceptthisbut he doesunderstandwhyhe cannothelpFrodo.
AnothercharacterwhichPeterJacksonusestoshow how individualsstruggle isBoromirwhois
inan ongoingefforttryingtoconvince hisfather,Denethor,thathe is a worthyandhonorable member
of the family,andthathe can take hisfather’splace ishe isto die.Boromir,whotriedtodo and good
thingto prove himself tohisfather,bybringingthe Ring, Sméagol,FrodoandSamto him, butendedup
losinghisbrotherFaramirin a battle againstthe Orcs. Thisdidnot helphissituationatall.Itonlycaused
hisfatherto disapprove of himevenmore;enoughforhisfathertobelieve thathisfamilyline wasover
and there wasabsolutelynohope foritto continue onwards.Againinthe Return of theKing, we find
that Gondoris goingto be attackedby Sauron’s Armyonce again andtheyare preparingforbattle.Itis
up to Denethortorallyupthe menof the city and getthemto defendit,butas the momentcomes
Denethor’sweakness prevailsandhe runsfor cover. Atthis pointDenethorhasdecidedthatall islost
and he is goingtodie so he setsup a pyre,for whichhe and Boromirwill bothburnon.It seemsthatall
hope isgone,and thatBoromir haslostin his struggle toregainhishonour,because Boromiriscaptured
by the guardsand placedon the pyre unconscious.
Like Sam andFrodo,Boromir struggleswithhonourandcertaintybecause of frustration,
confusionanddifferences. Hisfatherbeingthe maincause of all the lattertraitswhichleadhimtorisk
hislife,inordertoprotect himself,hishonourandhiscertainty. SamandFrodo appearto struggle
againstall evil,fromthe unrulyactsof Sméagol tothe powerof the Ring andeverythinginbetween.
PeterJacksonusesthese charactersto develophisideas aboutanindividual’sstruggletorestore honour
and certaintywithinthemselvesagainstoutside forces.