Discover Arwen’s Overlooked Act of Kindness Towards Frodo in LOTR!

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In the extended versions of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, the run time nears four hours, yet it appears to overlook numerous charming details from J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels that could deepen fans’ affection for the characters. For instance, a heartfelt act by Arwen towards Frodo, often understated, is one such moment, even though it’s hinted at frequently.

In the movie version of “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” Arwen rides ahead with Frodo to Rivendel after he’s wounded by the Witch-King, an act not found in the book where Glorfindel saves Frodo instead. However, Arwen does play a crucial role in saving Frodo in a deeper sense at the end of the story. The films suggest this, though they are more subtle about it; the book provides a more detailed and emotional explanation of Arwen’s compassionate act towards the Ringbearer.

Arwen’s Kind Gesture for Frodo Isn’t Talked About Enough

A poignant yet sweet moment from “The Lord of the Rings,” particularly in “The Return of the King,” is when Frodo embarks on a ship to the Undying Lands, accompanied by Bilbo, Gandalf, Galadriel, and Celeborn. As Sam, Pippin, and Merry weep, it becomes clear that Frodo has taken Arwen’s place on the ship. However, one might wonder how this was possible…

In the world of Middle-earth, as the daughter of Elrond Halfelven, Arwen Undómiel and her siblings were presented with a significant decision: they could opt for immortality, leaving Middle-earth after their lives here ended to travel to Valinor, the eternal lands from which their kind originated. Alternatively, they could choose mortal life and spend their remaining days on Middle-earth before passing away. When Arwen fell in love with Aragorn, she made her choice – much like Lúthien, an ancestor of Aragorn’s, who also loved a mortal, Beren, son of Barahir. Embracing the same fate, Arwen relinquished the eternal life granted to the Eldar and chose a mortal existence. However, by not taking her place on the ship to Valinor, someone else could have taken it instead. And with this understanding, she graciously offered her place on the ship to Frodo.

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s book “The Return of the King,” during the chapter titled “Many Farewells,” after King Elessar’s coronation, the hobbits are bestowed with numerous titles, accolades, and presents. Queen Arwen extends a unique gift to Frodo, the Ringbearer. She discloses that she won’t be departing with her father for the Havens, but if he decides to, Frodo could go in her place instead.

Should the weight of sorrow and pain persist within you, and the echoes of your hardships linger, then perhaps it’s time for a journey towards the West. There, in tranquil solitude, you may find solace to mend your heartaches and regain your strength.

Furthermore, Arwen didn’t just offer something to Frodo; she also bestowed upon him a “shimmering gem, resembling a star, nestled on a silver chain around her neck.” She explained that this gem could serve as a comfort for Frodo whenever he felt overwhelmed by the darkness and fear he experienced, acting as a symbol of hope. Interestingly enough, this gem bears similarities to the Evenstar necklace Arwen wears in the movies, as she encouraged Frodo to wear it as a remembrance of “Elessar [Elfstone] and Evenstar, whose lives were intertwined with his own!

Arwen Understood That Frodo Was Never Going To Be Completely Healed

Indeed, Arwen couldn’t let Frodo pass to Valinor, as it is only the Valar who bestow and take away that privilege. Yet, she had the ability to perceive Frodo’s struggle and recognized that he wouldn’t find complete healing in Middle-earth. Instead of denying him entry, she chose to show compassion, a trait valued and acknowledged by the Valar, a pattern frequently observed in Tolkien’s stories.

In “The Return of the King” movie, Frodo appears to be in pain on the anniversary of his wounding at Weathertop. However, in the book, his suffering is much more profound. In the story, Frodo falls ill twice a year: on the anniversaries of his injury at Weathertop in October and his poisoning by Shelob in March. As he travels back to The Shire, a year after the Weathertop incident, he tells Gandalf, “The wound still hurts, and the weight of darkness remains heavy upon me.” A year later, Sam finds Frodo ill and seeming to gaze into the distance, muttering, “I am wounded; it will never truly heal.

I am wounded with knife, sting, and tooth, and a long burden. Where shall I find rest?

It’s possible that Arwen empathized with Frodo due to a shared hardship experienced by her mother, Celebrían. Prior to the events in The Lord of the Rings, Celebrían, Elrond’s wife, was on her way from Rivendell to Lórien to meet her parents, Galadriel and Celeborn. However, she was ambushed by a group of Orcs in the Misty Mountains, who captured and tormented her until her sons, Elladan and Elrohir, intervened. Despite Elrond’s efforts to heal her grave injury, Celebrían struggled to find happiness or tranquility in Middle-earth after that, choosing instead to depart for the Undying Lands prematurely. In this way, Arwen may have wanted to provide Frodo with the same solace that her mother was granted.

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2025-05-28 23:08