That jewel is the evenstar no? So it had nothing to do with Aragorn?

PTSD    Survivor's Guilt    Being so different from those around, even those you love and who love you
It's a mean cocktail to drink daily

A pretty good analysis. I would only add that at the end of the books, Frodo makes it clear that Sam is his heir legally and spiritually, being in a way who Frodo might have been if he hadn't borne the Ring. Sam of course eventually (it's strongly implied) follows Frodo to the Undying Lands after his wife dies, but he first has a long, full mortal life in Frodo's stead.

At 2:38 you show a scene from the movie where the four Hobbits sit together and acknowledge that only they will be able to understand what happened to them, and that they would forever be separated from those around them, the common people who care more about the size of a pumpkin, and could never understand the enormity of the sacrifices of the Hobbits at their table.  I do not think I have seen a more poignant representation of someone returning from War and realizing that they should not talk about it because those who did not experience lack the frame of reference to ever understand.

so he was basically like a war veteran suffering from PTSD

The ending of these movies are always so bittersweet. I love it, but I feel a slight emptiness after they end.

Okay I'm done geeking out for now. Peace out!

Oh no Frodo has PTSD

"how do you pick up the threads of an old life. how do you go on, when in your heart you begin to understand, there is no going back? there are some things that time cannot mend, some hurts that go too deep, that have taken hold."
Frodo

According to Royd Tolkien, the Undying Lands were welcome to all who could make the journey, but only those deemed worthy could make the journey alone.  All elves, by birthright, were deemed worthy, and is why Gimli was able to go with Legolas at the end.  And this is from Royd's mouth at a Book/Autograph signing a few years ago in Houston.

The changes in Frodo were more than just the terrible scars left on him by the ring. Before he left on his journey, he was like all the other Hobbits, very insular and interested in only his own little part of the world! It must have been a huge culture shock experiencing the rest of the peoples of middle earth. Like all people that must experience war, it is extremely hard to reintegrate.

Again I'd like to thank you all for your support, it truly means alot!

didn't Sam also had to leave middle earth for the undying lands after many years because he carried the ring very briefly?

Hi GeekZone! This is a great start, but I think you are missing a very big part of the reason Frodo is welcomed to Aman. In Rivendell, watching Frodo recuperate from the crossing of the fords, Gandalf sees Frodo on the path to becoming a being more of spirit than flesh. He thinks that Frodo "may become a glass filled with a clear light for eyes to see that can." And throughout the rest of the book, we see that Frodo does become that person, whose motivations and actions become ever more like that of an enlightened being (like an Elf or Maia) than a simple (if well-educated) Hobbit. This is partially his own character arc, and partially due to the Ring itself, which seems to be stripping away some of his mortal soul, and elevating his spirituality. This would appear to be a consequence of having borne the ring for anyone who resisted its evil and chose to work for good, as Bilbo and Sam (in the Appendices) are both given passage to Aman. So healing is only one part of the equation. The power of the Maiar (through Sauron) and its direct consequences on Frodo, Sam, and Bilbo would appear to be a responsibility that the Valar seek to redress.

At least Sam went to him some years later. So, that's nice.

You captured the sadness of the ending... Gimli and a few others traveled because of friendship... I always felt that traveling to the undyng lands was a type of death to this world...


The movie did well but the ending had so much they left out ...

Let's not forget the effects of the Ring on Bilbo.  It must have been very hard for Bilbo to pass on the responsibility of the
Ring's destruction to Frodo.  Not unlike one generation  passing on war to the next.  So whether it's Elf's, Man or Wizards in Middle Earth or in the real Earth, we never seem to learn.  But then there are the small acts of kindness and love the gives me courage.  Have and great day and follow your bliss!  Laurie Ann

Yes this story really helped me face my ptsd. In most stories people completely heal and seem unhindered by trauma. This made me feel alone and weak. In LOTR I found comfort that suffering from past events doesn’t make one weak or any less wonderful

I always thought out of all the characters of the Middle Earth lore, that Frodo was the most interesting. He didn’t have any magical powers (other than the ring),  or sword skills, or bravery. But he felt the most like a real person, unlike most of the other characters. You can feel his pain and what he’s going through, and that’s why he’s my favorite character. I’d always get too anxious when he wasn’t on screen for a long time because I wanted to see how his journey was affecting him internally.

Frodo is the representation of J.R.R Tolkien

I love Sam and he did a lot but everyone seems to forget what Frodo really went through.