LOTR Read-Along: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Breaking of the Fellowship

As the story relays, the Fellowship's quest is coming to an end. Our band of diverse heroes have come to a crossroads of what to do with themselves. Do they continue on to Mordor or follow Boromir into Gondor, do they all go their own way? A difficult question after all that they've been through together. The decision is laid before Frodo. Only the Ring bearer can decide the fate of all of them now.

Frodo wanders off into the forest to contemplate all that has been put in front of him. However, he isn't alone. The Ring has begun to take a hold of Boromir. Something that has been slow coming and now the chance of losing the Ring of power and therefore, the possible downfall of his country and his people has become too much for Boromir to handle. Although a good man and a brave and noble man, Boromir desires the Ring for the power it can wield. Yet, power in the hands of the wrong person can only cause destruction. That is what Frodo fears for himself and his friend. 

When Boromir is denied the Ring, he becomes volatile and threatening. Frodo's only escape is to use the Ring to disappear. Only this time Frodo witnesses the true horrors of the Ring. He sees the war all across the West and Sauron's forces rallying to destroy everything within and beyond his reach. Like Galadriel's Mirror, the Ring has now given the Hobbit a glimpse of the absolute evil that has been growing for years. Frodo has made his decision. He will take the Ring to Mordor even if it means he must go by himself. 

The truly saddening fact about this chapter was seeing the undoing of Boromir. In spite of his desire to use the Ring for the protection of his country, it was still embedded in temptation. Boromir is not a bad person. On the contrary, he's a good man. An obedient son, loving older brother, powerful warrior, noble lord, a loyal friend and if given the opportunity, possibly a wonderful husband and father. All that he was and all that he still could have been was waylaid by the temptation of the Ring. 

If The Lord of the Rings proves anything it's that all temptation will eventually lead to ones self destruction. From the first temptation of the Forbidden Fruit in the Garden of Eden that brought the downfall of man, all of history has paid a price for the desire of selfish gain. Abraham's desire for a son that led him to disregard God's promise, Jacob's desire for Esau's birthright incited family calamity for years, David's desire for Bathsheba led to adultery, lying, murder and the death of his child. And for all that, there was still grace when the tempted hearts returned to God. Abraham did eventually get his promised son, Jacob and Esau reconciled, and David' household was restored. 

Boromir's story is not over. His story goes on, beyond his life. Boromir's desire for the Ring pushed Frodo to the realization that the Ring is too dangerous and deadly to remain in Middle-Earth. Of course, there are still going to be temptations, whether by the Ring or other powers of evil. Frodo knows it, the Fellowships knows it as well. Sauron and Sarumon are always watching and waiting, ready to devour anyone that comes across their path. And now one Hobbit carrying the Ring of power is within their sight and a former Fellowship of nine will splinter off and set in place what has been destined for all of them. 

Heidi's Questions:

• I have a big juicy thought running through my mind re Frodo crouching under the seat, fighting the power of the Eye, and the 'other point of power' that flashes to his mental aid etc., but I don't want to give away any delicious spoilers, so I'll exercise great self restraint and maybe we'll discuss it later. ;)

• As we're wrapping up this section do you have any concluding thoughts popping to mind regarding this chapter or The Fellowship as a whole?

- Frodo's determination to destroy the Ring. After everything he's been through, witnessing Gandalf's death, the temptation of Boromir, the absolute evil that Ring encompasses, he doesn't care if he's going alone. He's going to finish what he started and destroy what should have never been created in the first place.