The Hardships of Life

    The book The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R Tolkien is about Frodo Baggins, a Hobbit, and his quest to destroy the Ring of Power. Hobbits are small, man-like creatures that inhabit Middle Earth. Frodo must go on journeys both big and small to save Middle Earth from the evil grips of Sauron, the Enemy. Frodo is accompanied by many companions that help him to complete his difficult task. Frodo felt like his journey was almost impossible, while Gandalf the Grey seemed to have an even bigger task. This illustrates that everyone has their own hardships in their lives.

    On page 281, when a Council meeting was taking place in the elven city of Rivendell, the author writes, “ ‘Some here will remember that many years ago I myself dared to pass the doors of the Necromancer in Dol Guldur, and secretly explored his ways, and found that our fears were true: he was none other than Sauron, our Enemy of old, at length taking strength and power again. Some, too, will remember also that Saruman dissuaded his us from open deeds against him, and for long we watch him only.’ ” Gandalf the Grey, a wizard, is very involved in the protection of Middle Earth. He is one of the leaders and and had a immense responsibility to protect the entire world. He had a lot at risk.

    Frodo is on a long, tiring journey. He too played a major role in the protection of Middle Earth. He had to bear the burden of transporting the Ring of Power to Mount Doom. The ring has an evil power that corrupts the use, making them go insane.
 He left everything he had once known by leaving the Shire to go on a seemingly impossible mission. On page 241 when the Ringwraiths had finally caught up to Frodo and his companions the author writes, “His enemies laughed at him with a harsh and chilling laughter. ‘Come back! Come back!’ they called. ‘To Mordor we will take you!’ ‘Go back!’ he whispered. ‘The Ring! The Ring!’ they cried with deadly voices; and immediately their leader urged his horse forward to the water, followed closely by two others. ‘By Elbereth and Lúthien the Fair,’ said Frodo with a last effrot, lifting up his sword, ‘you shall have neither the Ring nor me!’ ” Frodo had his own problems along his journey. Ringwraiths followed him and his company all over Middle Earth trying to return the Ring of Power to their master. Frodo’s journey was long and full of peril.

    Even though Gandalf seemed to have the utmost importance in the survival of Middle Earth, Frodo also played a key part. Both had very different responsibilities that brought along many problems. Gandalf had  more wide-spread difficulties while Frodo just had to worry about staying alive himself. However, both characters were struggling.  These varying problems show that all people have their own hardships in life no matter how different. Overall, everyone is struggling, no matter how large or seemingly small.