Question: When the Fellowship are on the side of the mountain and arguing about which direction to take, Gandalf says "Let the ring bearer choose". Why does Gandalf say that? He knows that Frodo has enough on his plate, what with taking the ring all the way to Mordor, so why add to his problems by making Frodo decide the way to go?
synclavier
10th Aug 2010
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Answer: In the film, there is a flashback of Saruman discussing with Gandalf the dangers of Moria, principally, the event where the dwarves mined so far down into the mountain that they woke up the Balrog which then killed the dwarves including Balin, their leader. Gandalf knows this creature is still down there, so his decision to let Frodo make the call to continue over the mountain pass or to go under the mountain is his attempt to remove his bias from how to proceed.
12th Feb 2021
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Question: Why was Aragorn so reluctant to claim the throne? While in the novel he is proud to be destined to rule Gondor and Arnor.
Answer: Probably for multiple reasons. For the movie, having Aragorn struggle against his own desires and an inherited destiny makes for a more conflicted, intriguing, and three-dimensional character rather than the stereotypical power-obsessed trope. Being king is an immense responsibility and a heavy burden. Personal wants and freedom are sacrificed to serve others. Not every ruler craves power and oftentimes were born into an unwanted, pre-destined path. Aragorn was raised in Rivendell, unaware he was the heir, nor was he groomed to become king.
Answer: Aragorn knew that if he claimed the throne of Gondor, he would have to face Sauron and face the temptation of the ring, a temptation that his ancestor, Isildur, had failed under many years before and plunged the world into darkness. He bore the shame of that mistake and wasn't sure he could overcome it.
Answer: Because, like it or not, he's the leader of this quest. Gandalf is only a guide; Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas, and Gimli are Frodo's guardians, while the other three Hobbits are simply companions. Besides, Frodo's the one carrying the increasingly burdensome ring. If he thinks one path easier than another then that's his call.
Phixius ★