The Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King
By: Jack • Essay • 873 Words • December 5, 2009 • 1,150 Views
Essay title: The Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King
“One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them. One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them."(8) Quite an interesting line for the trilogy of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. The trilogy of The Lord of the Rings is based in a struggle between good and evil, courage and friendship, not leaving the humanity behind. A world made by Tolkien, real enough to live not only in his mind, but also in ours. Middle Earth, a place ruled by elves, dwarves, and humans. A place where some creatures are not even noticed, which is best because they can keep their peace and innocence. A land of solitude and nostalgia, since the Rings of Power have been made, and Middle Earth is the key setting.
The story takes place when everyone except Frodo and Sam arrives at the kingdom of Gondor, and though the people of Gondor are amazed and frightened at first by the huge army of walking trees that accompany them, everyone smiles and accepts them when Gandalf and Aragorn reveal themselves. The brothers Denethor and Boromir, however, see that Aragorn brings knowledge from the North which will give their kingship over to Faramir, the true King, and so they secretly conspire against him.(58) And so later on, when the forces of Mordor arrive to attack Gondor, they successfully plot to have Aragorn positioned so he must face the Witch-King in single combat. The battle is too much for Aragorn, and just as he is about to die he is saved by Eowyn, a woman of Rohan who loves him, and Merry, who slays the Witch-king in single combat by using ancient hobbit-magic and so reveals himself to be the lost Thain of the Shire. Even as the forces of Mordor retreat, they are swept into the Sea by great ships brought by Faramir, the true Prince of Dol Amroth from the hidden city of Osgiliath further up the Great River.(188)
Meanwhile, Sam chases the tarantula back to the lair of Ungoliant, the Queen of Spiders, and after a tense argument about the nature of good and evil she finally reveals to Sam the cure for the spider's-venom which holds Frodo in thrall. Sam thanks Ungoliant for her mercy and wisdom and revives Frodo, and they set off into Mordor to find Gollum. "Oft help will come from the weak when the Wise are foolish," Gandalf once said, and sure enough all the spiders of Mordor are willing to help Frodo and Sam in their quest. Their course leads them to Mount Doom, where just as they arrive they find Gollum claiming the Ring for himself. The Dark Lord Sauron then becomes aware of them, and leaves the Dark Tower to come forth and destroy them; but just them Frodo and Sam rush Gollum and force him backwards into the Cracks of Doom. The Ring is destroyed, and without it Sauron is destroyed by the sunlight. Frodo and Sam leave the Mountain just in time to see the great armies of Aragorn and Faramir coming across the plains of Mordor to greet them.
Boromir and Denethor are driven away from