Ben Faxon
Final Essay Memo Revision/Close Reading
When Frodo was given the One Ring and the mission of destroying the powerful object in the beginning of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, he believed he would only face the danger of outside attack from evil creatures or Sauron’s soldiers. What he, and other characters that possessed the ring did not realise was the corruption and loss of morals that the ring inflicted on those who used it. Characters such as Boromir, Gollum, and Denethor, who committed unethical acts for the ring, may have truly been good people but were corrupted by the idea of power, therefore showing a relationship to the idea of “survive at any price” present in totalitarian societies. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s The Gulag Archipelago discusses this further, and connects it with the idea that “only material results matter.” The promise of power and the fear of death caused many in the Soviet Union to ignore the few who spoke out against the regime. The idea of “survival at any price” and corruption in those who want power is still in today’s society, shown in the large companies where the owners have prestige but the common employees are suffering.
Close Reading Draft
At the end of the first book, the fellowship of the ring are trying to decide where to travel to next. After being unable to decide between two options, the fellowship decides to let Frodo make the decision since he is the one with the ring. He goes on a walk alone to contemplate the two options. While Frodo is resting, Tolkien states that “a strange feeling came to him(Frodo) that something was behind him, that unfriendly eyes were upon him. He sprang up and turned; but all that he saw to his surprise was Boromir, and his face was smiling and kind” (397). This is the first showing of the change in Boromir after witnessing the power of the ring for so long. Boromir, while his heart is pure, was momentarily corrupted by the ring and the power that it promised at this point in the story. He then tells Frodo that he happened to him by chance and Frodo looks like he needed someone to talk to. This is a lie, and Boromir uses it to benefit his own plan. In The Gulag Archipelago, Solzhenitsyn states that “even within hearts overwhelmed by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained. And even in the best of all hearts, there remains… an unuprooted small corner of evil” (312). This is shown with Boromir, who worked with the fellowship to protect and eventually destroy the One Ring. Once Boromir sees the evil that is after them for possession of the ring, his “small corner of evil” shows and he goes to Frodo alone to take the ring for himself.
After Frodo agrees to listen to Boromir’s advice, Frodo tells Boromir that they do not stand a chance against Sauron’s forces while the ring is still functional. When Frodo mentions the ring, Boromir becomes happier and gets a strange look in his eyes that Frodo notices. Boromir then asks if they can use the ring against Sauron. Frodo answers “were you not at the Council?… Because we cannot use it, and what is done with it turns to evil” (398). The statement makes Boromir visibly upset, and he tries to justify ring use just as a way of defense. The promise of power is also shown, with Boromir saying that, with the ring, all armies would join under his command. He tries to pass this off as having a strong enough army to defeat Sauron, but it is really just a way for him to gain control. Towards the end of Part Five of Solzhenitsyn’s book, he states “But the sparks of the spirit cannot be kept from spreading, breaking through to each other. Like recognizes and is gathered to like in a matter none can explain” (360). This is shown through Boromir, who’s “sparks” and dreams of power are spreading all across his body. He has almost reached the point where he will do whatever it takes to get the ring, but wants Frodo to give it to him.
Hearing Boromir’s reaction to the belief that the ring and everything creates is evil, Frodo decides that they will not go where Boromir wants and continue their quest to destroy the ring. This makes Boromir angry, and he states “I am a true man, neither thief nor tracker. I need your ring: that you know now; but I give you my word that I do not desire to keep it. Will you not at least let me make trial of my plan? Lend me the ring” (399). At this point, Boromir comes out and states his demand for the ring. He says that he does not desire to keep it, but in reality would not be able to give up the power it results in. In The Gulag Archipelago, Solzhenitsyn states that “But simply to survive does not yet mean at any price. At any price means at the price of someone else” (302). This is shown through Boromir’s actions, where he will take the ring for his own power but doom the rest of the fellowship to the wrath of the evil forces who would not be around if the ring was destroyed.
Frodo refuses to give the ring to Boromir, which causes him to lash out in an act to seize it. Tolkien states that “suddenly he(Boromir) sprang over the stone and leaped at Frodo. His fair and pleasant face was hideously changed; a raging fire was in his eyes” (399). This shows the brief moment of insanity that takes over Boromir, and his desire for the ring overpowers his “good heart.” He is willing to attack his friend and do whatever it takes for the ring. Shoshana Zuboff, author of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, states that “to command populations right down to their souls requires unimaginable effort, which was one reason why totalitarianism was unimaginable. It requires henchmen, and their henchmen, and their henchmen, all willing to roll up both sleeves and thrust both hands into the blood and shit of actual living persons whose bodies stink and sweat and cry out in terror, grief, and pain” (359). This shows the relationship between totalitarian regimes and ownership of the One Ring. The ring will always be on top, and those who possess the ring are the henchmen who would do anything for the power the ring has. Boromir attacks Frodo for the ring, willing to throw away their history for the promised power and does not care what he leaves behind. His moment of insanity represents his brief total loyalty to the ring and the power that he sees with its ownership.