Surprisingly, this one's serious

[FrodoFriend]

I always thought that Frodo, Sam, and Gollum's journey to Mordor was a spiritual journey more than anything else. The lands they pass through are really just background for what's actually going on: the interplay between the three characters. The contrast between Frodo's two servants is remarkable. One loving and loyal, one full of hate and treacherous. It's almost as if they are two halves of himself: one a slave to the Ring, and the other just a hobbit from the Shire. As a matter of fact, after he is stung by Shelob, Frodo as a character becomes much less prevalent throughout the story; Sam pretty much takes over the narration, with Gollum tagging along behind. When Gollum and the Ring are destroyed, the Gollum-like part of Frodo dies as well, leaving him "wounded." Here's the dilemma: Is something beautiful even more beautiful if it is flawed with evil? In The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo is just an ordinary hobbit, more or less, but as the journey continues and the Ring gets a hold on him he becomes "beautiful", "elvish", with a "clear light" shining through him. His nobility and beauty as a person are enhanced by the evil of the Ring in him. And when the Ring is gone, "much that is fair" leaves Middle Earth, and Frodo is left quiet and, well, washed out. So was it worth it? Would it be better to have Sauron and Orcs but also have Elves and Hobbits and Ents?

Any insights/thoughts on this?