📖👀 Book II Chapter 10 "The Breaking of the Fellowship"

[Rivendell_librarian]

The Company draw up their boats at the foot of Amon Hen on the west side of the river under the shadow of the rock pillar, Tol Brandir. Aragorn calls them together to try to come to a decision that has been put off - west to Gondor or east to Mordor. No one wants to commit so Aragorn passes the buck to Frodo (was this a failure of leadership?). Frodo wants time to think on his own and Boromir sees his chance to persuade Frodo to his thinking and if necessary take the Ring by force.

There follows a long conversation in a style similar to the ones between Gandalf and first Bilbo and then Frodo about the Ring. But this time Frodo takes on the role of wise Gandalf. Rauros roars in the background. Frodo evades Boromir by putting on the Ring and climbs to the high seat of Amon Hen where he has a clear view of Mordor (and vice versa!). Frodo sees visions of war to come. The Eye of Sauron becomes aware of him. Frodo hears a voice urging him to take the Ring off (Gandalf?) and he becomes aware of the real world of blue sky and birdsong. Frodo resolves to go it alone to Mordor.

In Frodo's (and Boromir's) absence the rest of the Company seem to favour going west but also to follow the Ringbearer. Boromir returns but is furtive. There is a sense of panic about Frodo's absence (some malign influence at work?). Aragorn urged to search in pairs but is ignored; then persuades Sam to come with him. Sam can't keep up and suddenly realises Frodo will take a boat and cross to the east side of the river. Frodo rescues a desperate Sam from drowning and gathering their packs they cross to the east side of the river and the road to Mordor. What happens to the rest of the Company is left until the next part - dun dun duhhh.

 

[banakil]

The Ring is mentally magnetic: repelling certain characters and attracting others.

Opposites attract, and likes repel.

The Ring attracted the Fellowship together in Rivendell, and that attraction held all the way to Amon Hen.

When Boromir wanted to hold the Ring, Boromir's mental energy was the same as Frodo also wanting to hold the Ring. The result: Frodo instinctively repels.

Samwise had the appropriate bonding energy for Frodo at the repelling of the Fellowship and the attracting of the Partnership.

That Partnership energy remains consistent until a new force encircles the Partnership: Smeagol simultaneously repels and attracts himself as Gollum. He is a strangely neutralized force.

 

[Muskrat]

Not many vignettes. This chapter is all plot. But I still remember Boromir’s regret and Frodo’s vision on Amon Hen. Would Frodo feel like Boromir if Gollum had retained his footing?