What is the connection between Frodo and his Starglass...

[Idril Celebrindal]

After Frodo is pierced by a Morgul-blade and is recovering in Rivendell, Gandalf, seeing him in bed and noticing a transparency about him, thinks "He may become like a glass filled with a clear light for eyes to see that can". This basically describes the phial that Galadriel gives to Frodo in Lorien which essentially contains the light of Laurelin and Telperion and shines brighter as things get darker (just as Frodo grows mentally stronger as he nears Mordor). Do you think that there is some kind of connection between Frodo's "soul" or "fëa" and the Starglass, or is this similarity of description merely a coincidence? It certainly seemed to have some connection with Frodo when Shealob attacks, but the it does the same with Sam, although not as strongly.

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

I don't think Frodo grew stronger mentally as he neared Mordor but again, it's been such a long time since I've read the books. Is there any quote to indicate such?

 

[Idril Celebrindal]

There is no direct quote to state this (as far as I know), but as Frodo drew nearer to Mordor the power of the Ring grew (in the end it was the only thing he could think about and see, and he nearly attacked Sam when he asked to carry it for him). I don't think that this was simply due to prolonged contact with the Ring, because Bilbo had it and carried it around with him for over 50 years and it's power over him never grew as severe as Frodo's in the final days before the end of the Third Age. But back in the Shire Frodo succumbed to the temptation of the Ring on Amon Sul and seemed to have a weaker resistance to it in general, nearly putting it on a few times (true, he was under the influence of a Nazgul then, but a lot of Nazgul flew over him as he neared Mordor and again commanded him to put it on, but he was able to resist (the stairs of Cirith Ungol, book four). So if the temptation of the Ring grew stronger as he neared Mordor, Frodo's will to resist it must have alo improved.

 

[Eljorahir]

Do you think that there is some kind of connection between Frodo's "soul" or "fëa" and the Starglass, or is this similarity of description merely a coincidence?

Maybe the Starglass makes a connection with the Fea of its possessor and provides (sort of) a Fea Energy boost.

"He may become like a glass filled with a clear light for eyes to see that can"

I'm finding this line a real puzzler. Is Gandalf guessing about the "Fate of Men" and wondering what the afterlife is like for Frodo and all mortals? (If I'm not mistaken, this knowledge is even beyond the Valar and the Maiar.) That's my best guess even though it doesn't seem to flow very well from Gandalf's other thoughts in the moment.

The "glass filled with a clear light" reminds me of a quote made by another famous wizard...

 

[Idril Celebrindal]

Hmm... I think that Gandalf was reffering to the appearance of Frodo in the world of spiritual things (not sure what that's caled on Arda). For instance, the Nazgul appear like creepy kings in it but Glorfindle shines brightly (Frodo sees this when still injured by the Morgul-blade, as he is then on the threshold of both worlds). So maybe the "glass filled with clear light" was what Gandalf thought Frodo would look like in this world?