The Fellowship of the Ring Chapters 3 - 7
Over the next few days, Frodo begins to make preparations for permanently relocating away from the shire, while Gandalf stays behind to watch over him. They decide to make for Rivendell first, the domain of King Elrond of the elves, and then decide the best course for Mordor, which is the only place where the ring can be destroyed. As Frodo is finishing up his final arrangements, Gandalf is called away by some disturbing news to the south. He departs reluctantly but promises to return by Frodo’s 50th birthday which is when he hopes they will begin their journey to Rivendell. The birthday arrives but Gandalf does not. Frodo decides to leave the shire anyway and take up his new residence at Brandybuck. He is aided in the move by his friends, Merry, Pippin, and the ever-loyal Sam. They journey through the shire wilderness with much joviality, but trouble begins to brew as they begin noticing mysterious black riders. The hobbits hide from the black riders, who seem to smell for Frodo, and their presence makes Frodo want to put on the ring. Eventually, the hiding hobbits find refuge in the company of Gildor and his group of high elves. Samwise is particularly affected by the meeting, due to his long-held desire of seeing the elves. Gildor informs Frodo that he is aware of his burden, and warns him against the riders who are indeed creatures of their common enemy, Sauron. Gildor encourages Frodo to trust good friends with his burden and sympathizes with the fear Frodo experiences. He promises to pass on the word about Frodo to his other friends so that they may aid him in his journey.
Frodo, Sam, and Pippin receive help from the old farmer Maggot, whom Frodo had always feared as a young hobbit. Maggot realizes Frodo requires aid after a black rider comes asking after him. He helps Frodo and his friends get to the ferry to Buckland, where they are welcomed by warm baths that have been drawn by Merry. Frodo tries to work up the nerve to inform his friends that he intends to leave the shire, but they surprise him by revealing that they had known about Bilbo’s magical ring for ages, and had been aided by Sam. Frodo is delighted by his friends, and though he is reluctant to endanger their lives by taking them along on his dangerous journey, he remembers Gildor’s advice about trusting in good friends. They decide to set out the very next morning. The company of friends set out on their ponies the following day, and make for the old forest. The thick forest of trees has an ill reputation, and the hobbits regale one another by repeating the various horror stories that they had heard about travelers straying in the forest. The hobbits try their best to keep going on their selected path, but it becomes nearly impossible to follow, and eventually, it leads them astray.
The hobbits begin to experience drowsiness, and they begin to fall asleep one after the other, but Sam remains unaffected. He wakes Frodo up before he is taken away by a malicious spirit in the form of an Old Willow. Frodo and Sam attempt to fight the spirit when it swallows the sleeping Pippin and has Merry in his mouth. They are rescued by the appearance of the singing Tom Bombadil, who chides the Old Willow and causes it to release both Merry and Pippin. He introduces himself as a friend of Gildor, who had sent him word about Frodo. Tom Bombadil hosts the hobbits at his house along with the River-daughter spirit Goldberry, and the Hobbits find themselves singing rather than talking to the two spirits. Tom Bombadil tells them tales of their world, and the Hobbits begin to lose track of time. Tom finally reveals that he is the Eldest entity in the region, as he had existed there since before the coming of Sauron or the elves. Frodo is shocked to learn that the One ring holds no allure for Tom, and neither does it affect him in any way. He does not turn invisible with the ring and can see Frodo even when he is wearing the ring. The Hobbits take Tom’s leave after a short time of rest. He guides them to the right path and teaches them a song that they might sing if they ever required his help.
Analysis
Frodo sets out for Rivendell after his fiftieth birthday, without Gandalf who fails to return to the shire. In the following chapters, Tolkien develops the themes of friendship, loyalty, and camaraderie through the journey of the four hobbits. Frodo and his friends operate with a joyful and child-like abandon when indulging in the simple delights of life. These moments of domestic bliss serve as an effective counterpoint to the evil of Sauron, who seeks only power. Merry, Pippin, and Sam decide to aid Frodo in his dangerous quest out of sheer concern for his welfare, and not a desire for gain. Their revelation to Frodo of being “conspirators” is particularly moving, and demonstrates the goodness of Hobbits, who conspire to accompany their friend into danger for the sake of his welfare. The hobbits leave the comfort and safety of the shire for the sake of the greater good of the world. The appearance of the black riders in the shire foreshadows the perils that await the hobbits outside of the shire.
These beginning stages of the journey to Rivendell have a deep impact on Sam, who initially sets out with Frodo out of concern, and a desire to see the mysterious elves. This loyalty to Frodo deepens as they overcome new and unknown obstacles. Sam begins to see the greater objective of the journey after his encounter with the elves, who project a strange duality of all things, both happy and sad.
