The Meaning Of The Fellowship, Could It Be More Than Thought?

One of the strongest images in The Lord Of The Rings is The Fellowship. Before one tries to understand how this very important concept is represented it is important to know its meanings. Looking in the dictionary the word has given the meaning of a companionship or group that shares something together. J.R.R. Tolkien gave a deeper meaning to The Fellowship. He meant to symbolize the union of two or more of the characters of the book, a bound so strong to bring them to the point where they would die or live together. This situation reflects the fact the he lived through The First World War seeing many of those he knew falling in front of his eyes without being able to do anything about it. One of the best examples of The Fellowship is between Frodo and his loyal friend and gardener Sam. There are other examples of it is the bound between Pippin and Merry. A very special bond will emerge between Legolas and Gimli. This one is very important because there is a whole background that would suggest that they would never get along. Elves and dwarfs were friends before the Dark days but them were divided. That explains the great hatred that there is between Legolas and Gimli in the first book and movie.

In the movies many ways are used to represent the concept of The Fellowship. The soundtrack is one of the most evident and important examples. The track that everyone recognizes as the theme of the music is actually the representation of the presence of The Fellowship. It all starts when Frodo and Sam set out from the Shire, the first signs of the Fellowship are found there. In that part the music is only a plain instrument playing. With the time it will evolve to a whole orchestra playing, to represent the arrival of other members. The first to come are Merry and Pippin. They first just want to help Frodo to get to Bree, but will end up going on a quest they never even dreamed of, and fighting a war they before didn’t believe to be theirs. Soon Aragorn will add to the company, even if the quest hasn’t officially begun. After the Council of Elrond it is possible to hear the final and complete melody played by the whole orchestra, when The Fellowship is finally created and complete. Soon enough there will be the loss of Gandalf the Grey that will start the breaking of the Fellowship. The music heard after his death is very dramatic. This will serve as an introduction for the theme of The fellowship being repeated but not full anymore, for there is a member missing. Finally The Fellowship is found again in Frodo leaving for Mordor and Sam following him by any means possible. The same theme will represent the presence of the bound between Frodo and Sam, Pippin and Merry and Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn throughout The Two Towers.

I would love to know what you think about the ways of representing The fellowship throughout the movies. Please leave me comments and thought, for I will love to know other opinions. If you want my email is available, if you have any important things you would like to share with me. Thanks.

[ January 05, 2003: Message edited by: Arwen_RingBearer ]

[Gorwingel]

Are you meaning the meaning of the fellowship in the books or the movies? because if you are talking about the movies, shouldn't this be in the movies forum?

One thing that it represents is the coming together of many free races of Middle Earth for one purpose, to defeat the dark powers in the world (example Sauron) [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img]

[MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie]

I don't think Tolien meant to have the word 'fellowship' also mean a union of two or more characters. He meant what it is- the nine who set out to destroy the ring. What you are saying about a fellowship isn't really a fellowship. It's more of a bond. But then, it's another theme as Orual (I think) pointeded out. That theme is the inevitable change. It was a time of change in Middle Earth. The bond between elves and dwarves (Legolas and Gimli) is a change. There are many more, but I don't want to list them. Well, you wanted my opinion, and you got it. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]