Wrongly remembered. The blurry lines between film and book headcanon.

[Leaf]

After some time of absence on my part in the depths of the barrow downs and a re-watch and a re-read of the trilogy I'd like to return and discuss a minor thing. I find it interesting because, somehow, the film interpretation managed to color my reading of the book for quite some time on that detail. I would like to address something that I noticed while re-reading Fellowship. And I would love to hear your thoughts on this and if there are any similar things that you remember in favor of the film's interpretation. Im talking about the interaction between Frodo an Bilbo after they meet again at the party in Rivendell.

‘Have you got it here?’ he asked in a whisper. ‘I can’t help feeling curious, you know, after all I’ve heard. I should very much like just to peep at it again.’

‘Yes, I’ve got it,’ answered Frodo, feeling a strange reluctance. ‘It looks just the same as ever it did.’

‘Well, I should just like to see it for a moment,’ said Bilbo.

When he had dressed, Frodo found that while he slept the Ring had been hung about his neck on a new chain, light but strong. Slowly he drew it out. Bilbo put out his hand. But Frodo quickly drew back the Ring. To his distress and amazement he found that he was no longer looking at Bilbo; a shadow seemed to have fallen between them, and through it he found himself eyeing a little wrinkled creature with a hungry face and bony groping hands. He felt a desire to strike him. The music and singing round them seemed to falter, and a silence fell.

Bilbo looked quickly at Frodo’s face and passed his hand across his eyes. ‘I understand now,’ he said. ‘Put it away! I am sorry: sorry you have come in for this burden; sorry about everything. [...] Frodo hid the Ring away, and the shadow passed leaving hardly a shred of memory. The light and music of Rivendell was about him again. Bilbo smiled and laughed happily.

I always used to remember this passage in the way the according scene in fellowship plays out: Seeing the Ring again brings out the worst in Bilbo. He channels his inner Gollum, so to speak, which brings about a real physical change in the way he looks and he tries to take the Ring from Frodo. So, the focus of the attention is clearly on Bilbo and his desire for the Ring. The purpose of the scene is to show the audience that the Ring has terrible lasting effects for it's bearers.

Now I think that this is not what really happens. When I try to ignore evil-face film Bilbo, who manages to jump-scare Frodo and the audience alike, and focus on the way the passage is written, it is much more plausible to me that it really isn't about how much the Ring has changed Bilbo to this day, but about how it already changed Frodo in a horrible way: I would suggests that Frodo's vision of this little wrinkled creature is a Ring-induced hallucination or a change of Frodo's perspective, so to speak and not something that is happening to Bilbo in a physical sense.

Bilbo's undue insistance on seeing 'It' surely is caused by the aforementioned lasting effects of the Ring. He then 'puts out his hand'. But he actually doesn't try to grab it to take it away from Frodo like he does in the movie! At least the text doesn't say so. This is a much more passive affront. Yet it is still enough to trigger something inside of Frodo ('a shadow seemed to have fallen between them') that turns his beloved uncle into a 'little wrinkled creature with a hungry face and bony groping hands.' Up to a point where he even desires to strike him, simply because this little creature dared to demand to touch the Ring. This makes Bilbo's reaction harrowing: '‘I understand now,’ he said. ‘Put it away! I am sorry: sorry you have come in for this burden; sorry about everything.[...]' Upon seeing Frodo's reaction he is able to self-reflect back and understand where his own desires for the Ring came from and why it was so hard to depart from It when he left the shire. This makes Bilbo, understandibly, feel guilty and he apologizes to Frodo.

I understand why the movie interprets this text passage in the way it did. And it is a great scene! It is much harder to actually show how Frodo feels inside. Although they could have done something visual that indicates that we aren't looking at reality per se. Ultimately, the scene does get the broader point across, but loses some of the nuance, I think.