Why does Aragorn let Frodo go?

[juhsstin]

Im sure this has been addressed in a previous thread, but i'm not sure what to type in for a search to locate such a thread.

at the end of FOTR, why does Aragorn let Frodo and Sam go alone in their journey to Mordor? surely he can't think they have a better chance at surviving by going without his protection. perhaps he mistrusts his own abillity to resist the lure of the ring, but he showed that he was more resilient in this respect than Boromir, at least. and it seems to me that if anyone would have been most capable of escorting Frodo to Mount Doom, it would have been Aragorn with the help of Gimli and Legolas. I know that ultimately things worked out for the best, but I have a difficult time seeing how Aragorn can come to such a decision in that given moment. any input/comments?

[Boromir88]

Frodo had to go (alone if must be, but I think it's best that Sam would go along with him) to have hopes of destroying the Ring. There are a few reasons why:

First, Aragorn's task was different then Frodo's. Frodo was going to destroy the Ring. Aragorn's duty was to reclaim the throne of Gondor. Also, Gandalf was using him (and aid from the Elves, Rohan...etc) to strike up a war with Sauron to keep Sauron focused on them and not on Frodo. The whole point of the war (and sadly Legolas is right in this) was a diversion, to distract Sauron from finding out about Frodo and Sam. So, Aragorn's path, to reclaim the throne and help Gandalf strike up this war was different then Frodo's.

Secondly, Frodo would be put in great danger if Aragorn went with him. Aragorn is the heir of Isildur, and surely having the heir of Isildur march into Mordor would cause much more focus on Frodo and the Ring, instead of two little hobbits that are seen as "mere spies." But, having Aragorn follow Frodo into Mordor would be far too dangerous for Frodo, because sure this would attract Sauron's attention. When Aragorn uses the Palantir Sauron already fears that Aragorn has the Ring. It would be far too disastrous to have Aragorn go with Frodo, just like if Gandalf was to go all the way to Mount Doom with Frodo.

The main weapon the Free Peoples had against Sauron was secrecy, they had to keep their true purpose hidden, which was to destroy the Ring. Aragorn's path to reclaim the throne was different, also, it wouldn't be so secret anymore if Sauron spots Isildur's heir waltzing into Mordor. Hopefully, that helps, welcome to the downs.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

You bring up an interesting point here. In the book
Aragorn intended to go with Frodo (considering
also including Gimli) and it was Frodo's decision to
leave. But PJ apparently wanted a direct confrontation
(presumably for his "story arc" of Aragorn) which
unfortunately again lessened the gravitas of
movie Frodo to a passive person reacting to
others.

[Essex]

Originally Posted by Tuor in Gondolin

You bring up an interesting point here. In the book Aragorn intended to go with Frodo (considering also including Gimli) and it was Frodo's decision to leave. But PJ apparently wanted a direct confrontation presumably for his "story arc" of Aragorn) which unfortunately again lessened the gravitas of movie Frodo to a passive person reacting to others.

that's unfair on PJ's Frodo. He had already decided what to do before Aragorn turned up. Aragorn did not force him or cajole him to go to mordor. he just told frodo that he would have followed him but could not. It was Frodo's decision to leave ON HIS OWN EVEN WITHOUT SAM as in the book. What's more movie Frodo also warned merry and pippin not to follow him. SO HE IS NOT BEING PASSIVE.

I have always struggled with book Aragorn's decision to leave frodo and sam just to follow merry and pippin. The film actually gives aragorn a reason for NOT following frodo, and I think this works quite well.

[Elu Ancalime]

I would think, that although it being unsaid, it would be implied. Aragorn was protecting Frodo by not going with him. It would only be a matter of time that the Ring would beckon to him, and since he is a man, like Borommir, he might be influenced the first chance he was alone with Frodo. So really, in the movie he may be seen as 'leaving the fellowship' or 'letting frodo go', i think the book idea is he was doing what was best for the ringbearer, as all of them should have been doing whether they did it or not. Although he intended to follow frodo to mordor, when frodo wanted to go alone, he realized his doom to follow the ringbearer, just the few of them, and understood frodos descision for why he had to leave. (As given a great example by boromir)
________
Yamaha G-245S History

[juhsstin]

even realizing the dangerous possibility of succumbing to and trying to seize the ring, Aragorn would still need to weigh this possibility against the possibility of Frodo and Sam not being able to get through Mordor to Mt. Doom. I do believe that stealth is a foregone conclusion in determining the method for delivering the ring. Would Aragorn not have been a valuable asset with his skills as a ranger in achieving these goals? The destruction of the ring is, after all, the ultimate goal upon which the entire fate of Middle Earth hinged. It doesn't matter what else happens: as long as the ring is destroyed, humanity would survive. Surely Aragorn must realize this, and to conclude that Frodo had a better chance on his own is something not easily arrived at IMHO... maybe I am just underestimating his powers of strategyand foresight. <shrug>

[Farael]

It was Isidur himself, Aragon's great great grand father (maybe add a couple extra "great" in there) the one who could have destroyed the ring yet did not. It's not so easy to assume that Aragon would be able to let Frodo go.
And as someone said on another topic. What if Aragon had carried the ring? well, for once, if he reacted like Frodo and claimed the ring for himself, Gollum would have NEVER been able to bite the ring off... so maybe knowing that if he followed Frodo the ring would have most likely never been destroyed anyway, he let them go.

That's my take on it, anyway... he realized that he would have been just as dangerous as he could be useful.

[Elu Ancalime]

I think what everybody is saying is that he protected Frodo by not following him. A great warrior knowledgable of the Rings power, with the Ring itself, and only two hobbits between him. If he was tempted (which he would have been of course) he would have to make almost no effort to get to it. The movie of FotR made quite cleal anybody and everybody in the Rings 'area' would be tempted, more or less by who they were. Remember the scene at the Council of Elrond when he first reveals the Ring as Isildurs Bane? Where it goes into that twiglight moment that frodo feels when he wants to put the ring on? Everyone, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, probably anybody who looked at the Ring, dipped into a moment like sam when he thought he could turn gorgoroth into a garden with it. Everyone for a momentthought of the great things they wanted to do with the Ring, and im sure along the way Aragorn would be wanting to 'carry the ring for frodo for a while.' Valient as he might be, nobody can resist the Ring, and he knew this, so he really protected Frodo. As far as the Ring staying out of other peoples fingers, it was probably good that the fellowship broke. That was seven less people for Frodo to worry about.
________
Amc straight-6 engine

[Boromir88]

Elu brings up some good points. Aragorn, by letting Frodo go would only be protecting him.

Now Tuor is right in saying that Aragorn contemplated following Frodo (I believe along with Sam and Gimli), but he still thought in unwise to send everyone with Frodo and that they needed to remain hidden.

There is no doubt Aragorn would have been a good asset to Frodo and Sam. With Aragorn in their company, there would be no reason for Gollum. Aragorn had tracked down Gollum all the way into the Dead Marshes, and I think he knew the terrain well enough to get them to Mordor. So, there would be no point for Gollum, which comes the big question, who would the Ring tempt?

The ring likes to set it's eyes on one person (though as Elu says the movies show it as tempting everyone within the proximity it seems). But, the Ring likes to go after one person. It first had Boromir, an easy target for the ring, and the Ring had no need to go after anyone else. Boromir was easy prey for it. When Boromir was gone, Gollum steps in, another easy prey and target for the Ring to go after. So, if we have Aragorn, Frodo, and Sam, who would the Ring go after and tempt? My guess would most likely be Aragorn, as there's no reason to tempt Frodo and Sam has proven to be too simple to what the Ring has to offer.

Though Aragorn already had a chance in Bree to take the Ring, being in Bree amongst a crowd of people and 4 Hobbits is much different then marching into Mordor with no one around and 2 Hobbits.

Also, I stick to my original answer in that Aragorn had other duties, he had another path that seperated from Frodo's. Aragorn had a different journey he had to take. His path was to be Gondor's King and strike up a war to distract Sauron from Frodo and Sam. Aragorn I doubt would be able to do this if he goes with Frodo and Sam. Plus, for the fact again this is Isildur's heir, and for sure would catch Sauron's attention if he spots Isildur's heir walking into Mordor. He finds the Hobbit's, but only sees them as harmless spies. So, it would only be a matter of time before he would spot Aragorn with them, and no doubt he wouldn't have seen Isildur's heir as a harmless spy.

[juhsstin]

Originally Posted by Farael

It was Isidur himself, Aragon's great great grand father (maybe add a couple extra "great" in there) the one who could have destroyed the ring yet did not.

actually i think there should be abuot 20 "great"s in there if memory from reading the appendix serves. lol

you all raise good points, I'm glad to have this extra input to help assuage my doubts over the plot of the movie.