LOTR: Frodo Carried The Greatest Burden Of The Story, But Does That Make Him The Hero?

gamerant.com:

Nearly all fantasy stories contain a hero’s journey in which a character must rise to the occasion and go on a journey to prove themselves, while also transforming who they are as they go. While in a way, every member of the fellowship in the Lord of the Rings endured a hero’s journey of their own, the level of success that each of them achieved on that journey varied from character to character.

Most people associate the word “hero” with the fantastical characters in the Marvel or DC universes, but, by definition, a hero is someone who is widely admired for their noble qualities. In other words, it is a character’s actions that measure their value as a hero, not the grandness of their abilities.

LOTR: This Extended Scene Completely Changes Boromir's Character

One essential quality of a hero that makes them stand out against other admirable characters is the ability to put the needs of others before their own. A true hero does not aim to be in the spotlight, but only to work towards doing good to help others. While there are many instances in the Lord of the Rings where Frodo stepped up to help when others would not or could not, there were also many times when he buckled under the pressure of the task and the influence of darkness.

Frodo, being the protagonist, is who most audience members would peg as the hero of the story, but he was actually more sort of coached by the hero. The one constant force in Frodo’s journey that pushed him and supported him until the very end was his best friend, Samwise Gamgee.

While any Lord of the Rings fan appreciates Sam’s unending loyalty and commitment to helping his friend through his greatest trial, his heroic traits span far beyond just his friendship with Frodo. From his unmatched