Archetypal Heroes In The Fellowship Of The Ring And The Star Wars

Moreover, both Frodo Baggins and Luke Skywalker, the archetypal heroes in The Fellowship of the Ring and the Star Wars trilogy, demonstrate the heroic quality of determination with Frodo when he finds his seed of courage then when he endures the wound of the Morgul blade and when he fights against those who underestimate him, and Luke shows determination when he trains with Obi Wan and then when he trains with Yoda and most importantly when Yoda dies. When Frodo finds the seed of courage within himself and when Luke trains with Obi Wan, the archetypal heroes exhibit their heroic characteristic of determination. Finding the seed of courage within himself, Frodo is able to exhibit the hero that is inside of him when fighting in the Barrow Downs
against Barrow - wights while the ring tempts him, Frodo demonstrates his determination. Frodo finds that There is a seed of courage hidden (often deeply, it is true) in the heart of the fattest and most timid hobbit, waiting for some final and desperate danger to make it grow. Frodo was neither very fat nor very timid; indeed, though he did not know it, Bilbo (and Gandalf ) had thought him the best hobbit in the Shire. He thought he had come to the end of his adventure, and a terrible end, but the thought hardened him. He found himself stiffening, as if for a final spring; he no longer felt limp like a helpless prey. (Tolkien 183).
Instead of falling into temptation by the ring’s power and running from the intimidating, obsequious creatures, Frodo takes action fighting back against the nonpareil seeming creatures. Standing up to protect his companions, Frodo takes a stand to fight against the evil that is up against him eternally and internally showing his heroic characteristic of determination. Likewise, Luke during his training on the Millennium Falcon never gives up trying to learn how to use the force. Having a difficult time with the seeker as it blasts him, Luke does not give and finally with enough effort“The seeker makes a dive at Luke and, incredibly, he managed to deflect the bolt. The ball ceases fire and moves back to its original position” (Lucas New 48). Despite his prior failures and the condescending attitude of the incredulous Han, Luke continues even when he is failing showing the determination that he has. By having their protagonists push onwards despite the hardships against them, Tolkien and Lucas have their heroes face many trials and tribulations and to move onwards on the hero’s path then the heroes have to be determined.
Moreover, Frodo and Luke also demonstrate determination when Frodo goes on despite of his wound and when Luke wants to train with Yoda. Although he is struck by the Morgul blade, a poisonous blade that shows no mercy to its victims almost a malediction, by the Lord of the Ringwraiths on Weathertop, Frodo goes onwards in his journey. Others seem surprised by Frodo’s endurance, Gandalf even a bit baffled, stressing “’I have known strong warriors of the Big People who would quickly have been overcome by that splinter, which you bore for seventeen days.’” (Tolkien 289). Because of his determination and strength, Frodo is able to overcome the power of the malefic, poisonous blade that would otherwise kill him. Not backing down, Luke shows his determination when he does not back down to receive training from Yoda on Dagobah. When finding out that Yoda is actually the creature that has been with him all along, Luke is persistent trying to convince the Jedi Master to train him insisting“Yoda! I am ready. I...Ben! I can be a Jedi. Ben, tell him I'm ready” (Lucas Empire 50). He does not back down against his goal of becoming a Jedi showing his determination of the task. The creators of Fellowship of the Ring and the Star Wars trilogy,
J.R.R. Tolkien and George Lucas, have their heroes go through many trials and tribulations in which the character must endure. By having the heroes endure hardships, these heroes grow in their determination because it allows their characters to show that they will not give up. Both Frodo and Luke demonstrate the heroic quality of determination for Frodo when Boromir underestimates him and for Luke when Yoda dies. Seeing who bore the ring at Rivendell during the Council of Elrond, Boromir is surprised that a hobbit has carried it. Insulting Frodo, Boromir calls out “‘The Halfling!’ . . . ‘Is then the doom of Minas Tirith come at last?’” (Tolkien 322). Seen as ignorant and to be apart of a pusillanimous race, Frodo presses onwards despite the way Boromir views him as well as many others. Despite being underestimated and seen as ignorant and weak, Frodo proves to Boromir of his worth as he presses forward in his fight against evil with his determination. Similarly, Luke presses onwards in his own situation as Yoda dies during his training on Dagobah to become a Jedi. He “stares at his dead master as he disappears in front of his eyes” (Lucas Return of the Jedi 34). Once again, Luke had lost someone else that he has cared about as well as receiving new information about the true identity of his father as well as learning that there is another member of his family unknown to him. Hit by such impactful information, Luke does not feel like he can go onwards but he does anyways. He moves onwards in his journey and goes to save his father from himself as well as soughting out to give Leia the rightful information that she deserve shows Luke’s determination. J.R.R. Tolkien and George Lucas have their heroes underestimated in order to allow their characters to become determined and grow in strength along their journey. The archetypal heroes, Frodo Baggins and Luke Skywalker, in The Fellowship of the Ring and the Star Wars trilogy demonstrate the heroic quality of determination.