when frodo, gandalf and the rest of the elves and goblind get on the ship at the end of the third film (the return of the king) where the hell are they going? i was absolutely clueless when i saw this. are they going to die or what and why do they have to go?
2006-11-21 04:05:03 · 25 answers · asked by buttersduck 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
They are still on the quest to return the ring.
Read the books, they are well worth the effort.
2006-11-24 10:49:45 · answer #1 · answered by Amanda K 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you read the prequel "The Silmarillion," not only will you treat yourself to a great mythological tale, but you will find out all the history and signficance of their journey.
A common theme in Celtic literature is the hero, after his work is done, setting of for the "Summer Country," a warm sunny land where no one ever ages or dies. It's essentially Paradise. Gandalf and the others are heading to a similar place. It's the home of the Gods of Middle-Earth, and only special heros and mortals are allowed to sail straight there (and bypass the physical business of dying).
Remembering during the siege of Gondor when Gandalf and Merry are waiting for the next gate to be broken down by the invaders, and Gandalf consoles Merry's fear of death by telling him about sailing to a fair green land? That's what he's talking about.
Another common theme in Celtic literature is that great evil can only be defeated by great heroism... but in order to vanquish bad magic forever, good magic must also come to an end, to keep things balanced. This is why all the people who have used magic (the elves, the wizards, and Frodo the Ring-bearer) have to leave. The world is left to the simple mortals who now have to deal with good and evil on a simple human scale, without magic.
2006-11-21 14:20:28 · answer #2 · answered by teresathegreat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
READ THE BOOKS - they will answer all your questions. It's no good trying to understand a great work of literature by watching a film that is someone else's interpretation of the story. As far as the Lord of the Rings films go, so much has been omitted and/or altered from the original work that, although good in themselves, they are no substitute for the real thing!
Please note that the first letter of proper nouns should be capitals (ie Gandalf, Frodo, etc) as should the personal pronoun, I.
2006-11-24 09:11:37 · answer #3 · answered by Lesley M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are going to Valinor (the undying lands) home of the gods of middle earth ( the valar) and the first elves of which a group lead by Feanor left for middle earth in the first age to regain the silmarils, magic jewels that had been stolon by Morgoroth the evil one. Sauron was one of Morgoroths Captains so you can imagine how hard he was. Frodo and bilbo was allowed to go with gandalf and the elves back to valinor because they had held the one ring and been permanently changed by it.
Anyway if you want to find out more about the lands to the west and the first age I suggest you read the Silmarillion also by Tolkien this will answer all your questions as it is a history of all things middle earth.
2006-11-21 14:03:17 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The book makes this clearer than the film. I may be wrong but the elves talk of going to the grey havens ie the west. Elrond understood the the real curse of the ring. If the ring was not destroyed then Sauron would destroy all men, elves ,dwarves and rule all of middle earth,but once the ring was destroyed middle earth would become the realm of men in which there would be no place for the elves and magic and all that had gone before.
2006-11-21 12:29:00 · answer #5 · answered by Trixie Bordello 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It was my understanding that they are going with the Elves (through special invitation) to the Undying Lands (as mentioned several times throughout the films by Elrond, Gandalf, Arwen, etc) where they will live immortal lives. If you get a chance, read the books - the concept is explained more thoroughly therein.
2006-11-21 12:11:06 · answer #6 · answered by archgrrrl 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Into the west with the Elves, to the Undying Lands, which I think is where the Elves first came from. If you've got some time on your hands try reading the Silmarillion - which explains a lot...supposedly.
2006-11-22 11:17:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are going to this cool place where the elves were all going at the beginning of the 3rd film, before arwen ran off. basically, it's like heaven, and everything is happy there and you have fun and you don't die and just relax for ever, which is good, because then all your hobbit pals don't die...
they don't have to go, but they choose to go because they aren't satisfied with life after the whole big beef with the eye etc. like fordo is all like 'blah blah after you've done some quest and had such a bad/exciting time, life isn't enough' so he's going to go with his great pal bilbo, to see if there is fun to be had in the UNDYING LANDS, the clue is in the name!
2006-11-21 15:07:31 · answer #8 · answered by nyima s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are going to the West. A place where the elves and special invitees can go. Once there, they can never return to Middle Earth. No, they did not have to go, they chose to go.
This link might help you
2006-11-21 12:15:08 · answer #9 · answered by parsonsel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Luton Airport. The shuttle train had broken down, and the cost of a fleet of taxis for them all was exorbitant. So an elfin ship was to magically waft them to the Terminal building where, having stocked up on duty-free, they could exit Middle Earth and fly to Mallorca until the weather improved in the Shires...
2006-11-21 12:09:39 · answer #10 · answered by PhD 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The West...it's less of a real place and more of a metaphor for going to a place that is untainted by the evil of men. The west (where the sun rises) traditionally represents rebirth and a new beginning.
2006-11-21 12:15:33 · answer #11 · answered by jcresnick 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋