Into the West

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=80 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="005dba33.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="009ef530.jpg" border=0 width="239" height="83" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">|  </FONT> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Return of the King"><U>RotK</U></A>  |  <A HREF="http://www.frodolivesin.us" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.frodolivesin.us"><U>Home</U></A>  |  <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >back to  <A HREF="greyhavens.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Grey Havens"><U><B>The Grey Havens</B></U></A> </FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I lost it"><U>"I lost it"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The last ship"><U>The last ship</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="...but not for me."><U>"...but not for me."</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="My dear Sam..."><U>"My dear Sam..."</U></A>   |   <B>Into the West</B> </div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=400 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="99c30323.jpg"> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> <I><B>Into the West</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Each frame of Frodo's face from here on is in transition - one of the things Elijah can do like no one else.  </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5c220510.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5c320500.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="336" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5c4204e0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="334" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5c520510.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>As soon as Frodo takes his first step toward Gandalf, his expression starts changing.  My interpretation is that the acceptance of the invitation is what begins the healing process.  A gradual change - more wonder and curiosity than joy. </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5c6204d0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="333" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5c7204d0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="333" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5c820510.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>A little emotion beginning to creep back in. </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5c9204e0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="334" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Even though it's not Elijah, the following pictures of Frodo reaching out for Gandalf's hand, and then walking with him, are some of my favorite Frodo-as-I-always-knew-him moments in the movies.  Is Gandalf saying something to him in the third frame? </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5ca204f0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="335" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5cb20510.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5cc204f0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="335" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5cd204e0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="334" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>The next two frames, especially, are ones I marvel at for the transition.  In the first one, Frodo's realizing that something's happening, but isn't sure what. </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5ce1d4f0.jpg" border=0 width="797" height="335" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>In this one, we know it's something good.  He's just beginning to break out in a smile.  Almost looks as if he's trying to hold it in. </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5cf204f0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="335" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>But it's not until here that we get the actual smile (but not the </B><I><B>full </B></I><B>smile - that's later). </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5d0204e0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="334" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5d120510.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5d220500.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="336" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5d3204e0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="334" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5d420510.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5d520510.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5d6204d0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="333" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Micro-expressions, anyone?  Here's the full smile, with the muscle movements around the eyes that the experts say can't be faked. </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5d7204e0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="334" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5d820510.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5d9204f0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="335" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Starting with my initial viewing, I've felt that this last little glance/nod from Frodo isn't so much at his friends as it is at </B><I><B>us</B></I><B>.  But I had to see the screencaps to quite understand why.  His head is turning but his eyes aren't, so we're moved into that not-quite-on-center look at the camera that we get in a lot of Elijah's shots, especially his turns.  He's also not looking </B><I><B>down </B></I><B>at his friends anymore. He's beginning to break his gaze at them and move on, and as he raises his eyes, they meet ours.  </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5da204e0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="334" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>And since Elijah doesn't even remember doing it, I guess it can mean whatever we want it to.  How about </B><A HREF="#nigglenod" TITLE="Into the West"><U><B>this</B></U></A><B>, from the closest thing Tolkien ever wrote to an autobiography</B><B>? </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5db204f0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="335" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5dc204e0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="334" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>The background on this page is made from the light in the West as the ship sails. </B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="142" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 66 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id50_m.htm" TITLE="Into the West"><U><IMG SRC="02e7d3c0.jpg" border=0 width="125" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 66 ><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="125"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 66 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="My dear Sam..."><U><IMG SRC="0bc7d3c0.jpg" border=0 width="125" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="9a06c0a0.gif" border=0 width="620" height="10" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="nigglenod"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <B>They set out next day, and they walked until they came right through the distances to the Edge. It was not visible, of course: there was no line, or fence, or wall; but they knew that they had come to the margin of that country. They saw a man, he looked like a shepherd; he was walking towards them, down the grass-slopes that led up into the Mountains. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Do you want a guide?" he asked. "Do you want to go on?"</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>For a moment a shadow fell between Niggle and Parish, for Niggle knew that he did now want to go on and (in a sense) ought to go on; but Parish did not want to go on, and was not yet ready to go. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I must wait for my wife," said Parish to Niggle.  "She'd be lonely. I rather gathered that they would send her after me, some time or other, when she was ready, and when I had got things ready for her. The house is finished now, as well as we could make it; but I should like to show it to her. She'll be able to make it better, I expect; more homely. I hope she'll like this country, too."......</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>[Niggle said] "Things might have been different, but they could not have been better. All the same, I am afraid I shall have to be going on. We shall meet again, I expect: there must be many more things we can do together. Good-bye!" He shook Parish's hand warmly: a good, firm, honest hand it seemed. He turned and looked back for a moment. The blossom on the Great Tree was shining like flame. All the birds were flying in the air and singing. Then he smiled, and nodded to Parish, and went off with the shepherd. </B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>-- J.R.R. Tolkien, "Leaf by Niggle"</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id50_m.htm" TITLE="Into the West"><U><IMG SRC="02e7d3c0.jpg" border=0 width="125" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="9a06c0a0.gif" border=0 width="620" height="10" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>